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[racjen]

Hi Racjen

I know how you are feeling. I have been on Prozac for nearly 8 weeks now - 6 weeks at 20mg but it made my anxiety so much worse, so I dropped down to 10mg 11 days ago. The anxiety is still there but a bit more bearable. I also started HRT a week ago and am feeling so tired a d down at the moment too. I am at a loss at what to do as it's having a big impact on me and those around me. There is a Facebook page for Prozac and it can take up to 3 months for some people to feel the benefits.

Just wanted to let you know you are not suffering alone and sending you a hug.

Jules x

Thanks Jules. So are you getting any benefit at all from the Prozac? The frustrating thing is I have a friend who's on it and it's working wonders for her, don't think she had this trouble getting onto it either. I did ask my doctor about reducing the dose but she said she didn't think it'd make any difference as your brain has to adjust, however much you're taking. I took some phenergan last night just so I could get a decent night's sleep, and today the anxiety is very nearly not there at all. Trouble is I know that if i take it for prolonged periods it makes me really depressed, so I just have to use it occasionally when I'm desperate for a break. Aaaaaaargh.....

[Sparrow]

Hi Racjen

I know how you are feeling. I have been on Prozac for nearly 8 weeks now - 6 weeks at 20mg but it made my anxiety so much worse, so I dropped down to 10mg 11 days ago. The anxiety is still there but a bit more bearable. I also started HRT a week ago and am feeling so tired a d down at the moment too. I am at a loss at what to do as it's having a big impact on me and those around me. There is a Facebook page for Prozac and it can take up to 3 months for some people to feel the benefits.

Just wanted to let you know you are not suffering alone and sending you a hug.

Jules x

Thanks Jules. So are you getting any benefit at all from the Prozac? The frustrating thing is I have a friend who's on it and it's working wonders for her, don't think she had this trouble getting onto it either. I did ask my doctor about reducing the dose but she said she didn't think it'd make any difference as your brain has to adjust, however much you're taking. I took some phenergan last night just so I could get a decent night's sleep, and today the anxiety is very nearly not there at all. Trouble is I know that if i take it for prolonged periods it makes me really depressed, so I just have to use it occasionally when I'm desperate for a break. Aaaaaaargh.....

Do be careful mixing it with other medications.  I had to change the anti histamine I generally use, when on fluoxetine/Prozac.  Anything that makes you sleepy is usually contraindicated.  Might be wise to check with your pharmacist.

[racjen]

Thanks, hadn't thought of that. Weird though because Fluoxetine makes me feel totally wide awake, so you wouldn't have thought mixing it with something that makes you sleepy would hurt. Will check.

[Jules53]

Hi racjen

I don't know that I'm getting much relief from Prozac, which makes me think it's hormonal. I was on the 20mg for 6 weeks and couldn't cope with it as it sent my anxiety through the roof! Have been on 10mg for 11 days and the anxiety is a little better. I started HRT a week ago and am starting to feel so tired during the day, but keep waking up at night sweating!

I'm so fed up of it all, as I'm sure you are. I'm going to stay with the 10mg for another couple of weeks, a d see how the HRT goes.

Do you feel shaky and dizzy on the Fluoxetine? Please feel free to private message me if you want to. Hope you get relief soon.


Jules x

[Tc]

Hiya racjen.so  sorry you're suffering the 2 week horrors. In my experience with prozac the side effects did go away after 2 weeks each time.i went on it  But I feel for you. Those 2 weeks can feel like a lifetime.and you feel you need something to help you push through. I was on ADs when my physch prescribed 50mg phenegran before bed.  The pharmacist advised at the time that prozac can increase the sedating effect of phenegran. I think some people might feel drowsy on prozac anyway but like you I never did so I didnt feel overly sedated with the phenegran.
What dose phenegran do you take?
Xxxxxx

[racjen]

25mg of phenergan - had the best night's sleep for ages, and the least anxiety for ages today too. If it gets me through the start-up phase of Prozac it's got to be a good thing; I feel like this is my last chance with ADs, I've tried so many I'm not putting myself thru this again. So I've got to give it a good go or I'll never know if it would've worked.

Jules, if an AD is going to work for you it should work whether the anxiety is hormonal or not, it targets the same mechanism in the brain. If you've been on it for 11+ weeks and it's not helping I'd say it's not the one for you, maybe you should try a different type.

It does make me shaky and nervous but not dizzy; also initially gave me terrible stomach upset but that's settled down now. All the other SSRIs I've tried made me feel suicidal within a few days; the fact that this one hasn't gives me hope that it's worth persevering.

[Tc]

Keep going racjen. If the phenegran helps during this time then i wouldnt be afraid to use it.
After years of going through the 2 week thing each time I eventually asked if I could take something to help me through it and that's why he gave me the phenegran. Hopefully it will ease you through and the next few days pass quickly for you.
Jules I would think 12 weeks is long enough to expect some improvement. Between 12 weeks and 6 months you may then feel further improvement but if it's made no difference so far then I agree with racjen. You may need to try something else. I suppose the decision is whether to up the dose or change to something different. Prozac has quite a long half life but I wouldnt recommend just suddenly stopping it after several weeks on it. I have done this in the past and had quite bad withdrawal. Always best to see the doc first.
Xx

[Eviepf]

Hi Racjen - I'm sorry you're feeling so bad and I do empathise. I just wanted to say that I've taken Prozac three times (each time for about a year/18 months) and it worked very well for me but it took 4-5 weeks for the good effects to start kicking in. Each time I suffered really dreadful increased anxiety and scary thoughts a few weeks into taking it and the first time I was prescribed it this made me very, very frightened indeed, as I thought it must be a worsening of my previous symptoms (moderate depression with a lot of anxiety added in). The second and third times I was prescribed it I was prepared because I knew that it was the meds causing a temporary issue. I had the nausea and sweatiness as well, but that did wear off after a couple of weeks.

As long as you can bear it, it may be worth you sticking with it in the hope that it will help but only you know how you feel. As others have said, it doesn't suit everyone. Are people around you supportive? That makes so much difference.

Also, I assume you're taking the Prozac in the morning to try to minimise the initial insomnia effect?

I hope you feel better soon - it's really horrible, I know.

[Jules53]

Hi racjen and TC

I have been on Prozac 7 weeks and was on Venlafaxine for 5 weeks before that, so 7 weeks in total for Prozac. I started on 20mg, which I think was far too strong and stimulating for me. I have been on the lower dose of 10mg for 12 days.

I have actually started to feel calmer the last couple of days and I'm not sure if it's the Prozac or HRT, which I have been on for a week. I will keep in with both for the moment and keep you posted.

Hope it works for you soon racjen.

Thanks.

Jules x

[Nannyneet]

25mg of phenergan - had the best night's sleep for ages, and the least anxiety for ages today too. If it gets me through the start-up phase of Prozac it's got to be a good thing; I feel like this is my last chance with ADs, I've tried so many I'm not putting myself thru this again. So I've got to give it a good go or I'll never know if it would've worked.

Jules, if an AD is going to work for you it should work whether the anxiety is hormonal or not, it targets the same mechanism in the brain. If you've been on it for 11+ weeks and it's not helping I'd say it's not the one for you, maybe you should try a different type.

It does make me shaky and nervous but not dizzy; also initially gave me terrible stomach upset but that's settled down now. All the other SSRIs I've tried made me feel suicidal within a few days; the fact that this one hasn't gives me hope that it's worth persevering.

I'm on Fluoxetine but stopped taking it months ago because I decided it wasn't working and the depression was hormonal so it wouldn't work.....I did did not realise that anti Ds would work whether it was hormonal or not ( I'm not massively clued up on how they work to be honest)

I'm so glad I read this post now,I've just  gone back on it after having the worst few weeks of my life feeling practically suicidal at one point, it actually scared me that I could feel that way,I'm now on about day 6 and not feeling too bad,I have been on and off this drug for the last 15 years though so maybe I won't get too many side effects

I also didn't realise it can cause insomnia,I have terrible sleep patterns and have been known to not sleep for 24 hours at a stretch, when that happens I just don't feel tired and am bursting with energy but then two or three days later I will sleep for a whole day ,I take 20mgs a day

I really don't want to take this drug anymore but I feel so awful without it that I am making my peace with it and staying  on it for now

I really hope the side effects wear off for you and that it does work for you,I'm also wondering if because of the severity of your side effects you might need to give it a bit longer before they wear off,I'm  Not sure if that's how it works or not

[Tc]

How are you racjen?
Nanny

That why i personally think it's important for docs to recognise the initial side effects are  the reason a lot of people give up on it  and they should if possible prescribe something alongside to help that. Not everyone suffers as bad initially but for those of us  who have a history of reacting in that way they should be able to offer help to get through it   I didnt realise they could until I saw a new physch and explained that my  past experience with initial side effects  was making me refuse going back on it.

As I said each time on 20mg the initial "horrors" went away after a few weeks but once I was on 60mg for bulimia and was given mirtazapine alongside it at night to help sleep. It worked, although it made me have nightmares, so I took myself off it. But it might not have that effect on everyone.

I must say I am notoriously naughty with taking myself off ADs when I start to feel better, much to my phychiatrist frustration. It's the old "I feel a lot better now, why am I taking all these meds" thing. It's hard getting your head around the fact that you might need them long term as I did and if I'm honest still do, probably now more than ever.
Xx



Xxx

[racjen]

Hi Tc, today is Day 13 on Prozac - I'm feeling less anxious but really depressed today. Didn't take phenergan last night as i know if i take it too long continuously it makes me depressed, so feeling very tired and unmotivated. But I'm gonna keep going - I've made it this far and i know i can take phenergan every now and then to get some sleep, makes it feel more bearable as it also seems to relieve the anxiety and improve my mood the following day too. Thanks for your moral support - it's so hard to keep going on this stuff when you have no idea if it's going to work, especially having done 12 weeks on mirtazapine with no effects whatsoever (except much better sleep and putting on half a stone) xxx

[Tc]

You're in the home straight now racjen. You've done so well.  Keep going. Xxxx

[Jules53]

Hi racjen

I'm glad to hear you are getting some relief from your anxiety.

I am 2 weeks on the reduced dose now and am a bit up and down with the anxiety.  I'm not sure though whether it is the HRT I'm taking which is causing my symptoms or the Fluoxetine. I'm going to post a separate thread on that though and am seeing my doctor on Monday.

Keep going, it sounds like it's working for you😁

[Nannyneet]

How are you racjen?
Nanny

That why i personally think it's important for docs to recognise the initial side effects are  the reason a lot of people give up on it  and they should if possible prescribe something alongside to help that. Not everyone suffers as bad initially but for those of us  who have a history of reacting in that way they should be able to offer help to get through it   I didnt realise they could until I saw a new physch and explained that my  past experience with initial side effects  was making me refuse going back on it.

As I said each time on 20mg the initial "horrors" went away after a few weeks but once I was on 60mg for bulimia and was given mirtazapine alongside it at night to help sleep. It worked, although it made me have nightmares, so I took myself off it. But it might not have that effect on everyone.

I must say I am notoriously naughty with taking myself off ADs when I start to feel better, much to my phychiatrist frustration. It's the old "I feel a lot better now, why am I taking all these meds" thing. It's hard getting your head around the fact that you might need them long term as I did and if I'm honest still do, probably now more than ever.
Xx



Xxx

I'm another naughty one who stops taking it when I feel better and I always feel better for a while then slowly start to go downhill,now I'm going through the menopause my moods swings and depression are,worse than ever, so I'm going to stay on it now for the foreseeable future I think
I was given it originally because I have Fibromyalgia and it's meant to help with that,the depression came later after being in pain for years,my pain is now mostly under control but the depression has stayed 😟