Rant about meds with a couple questions

So I know I need to make an appointment with my therapist because Ive been off lately.. I’m just uneasy about going back on medication. I used to take fluoxetine (Prozac) this was the second medication I had tried and it worked pretty well for over a year. my psychiatrist increased the dosage a few times during that period and then began doing so more aggressively( every visit) after the last increase I began to feel uncomfortable, I had become slightly more irritable, and almost felt emotinless, and some nights I’d have very vivid dreams (mostly nightmares).

Before the aggressive increase in dosage I’d never really felt any of these symptoms.. and after stopping (after about a month) they all went away and I felt much better ( more like myself, not irritable, no nightmares). The drug did help me get through a very rough patch and worked for a long time so it was confusing.. so now I’m worried because I have major depressive disorder, I’m probably going to have to go back on meds and I don’t know what they’re going to try next, but I don’t want to end up worse off like I did last time.. any one else experience problems with fluoxetine? It’s an older antidepressant that’s “supposed” to be safe, Maybe it’s cause Im still in the age category where it can make things worse?

[noshed]

Hi Toshy. Did your doctor tell you to go off of the medication or did you just come off of it on your own?

[Hidden in reply to noshed]

Honestly I did end up doing it on my own. I was talking to a therapist at the time that helped me through it but my psychiatrist wanted to keep me on the fluoxetine.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

She did electorate it may have been because I was on a low dose to begin with and was just starting to see some of the side effects due to the increase.. but the side effects frightened me( there were a couple nights with thoughts of suicide) she wanted to see if when it leveled out after the increase if my side effects would subside but honestly I was too afraid

[noshed in reply to Hidden]

I am glad you r ok with taking yourself off the medication. I don't know how long you were on the medication but I am glad you are here to tell us your story. I am glad you. You always need to be proactive with your psychiatrist when there is a problem with your medication call and tell the person answering the phone the has been my experience. this will enable the dr tot week something or change the medication. Don't you wish they could just have a one pill cure all. I know I do.

[Hidden in reply to noshed]

Thank you for your kind words. And very good advice that’s definitely what I should have done. It was honestly my first experience with adverse side effects and was a little overwhelming. I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 20:20 and yes it would be so much simpler if there was a one pill cure all.. I know what I need to do at this point, an appointment is in the works. Now I just have to work up the courage for the phone call sometime this week.

[noshed in reply to Hidden]

what phone call are you making? I am sending prayers and strength to "GET ER DONE"(ha Ha).today is the first time I saw this I never even thought that there is a support group out there for mental health. As you can probably tell I am not to computer savvy. I will try to keep an eye on you and try to touch base with you. if that is ok. I have a lot going on in my life and sometimes I forget. My age doesn't help either being over 60(oh brother). get some rest. FYI you name on the page caught my eye as in the last year I found out the my daughter suffers horribly with anxiety and being outgoing. I just thought she was shy so you caught my eye and I wanted to reach out to you. I also have issues but I have found a great psychiatrist and at this point my mental health is pretty good except for worrying about my daughter

again if you don't mind I will keep in touch if you would rather I not please tell me and I will totally understand.

[Hidden in reply to noshed]

Thank you so much! You are such a kind hearted person and I truly appreciate everything:).. I’m starting out with a call to the therapist I was seeing because I was very comfortable there ( and I’ll probably receive a more timely appointment).. and I’ll also get a hold of the psychiatrist office but when I first needed help it was very busy and difficult to get an appointment, so I will be calling them, I just know I’ll be waiting ( no big deal at the moment but I remember a couple years ago that wait was agonizing)