I’ve just started taking fluoxetine for really bad anxiety and panic disorder. I’m currently only on 10mg and have been using it for 6 days so far. I’m
Just wondering if any of you suffered with any side effects and if so how long until they passed and you started to feel better? I’ve just woke up in the night feeling really sick and panicky. Since starting this medication I’ve felt sick, tired, dizzy, more anxious, panicky and have had headaches and hot flushes. It’s also made me feel even more low than I did before I started them. Is this normal?
How long do side effects last with fluoxetine?
Question posted by Bexj90 on 18 Nov 2017
Last updated on 10 September 2019
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Answers
Taylor244
21 Dec 2018
I am in your same situation right now, same dose of Prozac for the same reasons. Side effects are brutal, how are you doing now with your symptoms ?
Bexj90
21 Dec 2018
Hey lovely
My side effects lasted a few weeks. The first 2 being the worst.
Within a month the docs upped my dosage to 20mg and this made me physically sick.. I kept on retching with it and at times I would physically throw up. Ended up losing quite abit of weight, all at the start.
Now though I’m just over a year on them and symptoms are gone. However my anxiety isn't all that great at times. I still have bad days, bad weeks. But not as bad as they used to be. I wonder if I need my dosage upped again maybe as I still suffer with the anxiety symptoms too.
I hope you start to feel better soon. It may last a couple to a few weeks but try and last it out. It will work eventually. X
Sophialee7
10 Sep 2019
Hi I’m actually glad I found this, so I’ve been on fluoxetine for a little while now with no side effects (or better put none that affected me hard) so recently like a few months ago they upped my dose again, instead of 20mg I’m currently sitting at 20mg 3 times a day (80mg) I did think it was a bit much but it was actually working. Up until about a few days ago I didn’t have any side effects it started with me being extremely irritable which is new on top feeling nauseous, dry mouth, dizzy and just generally sore. I can’t say my sleep changed much but I am more tired. I’m on the fence should I go to the doctor (which for me mean a visit to the local VA) or should I wait it out, other than the dizziness and soreness the symptoms see to be manageable, just being a typical sailor and what not lol.
Thank in advance
Sophialee7
11 Sep 2019
Correction it wasn’t from 20mg to 80 it went up slowly and I’m actually at 60mg (I’m dizzy :P)
chuck1957
18 Nov 2017
Bexj90; I am glad you found us here, Sounds like they did not tell you much about the Fluoxetine aka Prozac everything you have said is normal the good part is your almost halfway through the worst part of these side effects The way this goes is for 7 to 14 days normally give or take a few day you get the side effects like your saying and little by little they start to go away lucky the doctor started you on the lowest dose. What happens is even the things they are trying to take care of can get stronger for the first 2 weeks of anxiety dizzy and all the things you list. then slowly after the 2 weeks you should notice these side effect going away and by the time you reach the blood level which is 6 to 8 weeks you should feel better many starts to notice changes at about 4 weeks try not to focus on these side effects also it is not uncommon if your doctor has to increase the dose on this the side effects may bother you a bit but nothing like when you first start the medication. And it does help to take it at about the same time each day so your body and mind get used to it. But try to get through this last week of it and see what I'm saying that most of these should start to go away.So it is not you it is the medication and this is all normal but nobody said much to you sometimes if the yuck like stomack etc is bothering you it is okay to take this medication with food. and that may help. I hope this helps you some and do your best to stick with it you should start to feel better pretty soon. And feel free to write back anytime if you have a question or just need a bit of support we have all been through this at some point this is much more common than you think there is nothing wrong with you I am so sorry that you had to get this far without knowing why. But just remember your on the road to being regulated and if all goes right you should start to feel better soon. have a good weekend and try and stay strong. You should be just fine.
Bexj90
18 Nov 2017
Chuck1957 thank you so much for the reassurance. I was starting to worry that they where never going to kick in. Seems impossible that they’re ever going to actually work at the moment. Hopefully I’ll start to feel much better soon then. Thanks again.
Related topics
anxiety, panic disorder, fluoxetine, side effect, anxiety and stress, disorder
Further information
- Fluoxetine uses and safety info
- Fluoxetine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Fluoxetine (detailed)
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