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[paradox]

Probably the main ones have to be:

- Getting to sleep. I feel like my legs are on fire sometimes, like pins and needles but feels like its in my blood. Also to do with the fact i cannot relax so might not be a result of the meds, just the depression!

- An unsureness of everything. Hard to explain this one but you know when you feel hungover you feel clumbsy, well just like that!

[blackfloyd]

I voted as other.  My problem with Prozac so far has been what seems to be a wrosening of depression.  Or maybe this worsening is simply situational (I did just move rooms, and was in a mental institution last week for 6 days).  All I do is pace around the basement, or sit around my room looking up forums on the internet.  Hopefully things will get better.  BUt at least I'm not suicidal anymore.  

At least I have something to do today that gets me out of the house (i'm unemployed), I'm going to a community vocational skills place called the Reality House, I was referred there by some social workers in the mental institution.  Hopefully if I have a job of some sort, I'll feel less worthless.

[Ronnie]

Sorry to hear that Denial.... side effects do go away.... some of them might take time, but most if not all should dissapear, except the sexual side effect (unfortunately), but that too even gets better for some after being on the med for several months.

[Josephine]

My main problem has been weight gain, although to be fair that could have other causes too.

[scaredycat]

jaw clenching for me!

[Ronnie]

just the sexual side effects for me, it worked great for everything though... anxiety/depression/ocd.

[Angie]

Sleepiness was a pain in the rear but now I'm fine.  No other side effects and I've been doing great on it :grinning:


Angie

[inner chaos]

when i was taking Fluoxetine it was the lack of tiredness.  i was always awake.  but now i dont sleep either...so who knows?   ???

[Josephine]

Seems like the sleep disturbances have been a big issue for most people :) Scaredy, I've heard of the jaw clenching one and it sounds really sucky, but fortunately I've not experienced it. As to libido (it's amazing the things we will own to on a public forum, isn't it? :)) it dipped some, but didn't go entirely so I can live with that.. I know some people have very serious problems in that area though.

[cinzbenz]

I didn't have any side effects except for loss of libido.  Otherwise, it was a great med for the panic and OCD.

[codie]

Hello,:wave:  this is my first post. I have been taking fluoxetine for 6 weeks now and I think its good so far. I have suffered a bit with the jaw clenching  I wake up with an aching jaw sometimes!
I saw this site whilst I was searching the web for info on Fluoxetine. You see I have a problem with painkillers, in that I am addicted. Plus I have been drinking too. Not lots just a few drinks a night, but I am not drinking any more alcohol whilst on the prozak as i've been feeling quite ill today after last nights red alcohol, I have felt like a zombie and felt sick most of the day. I only had 3 glasses of alcohol last night!! But my main problem is the Nurofen plus. I take at present 4-6 a day. Thats everyday for the past year. I am trying to stop but I find I can't concentrate. I know I must though. Its very bad for me. Anyway back too side effects, i've had some nausea and upset tummy, but it was not so bad that it stopped me from doing normal things.
On the plus side I feel like a rational human being for the first time in years, and I am not so scared of other people and situations that once would drive me crazy. And I can start to deal with my painkiller addiction.

[Josephine]

Hiya Codie and welcome to the forums! We have a room specifically for addiction, if you'd like to participate (alcohol's my problem, unfortunately, but the room deals with ALL addictions). I guess you're in the UK if you're calling it fluoextine? Me too :) Wet right now, isn't it?!

[codie]

Thanks for your warm welcome Josephine, I will have a look in the addiction room, i'm just getting used to finding my way around the site.
I am in the uk and the weather is just crazy!!!

[Josephine]

Yeah I live on a hill, which is good, or I think we'd have been washed away :( The worst thing is, it's not even cool ... sticky and humid, and unpleasant, with none of the benefits of sunshine.

As you're British and no doubt like talking about weather - don't be ashamed, we all do it ;) - there is a weather thread on the 'One Step at a Time' forum that you might like to check too :)

[denial]

This is my third week, and I think I've had every side effect.  I had everything at first.  Now it's just a little insomnia and that jaw clenching, twitchy feeling.   I'm hoping it wears off soon.

[Josephine]

Heya Denial, welcome :). If you've got through three weeks it should get better from hereon in .. they say the first week or two is normally the worst. Let us know how you progress!

[codie]

hello denial, yes I too had some funky side effects in the first couple of weeks. I remember waking up at 4.30 one saturday morning looking outside and thinking how beautiful the world is!!! and I wanted to go running!! I didn't, I went back to sleep but it took me 3 hours. Also I had a couple of times where I woke up suddenly. My husband said he noticed it too and that it was a little freaky. I just found it funny. I also was a bit giggley, and felt a bit tipsy, But I feel better now(on prozak 6 weeks) things really seem to be balancing out and I feel much more 'normal'. :D

[Josephine]

LOl they do say prozac can be more 'activating' than some of the other drugs, and that some people get a bit hyper on it ;)

[Angie]

That's one of the things I do remember the very first time I had been on prozac...I felt energized...it was great.  I also felt optimistic instead of otherwise.  This second time though was weird...my dr. and I decided to try it every other day and that's when I felt tired all the time. So I went back to every day and I feel great.  

Angie

[denial]

I felt more energized before I started to take it.  I'm trying to stay optimistic though.  The first two weeks were so bad, it has to get better.  I couldn't figure out why my anxiety had gotten worse.  Before I started, I was really worried about the sexual side effects.  Lexapro absolutely ruined that part of our relationship.  So far everything seems to be normal(fingers crossed).

[huckerblue]

I had the same problem with Lexapro.  I've been on fluoxetine about 3 weeks now, and the panic and anxiety are better, but yesterday and today I've had awful tension headaches.  I sent off the first chapter of my thesis, and I feel better now, but has anyone else had this problem?

[denial]

I had a few of those headaches in my second week.  I wasn't sure if it was all the anxiety or the med.  Maybe a combo.  Hope it doesn't come back.

[pootypantz]

What's an SSRI?  My GP sent me to a specialist who tried a couple of different ointments, knowing the prescriptions I take.  Trial and error by ointments, not regarding what I am taking.  I also take Hyzaar, high-blood pressure med, and am pretty sure either that or the Prozac are the culprit.

I am changing my GP and am thinking about just stopping the Prozac.  I'm just a little afraid to do that but...

Thanks for your response.

Pat

[Josephine]

An SSRI is one of the family of drugs that prozac belongs to .. it also contains Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox etc etc. If prozac is exacerbating your condition, you could try one of the others...

I wouldn't recommend stopping prozac just like that though :( Prozac is one of the easier drugs to get off due to its long half life, but stopping any med cold turkey is not a good idea and could make all of your conditions worse. Best of luck with your new GP :)

[Josephine]

LOL I've never heard of that one! Did you find anything out from NHS direct?

[herman]

My GF was prescribed Prozac in February, almost exactly the same time we met (it's a coincidence!!).

Most noticeable side effect has been a total loss of libido for about the last three months.

She seems to have trouble showing her emotions to me, but that may possibly be nothing to do with the Proxac, may be something to do with the fact that her husband, her best friend and soul mate, died a couple of years ago, and I suspect she is afraid of getting hurt again.

She also suffers from low self esteem (and has no reason whatsoever for that because she is a wonderful outgoing person with a good job).

I will hang in there with her because I love her and think she is worth it, but it does make the relationship difficult at times.

[Ronnie]

herman,
Good luck with everything, hope it works out.  Communication is the key and her talking with someone close like yourself about medication management is good for her and will benefit you both.  There are lots of options to help with the lose of libido and other possible side effects.  If you two talk about those, she can then mention them to her doctor and see what can help.  
Keep us posted.

[denial]

Open communication lines are the key.  Although when you're down, it's hard to open up.  When I'm down and my girlfriend is trying to help by getting me to talk, it's all I can do to not get angry.  I love her so much that I know that whatever happens, I should not be angry at her.  So, it's a battle within myself because nobody wants to forced into anything, but sometimes we do need a push.  (am I rambling?)  I will say that I never know what approach will work for me.  Of course, when everything fails with me, and she gets upset, that hurts me so bad I realize what I'm doing.

Hang in there.......

[herman]

Thanks for your comments and support.  I agree re communication, and luckily she is fairly open about things and will talk.

Whilst I want to learn more about the way she feels so I can try to understand how to deal with it better, I don't like to probe too much so try and bring the subject up at the best times (like whan she isn't stressed by work etc).

It would probably have made it easier if I had met her earlier so I might have been able to see the difference in the way she was affected pre AD/post AD being prescribed.

She also suffers from SAD and her GP has recommended she does not come off the AD's before next spring or it might just make things worse.

What options are there regarding loss of libido?  A change of AD?  A quick look on here seems to say that Wellbutrin is one of the better AD's regarding likeliness of loss of libido.

Ultimately though, I recognise her general wellbeing is more important than a (hopefully) short term lack of libido so am looking to the long term.

[Josephine]

Her libido may come back, or at least pick up a bit :). Most people suffer from some degree of loss of sex drive but it CAN get better. I am glad you are being understanding though.

Welcome to the forums, btw!

[herman]

Glad the libido may come back.  It's not the be all and end all of things, but it would be nice!  :D

Being understanding is easy enough because I care, and to give her any grief or pressure about it would be totally the wrong thing to do.  If it is going to sort itself out, and I am sure it will, then it needs time and no hassle.

Thanks for the welcome to the forums  :)

[Josephine]

Hiya Blackfloyd and welcome! I am unemployed too .. it sucks, doesn't it? :( I hate feeling that I am on the margins of society. Working when one is depressed is difficult, but a boost for our self esteem. I hope we both get something soon!

[pootypantz]

Help Me!!

I've been taking Prozac for two years now,  I am 47 years old.  I've always had exema on one part of my body or another, and was growing out of it.  But since I've been on Prozac, I've developed psoriasis on my hands.  It's becoming horrible and horribly painful.  I've been to Doctors who've given me 'scripts for various ointments but they only make things worse.  You know, the more you do, the more you need.  I'm at the point where I want to chop off my hands.  But I am a computer-aided draftsman\designer and can't do that.  So I am trying to find a solution.  I want to stop Prozac and see if that's the problem.  I don't know what's worse, this or that!

Advise please ?!

Regards,

pat

[Josephine]

Hiya! Welcome to the forums! What does your GP say? Why not try a different SSRI? :)

[michaelIRL]

hey everyone, ive been on fluoxetine for a week and a half now. The only real side effects that ive noticed are sleepiness (though this is subsiding) and my pupils are massivly dilated!!! is this normal, i think ill go search NHS-online!!

[KandidSecLuSion]

For me the only side effects were constant yawning and clenching of my lower jaw and being super duper tired.
Also dizziness. one day i was on my way to work. After getting off the train and walking down the stairs i almost fell.
the spell was just so sudden.

I'd prefer those side effects than to have deal with my mind the way it is with out it. (prozak)[I]

[Josephine]

I've heard of the jaw clenching one but never experienced it .. though I do grind my teeth :). You're right though ,a few side effects, as long as they're not really severe, are better than the chronic depression.

[emme]

I just started on prozac 2 weeks and 4 days ago. I've had aquite a bit of trouble with the side effects, but I'm doing my best to hang on. At first, it was increased anxiety, had my first panic attack in some time, but it may have simply been due to the fact that I was really freaked out about taking meds.

Now I just have bad fatigue for the 5 or so hours after taking it as well as a bit of dizzyness and general zoning out. Makes it hard to concentrate at work, though it has been getting better.

I also noticed the jaw clenching, which is getting better, but the tension headaches are a pain. They seem to come at random, and can last an hour or the whole day.

I also have a bit of twitchy-ness, mainly on the left side of my face which I kind of chalk up to residual effects from the bells palsy( temp. facial paralysis) I had a few years ago.

*edit*
Forgot this one: Nightmares. I noticed them as soon as I started prozac, when I stayed at my parents house for the weekend. They woke me up several times, but once I was home and in my own bed, I was fine again...

Then I stayed at my parents house again last weekend... and in a very vidid dream I had a confrontation with my mother, rolled over in my sleep and punched my husband twice in the shoulder! Freaked us both out of course, since I didnt' have control of myself in my sleep. I got up, wrote down the dream and tried to deal with it so I could go back to sleep. I was able to sleep again, but in a few more hours I woke us both up by yelling 'f*** You!' in my sleep, and vaguely remember it beind directed at my mother.

I was wondering if this sounds like too many side effects to be worth struggling through, or if anyone has any advice to help with the fatigue and tension headaches.

[Josephine]

If you're in the UK I don't think they actually prescribe Wellburtin here .. plus, most UK doctors will not prescribe more than one AD at any one time.