Fluoxetine

[Guest Olly]

Can anybody share their experience of being on fluoxetine to help them with their OCD..?

I've only been on it for three days and have only managed a couple of hours sleep max the past two nights and have a constantly dry mouth.

It's probably a placebo because I haven't been on them long enough, but the thoughts seem a bit muted now, which is kinda good, but then kinda scary as obviously I've tricked myself into thinking my disturbing thoughts are normal for me. Vicious circle etc.

Thanks

[Guest PJM]

I've been on fluoxetine for 4 months. It's the first medication that has worked well for me. It does take a couple of weeks to start working fully. The dry mouth seems par for the course when starting anti anxiety medications; it only lasted a few days with me.

It doesn't cause a sedative effect, which is one thing I like about it. It does mean you need to get off to sleep unaided then. I wasn't keen on the sedative effect of the previous medications I was on.

The only negative side effect I have experienced is a suppression of sex drive, which is very common with fluoxetine.

[Guest Olly]

Thanks. Yes, I was on it before for anxiety, which evaporated quite quickly but plunged me into a far worse depression which took a good year or two to get out of!

I'm just hoping my sleep can get a bit more back to normal.

[Guest Orwell1984]

Hi, I suppose everybody's different. I have been on fluoxetine on and off for the past 7 years. The past year I have beek taking my mess without fail and to be honest my mood is better while taking them. This has been a stressful year work wise but I have managed to cope. I do have insomnia but I am not sure whether this is a side effect of anxiety and depression or the tablets. Overall, I have been better on them than off. I take 20mg daily.

[Guest Olly]

I'm a poor sleeper anyway but the last two nights have been dreadful, I must have only been getting a couple of hours and feeling really anxious all night. I think the fluoxetine definitely affects sleep but like you say, everyone is affected differently.

Did people find the first few days on them the hardest?

[Guest Orwell1984]

It could be the tablets. If it gets unbearable then you're not suited for the tablets although fluoxetine is tolerated well compared to other medications. I used to be on fluvoxamine but that made my anxiety sky rocket (a bit like Carrie's hypersensitivity in latest episode of Homeland) but fluoxetine is a different story. My depression has been helped and OCD's intensity too although OCD still gives me trouble. Give it a fortnight (or a week if unbearable) and let ur doc know.

[Guest lizinlondon]

I could not sleep on it either. Give it a few more days but if you still can't sleep go to your doc. They can give you something non addictive to help. They gave me Seroquel. It took 3 months for the initial anxiety to wear off and then it worked perfectly. I am glad I stuck it out.

[Guest Olly]

Thanks for the advice. I'm so tired today, never known anything like it. And it's my Birthday tomorrow! Just had to cancel all my plans (they involved going to the pub and I don't trust myself not to drink too much!) but that's OK.

[Guest nervous]

I have been taking it for about 6 months and it's the first medication that seems to be doing anything for my ocd although it did take awhile and only once being on the full dosage for 3 weeks. I went up in dosage slowly over about 2-3 months. It was like nothing and then all of sudden I said to myself I think I am going to go for a walk outside and not give in to my compulsions. There is a number of side effects from it so keep an eye on them, I get sweating one, but some people have so many they can't use them. I tried a number of medications and I find you have to give them a pretty good run before you can evaluate them. There was only one I couldn't tolerate, zoloft and I gave that up after a few weeks because the side effects were too bad.

[inneedofhelp]

Thanks for the advice. I'm so tired today, never known anything like it. And it's my Birthday tomorrow! Just had to cancel all my plans (they involved going to the pub and I don't trust myself not to drink too much!) but that's OK.

Have a great birthday mate!!

[dksea]

I took Fluoxetine for 10 years and it was definitely beneficial for me, it significantly reduced the severity of my OCD and helped me get back to being me. It wasn't perfect, my doctor and I adjusted the dosage up and down multiple times over the years but I was definitely glad to have the help it offered. Side effects wise the only one I noticed was mild drowsiness, nothing to serious though, I could still drive a car, etc. it's not like I was suddenly falling asleep all the time. After the 10 years I ended up switching to Citalopram because the fluoxetine seemed to be becoming less affective. My results on Citalopram were very similar and Ive been on those for the past 10 years now.

With or without medication I can't emphasize enough how valuable and beneficial getting a good grounding in CBT is, and even if/when the mess kick in and you feel mostly normal, keep practicing the CBT for those times when the mess aren't as effective as you'd like.

[Guest jayjay89]

Fluoxetine completely messed me up for about 2 weeks while trying to get onto it - no sleep, couldn't eat, had the shakes etc. that did subside yhough

[Guest Olly]

Thanks for all the replies. I slept slightly better last night although still really dreadfully! Definitely going to give it a go.

[Guest Orwell1984]

I slept dreadfully too. It could also be a seasonal affect though. My fluoxetine's been upped to 60mg and I have a short course of sleeping tablets. We shall see how this goes and if the sleeping patterns are good after the short course of sleeping tablets ends