Hi, I gave recently been suffering from quite bad anxiety which had led to several panic attacks in a short space of time. I had to resign from my job as the panic attacks become unbearable, and has now led to being down and depressed because of the panic and anxiety. Although I have always been naturally anxious, I guess I have dealt with it fine in the past but the work stress really took its toll on me and I guess I came close to a mental break down (or maybe that was a mental break down). When I had experienced my very first panic attack over 2 years ago, I bounced back fairly quickly. The last 3 weeks, I experienced about 3-4 panic attacks and it has really taken its toll on me and haven't been able to bounce back, hence the feeling of depressed. I am usually a very upbeat, positive, sharp go getter type of person but this time round, I have had to give in for some help with medication. Obsessed with over researching everything, I felt so anxious going on antidepressants because of all the bad reviews and warnings you read about it. Today I took my first 10mg of fluoxetine and I guess I just want to hear other people's experience with this drug. Side effects etc. I read and heard that it hasn't got as bad side effects as other ones but I should be prepared to get worse before I get better. Is this true, and how bad is "worse". I will ride it out, but of course, being anxious already, it makes you even more anxious thinking about another potential panic attack. Sometimes I think panic attacks and anxiousness is worse than emotions, as in, I can deal with emotions and being down better than I can anxiety. Any help, advice, stories would be helpful.
Is 10mg of fluoxetine (Lovan) enough to help with my condition?
Question posted by Anonymous on 18 Aug 2017
Last updated on 18 August 2017
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Answers
As my friend, John, says it's hard to comment on dosage because every person reacts differently to every medication. That being said, 10mg is an initial starting dose that will minimize or eliminate any potential side effects until you adjust to the drug. In the future you may find you need to increase your dose to control your panic up to 80mg/day.
It's fine to be aware of what side effects you may encounter and that the drug can initially mildly increase anxiety, but there is no need to anticipate that you WILL experience them. In fact, far less than 10% of all users have any problem at all tolerating this drug. Also, if you do have side effects they generally resolve on their own over a few days to a week or two ~ and then you're on your way to better health. You should allow at least 4-6 weeks to feel the full benefits and 6-8 weeks to attain peak blood levels.
It's a great medication for most people and I'll bet you can deal with anything that beats what you're living with now, right?
Best regards and stay in touch with your progress, okay?
Hi Wildcat,
Thank you for your response and your encouraging words, they have truly helped. I am trying to tell myself that it will get better from here. I had taken antidepressants once before when I was 19, but not long enough back then to fully understand the effects of it. If scared the hell out of me back then, and swore never to be medicated in that way. I think the biggest challenge in getting through this is accepting that it's ok to be medicated to help with something I am now longer able to control on my own. I managed it for years on my own, I just need to let go with the worries and let the medication help me be myself again.
Thank you again.
Carmina, if you were diabetic would you question being medicated? Heart disease? Parkinson's? Kidney failure? Arthritis?
Mental illnesses are just as much diseases and there is no shame in using medication to control the symptoms. You say you *managed* them on our own but did you truly enjoy life?
Now you can!
Carmina,
I can't comment on dosage because it is different for different people. But stick with the fluoxetine because it is good for both panic and depression. Staying the course is very important. Managing mental illness is tough but you have many strong supporters out here. We are all in this together! John T
Hi John,
Thank you for your response. Last night was tough, although I had problems sleeping on and off for the past couple of weeks, due to my anxiety worsening, I hardly slept last night, on the first day of taking my fluoxetine. I guess part of it was my resistance to taking it in the first place and the worry is getting the better of me. I have hope that it does get better from here. It's also very hard to accept how I went from being on top of the world, to all of a sudden wanting to hide from the world, riddled with my anxiety in such a short space of time. But I know I had probably been suffering this for a while, and only recently did come to light that it was more serious than I had wanted it to be.
Again, thank you, I appreciate your encouragement, it truly helps.
Carmina,
Glad to be of help. I have been helped so many times on this site by others. We have to stick together in this. Those who have never experienced our problems, even as they in good faith try, just can't give us the help we give each other. Don't be discouraged, you will get this under control.
John T.
Related topics
depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, fluoxetine, anxiety and stress, lovan
Further information
- Fluoxetine uses and safety info
- Fluoxetine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Fluoxetine (detailed)
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