Fluoxetine(Prozac)

[Amylee4]

Hi all,

I have health anxiety and I have recently started Fluoxetine, how of ever my fear the side effects are potentially going to put treatment on hold.

I have read online (I know, I know)the links to heart issues with these meds and its scaring me, I already have massive fears around heart attacks and sudden death and I just wanted to get opinions of other users and there symptoms from these meds. I know you are not doctors and can't give me medical advice, I am seeking reassurance I suppose but as we know that only lasts so long but I felt it was worth seeing the views of others who have experience with the tablet.

Thanks for reading. Sorry for the mistakes the page kept messing up and adding random spaces.

[Amylee4]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. I am on 20mg. I am wondering if the worry if the side effects will be just as bad. I am majorly considering stopping after 3 days! And trying to focus on meditation, diet, good sleep and exercise. I wanted to do this before but I just couldn't even do that, as I was in fight or flight mode constantly. I do feel like they have made a change already, which surely can't be real lol but I defo feel different but at the same time the worry of the heart related side effect is taking over x

[Peptink in reply to Amylee4]

I took Prozac for many years with no side effects. It can take up to 6 weeks to begin working. If it were me, I would give it a try and not stop after 3 days. Best of luck to you. 🌷

[Amylee4 in reply to Peptink]

Hi Peptink,

Thank you for your reply. I understand they take a while to kick in, it was more about the side effects but I have decided to make huge lifestyle changes 1st and if after a month there is no change I will start again 😍

[Amylee4]

Although I don't really know whats best lol 🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

[Amylee4]

Yes you are correct! I think I realise I need to step up the things I can do for myself, been looking online and loads of things I can do to raise Serotonin. I think I am going to halt the meds for now, try these things 1st with Diazepam just to take edge off if I am really bad. If after a month no changes, I will take them x

[Amylee4]

I have got my partner's light box and did some Yoga for 15mins and then will do the same just before bed 😍

I won't let this anxiety keep controlling me and leading me to an early grave, which is my biggest fear .....weird isn't it 🤦🏾‍♀️

[punkster]

I was also afraid of the side effects of antidepressants in general and resisted taking them. I have taken Prozac for a month now and it has changed my life as far as anxiety goes. Perhaps you can try a different antidepressant which doesn’t have heart related side effects (I don’t know if there is one as I am new to all of this). Or have your heart monitored when you are taking it. I agree with the previous post that a psychiatrist is the best professional to manage these kind of meds. I had a tendency to research the hell out of every medication and had to force myself to stop that. We are all different and we will all have different effects from taking this class of medication. You won’t know how you are going to feel until after taking it for 2-4 weeks. Three days is not enough time. I wanted to avoid benzodiazepines due to their addictive quality. Just wanted to give my two cents.

[Amylee4 in reply to punkster]

Hi Punkster,

Thank you for your reply. I am so happy you have noticed a difference, great news! I hope they continue to work for you.

I have given myself a month to change my lifestyle and the if no improvement I will give them a fair try, I couldn't take them knowing I hadnt changed so many other things that I know will help x

[punkster in reply to Amylee4]

I have been in therapy since shortly before Covid. I was going to discontinue therapy and then Covid hit, along with a triple bypass for my husband, which set me over the top. I have made a lot of progress in therapy, but I just needed the extra boost that the antidepressant gives me. I have always been a somewhat anxious person, but things really changed for me after menopause. My goal is to not be on an antidepressant indefinitely. My experience is that it takes a lot more time than just a month to change your lifestyle. Therapy can help with that, but it takes time.

[bethelbee]

I was on Prozac not long after it came out in the late 80's. It was the best thing to happen to me; worked great for about 10 years, no side effects. Was on Celexa after that for about the same amount of time til it, too, stopped working. Many meds(some working, some not, some with bad side effects)and decades later am treatment resistant to meds and TMS has become my treatment of choice. That's my experience..

[Amylee4 in reply to bethelbee]

Hey,

Thank you for sharing your experience. What is TMS? I suppose you never know what side effects you will experience until you have them.

I have decided to hold off for a month and try and change my life style massively x

[bethelbee in reply to Amylee4]

Hi! TMS is transcranial magnetic stimulation, uses magnetic pulses targeting a certain part of the brain to reduce/eliminate depressive symptoms. It is a noninvasive treatment, 5x/wk for about 7 weeks, each treatment is roughly 20 minutes and after each one you can go about your day. As with any treatment results vary, for some it helps, others it doesn't, but it has a fairly high success rate. You usually have had to be on at least one or two meds that have failed before being considered, but I guess protocol vary. If interested in learning more, feel free to message me or talk to your doctor.

[Amylee4 in reply to bethelbee]

Wow. Never heard of that before. I have had other meds in the past but don't know if I would qualify. I will message you if that's ok.

[bethelbee in reply to Amylee4]

Good luck with your journey, and I hope you find something that works for you!! Keep me posted.

[Bubbletea-456]

Hi Amylee,

I have been on Fluoxetine in the past and it had worked for me. The side effects were not as bad as other medicines I’ve been put on, and if I needed to go back on meds I would I ask for fluoxetine. If it doesn’t feel like it’s helping you, don’t be afraid to ask the Doctors to try something else. I hope it goes well for you.