Fluoxetine

[Kimba50]

Hi, iv been on fluoxetine for nearly 6 weeks,is it normal to still be having side effects, morning anxiety is a nightmare, and waking up in the night sweating and heart racing, Any advice, anyone please 🤔😫

[Hidden]

Hi, I can't comment on that particular antidepressant but I can say I'm experiencing the same with the antidepressant sirtraline, people say give it more time , hope it gets better for you

[Kimba50 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, fingers crossed, these side effects pass soon for us both 🤞

[Smudge2522]

I was in fluoxetine for a while but moved off them onto amitriptyline - reason for change was so of the side effects but they weren’t as bad as yours. My gp told me they could keep increasing the dose or try something else? Have a word with your gp and see what they say could be that your dose isn’t high enough or maybe it’s time to try something else - but definitely don’t give up finding the right thing for you is just around the corner

[Rainbow0415]

Hi I think you should give it two more weeks and then try something else, I am on Fluoxetine 40mg and they are absolutely fine for me, I did however have to go through, Sertraline, Ciatolopram and Mirtazapine before I found one that worked for me. I was worried of swooping and changing because I didn’t want to be on anything as never experienced anxiety/depression before, but I stuck with it and found that Fluoxetine works for me - good luck but don’t carry on with the side effects for too long, speak to your GP

[Whiskers16 in reply to Rainbow0415]

Hi Rainbow I have just read your post from 8 months ago and it could have been written by me.It sounds like you are now feeling better which gives me hope.

[Rainbow0415 in reply to Whiskers16]

Hi Whiskers16

Thanks for your reply. I am so much better thank you. Are you suffering with health anxiety? Once covid is over I am looking into vlogging and volunteering to helping sufferers because it is awful. There is hope, so don’t give up, if you need to chat or ask me anything please feel free to get in touch.

[pug205]

Hi

Your doctor should have told you, that it is quite normal. You will feel probably worse before you feel any better. The fluoxetine has to build up the levels and unfortunately 6 weeks is the middle of the levels required until you feel any benefits

It my second time on fluoxetine and the meds start to work from week 10-12 for myself.

Whilst you are waiting, I do suggest the following. Breathing exercises, listen to music, go for walks, fresh air, eat lots of fruit, try and keep off alcohol, keep to a strict bed time and get up as normal as you can.

Finally a great cheap book to read is the “Chimp Paradox” by Dr Steve Peters £5-10, it will give you an insight on how your mind and others minds work. It basically reprograms you to think in a different way and approach life differently.

Look after yourself and it a slow Rd but you can get there.

David xx

[Kimba50 in reply to pug205]

THANKS, so 6 weeks is still early days on this medication, I will try and stick with it a little longer, The anxiety is worse in the morning, and seems to improve just before it's time to go to bed, it's like a viscous circle, I hope I can this🤞😫

[pug205 in reply to Kimba50]

No problem

Just hang in there, fluoxetine does eventually kick in. You are over half way. If I’ve got this right fluoxetine is called SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and you need to rebuild your serotonin. Hence 12weeks for it to start to work.

“Serotonin” is the key hormone that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. This hormone impacts your entire body. It enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with each other. Serotonin also helps with sleeping, eating, and digestion.

Hope this helps and keep safe

[DustBomb in reply to pug205]

Just wanted to say thank you so much as I found your post very informative and helpful and it’s given me hope. I’m on week 9 of fluoxetine for panic attacks and felt concerned that other than some side effects there’s not been any noticeable benefits .... but your post has given me hope that it may take longer. Thank you

[Els92 in reply to Kimba50]

how are you feeling now im only on day 14 of fluxeotine and never known my anxiety be increased so much especially on a morning xx

[Kimba50]

Thanks for giving me hope 😁

[Whiskers16]

I’ve been on duloxitine for 3 months and still getting the same problems as you, mornings are unbearable.Not sure if they are side effects as had them before but definitely don’t think they are working. Doctor kept upping dose. So now weaning off slowly to see if I can try something else.Good luck

[Kimba50 in reply to Whiskers16]

Are you having bad withdrawel symptoms? I think I'm going to give it a bit longer, dont want to up my dose, the anxiety is bad enough now. GOOD LUCK

[Whiskers16 in reply to Kimba50]

I was frightened of this as had read horror stories and to be honest the doctor I spoke to was no help, not my normal doctor. As they are 30mg capsules he said I had to drop by 30mg but I opened the capsule and there was 4 little tablets in there so I have been reducing it by removing 1 little tablet every couple of days.I’m not really any better but not any worse. I have now been referred to mental health so now waiting for their advice.

My doctor allows me 5mg diazepam per day for bedtime so I do sleep for a few hours but not sure how long this will continue.

Good luck, happy to chat if you need to.

[Kimba50]

Thanks, please let me know how you get on, were all in this together.

[Kimba50]

6 weeks 3 days on 20mg fluoxetine, still bad anxiety, waking up 3,30am sweating, heart racing, morning anxiety, don't want to get out of bed, I don't think I can carry on 😫

[mydogs in reply to Kimba50]

Kimba are you still taking fluoxetine and how is your anxiety now I am on week 6 of fluoxetine and feel worse than ever and can’t stop crying any positive feedback please many thanks,

[Kimba50 in reply to mydogs]

Hi, mydogs, I have now been on fluoxetine for 3 month, and only now have I started to feel the benefits, hang on in there, I know it's hard, the first 2 months were hard, anxiety levels very bad, but now I'm feeling a lot better. 😁

[Whiskers16 in reply to Kimba50]

This gives me some hope, cause to be honest at the moment I am feeling like I can’t continue to live like this

[mydogs in reply to Kimba50]

Thank you for response I was going to stop taking it because I feel so bad,but you have been through all the same symptoms and now feel better so that has given me some hope, I will let you know how I am getting on once again thank you x

[Kimba50 in reply to mydogs]

No probs, just stick with them, I know it's a struggle, just remember there is light at the end of that lonely tunnel. 🤞👍

[Whiskers16 in reply to mydogs]

This is exactly how I feel. I’m on week 6 but of venlafaxine, doctor upped my dose last week. Just need some hope

[mydogs]

Dear Kimba just starting week 7 but feel so bad still having nausea and anxiety is really bad can’t sleep awake every morning 2/3 am trembling can you remember when you started to get relief from any of these symptoms I am at an all time low and living alone and shielding for 13 months has not made it any easier hope you are still getter better each day take care and stay safe my friend x

[Felix_stowe in reply to mydogs]

Hi mydogs - I've been suffering from panic attacks for months and went into depression in August after damaging my leg just before summer, which cancelled all my summer breaks, sports, seeing my family in the UK etc. I felt like I was going into a mental nosedive and just couldn't control it. High BP, waking in the night and overthinking and then getting panic attacks [fast racing heart]. In and out of hospital - physically I was fine but mentally not in a good place. OK, so I was put on Paroxetinum 20 mg for depression and I'm in week 5. Still some bad days but they are getting less. I also read it can get worse before better - makes you want to challenge the side effects vs the benefits. But you/me should hang on in there and try to work through this and see if it improves - day by day! Just a further comment...I live in the Czech Rep now. Czech doctors told me to take Neurol 0.25mg up to 3x per day if necessary, when I feel anxious. It really calms the mind and stops the panic attacks. But I only take it when I feel really anxious and feel I'm nose-diving again. But it works And also, I take Melatonin (half a 5mg tablet) before bed (usually instead of the Neurol). This has really helped me get longer and restful sleep.

[Kimba50]

Hi my dogs, please stick with it, I still have off days with my anxiety, but a lot better, I know the side effects are very bad at first, it was the same for me. But honestly you will get there, you have come so far, it will take about 3 months before you start to feel the benefits, Stay calm, the bad side effects will go believe me 👍😁