OCD Action

Citaloman
Member

Hi, just wondered what I can expect from Fluroxetine, it's been two weeks now and the citalopram should have left now. How long before some relief.

Sat Jan 21 2012 18:15:52 #
ACB33
Member

Hi Citaloman,

When I first started on medication I was on Citalopram and it made me quick sick. Although I wasnt eating alot at the time and so I think it was laying heavy on my stomach and only took it for a few days before stopping them.

Im currently taking Fluoxetine now and in my personal expereince it has made a HUGE improvement to me. I actually havent had an anxiety attack for nearly 3 weeks and im actually able to do more things rather than being confined to the house.

I will copy a link to the thread that I started when I first went on Fluoxetine and Londoner gave me some really good and positive advice about their experience too.

I found for the first 3-4 weeks I actually felt quite uncomfortable - very shakey, upset and still wasnt able to eat but Ive been on them about 5 weeks now and I feel so much better than I did. Although im not 100% and still have bad days (as we know the medication alone isnt a magic remedy to this illness) but they are becoming less and less with the added help of CBT and counselling.

Give the tablets time to work - they have been good to me so far so stick with it and I hope you find as much help from them as I have.

Take Care

ACB

Sat Jan 21 2012 20:00:47 #
ACB33
Member

Here is the link to the thread I started just before xmas and im actually 50% back to my old self than when I started this page. I really wasnt in a good place at the time but PLEASE STICK WITH IT - Im feeling alot better now so just have faith in the medication and really put as much effort into CBT/ERP and counselling as possible...

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/forums/topic/feeling-really-low-and-new-to-medication

Sat Jan 21 2012 20:05:05 #
Citaloman
Member

What happened to your thoughts? I'm scared, so scared.

Sat Jan 21 2012 21:05:19 #
ACB33
Member

Hi Citaloman,

Well I think my situation is alot different to yours and most of the other suffers on here because mine was triggered by a major operation I had so im also suffering from PTSD which triggers the OCD (its all very complicated!)

I can honestly say I have never been so scared in all my life with all this - even with the operation that was nothing compared to suffering with anxiety/depression/OCD/PTSD etc.

My thoughts are still there from time to time but the key is actually allowing them to be there but not engaging with them. If you engage with them, you start giving them meaning which then most of the time become distressing and self destructing.

If im being totally honest I still dont quite know 'how' this happens and works. My therapist gave me several exercises to do which I was encouraged to flood my mind with what I was most fearful of and of course the first couple of times you do it your anxiety shoots though the roof, you think its end and that nothing is going to work,help or ease the suffering but believe it or not after I managed to calm down and allow myself to flood my mind without shaking (I suffer with mainly thoughts but I started to shake which became a compulsion - So i had to make sure I didnt do this) the anxiety was quick to subside and it became quite boring!

Are you currently having CBT therapy? I would highly recommend you get CBT for Dummies book as it covers alot about several different issues related to anxiety, depression etc.

I just want to say I dont want to encourage you to do anything - this must come from a trained professional with guidelines and it must be in a controlled way. If you dont do this properly and in little manageable stages it will only prolong your suffering and recovery will seem impossible.

The tablets really helped me personally, they took the edge off the anxiety and shaking which then takes the severity of everything else into a more rational and manageable way.

Try not to expect too much too quickly, give the tablets time to work and try to take each day as it comes. Im not over this by far - I still wake up in panic and still VERY SCARED but you just have to deal with it and sometimes we try too hard to find answers to questions that perhaps dont actually need answering or simply cannot be answered.

Hang in there Citaloman - there is no easy way out or secret door we can go through, we are a resilient species who can be knocked down time and time again but just get back up and carry on.

ACB

Sat Jan 21 2012 21:46:15 #
Mike
Member

Are you talking about Fluoxetine (Prozac)?

Sat Jan 21 2012 23:45:25 #
Citaloman
Member

Yes

Sat Jan 21 2012 23:52:04 #
slogsweep
Member

Hi Citaloman, for me it was mild relief after a month or so, vast relief after three months. It's been a godsend and I was on too low a dose for four weeks, so I guess it should be quicker if you're on the right dose,

Good luck, you're on good medication there,

Slog

Sun Jan 22 2012 15:20:58 #
Citaloman
Member

Today i woke up feeling hyper active, its actually really frightening. My worries fly in and out but this energy im feeling is too much. Im again really scared. Its almost like that feeling of not caring and then worrying why with an added gallon of energy.

Feel sick. Does this calm down?

Tue Jan 24 2012 7:57:32 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Citaloman... It sure isn't easy is it? I really wish it was easier, but we just keep plodding on.... I feel sick too, but as to whether it calms down, I would say that the answer is yes, but in its' own good time... Which is annoying isn't it? I'm gonna be reading today, the David Veale, Rob willson book today... I found it helpful last time I read it, so I'll try it again...
OCD is a right pain, I do so wish I hadn't got it, but I have, we have, so we have to plod on getting our reading in, and encouraging each other along. Let's keep pushing forward together...
Wannabe

Tue Jan 24 2012 11:36:40 #
ACB33
Member

Hi All,

Firstly, really glad to hear that Slog and Wannabe are feeling the advantage of medication. Its a sensitive time and really does depend on the person when it comes down to the type of medication and dosage but I wish you both all the best in the rest of your recovery. Lets try and encourage and stay strong for those who are still in that part of the journey!

As for Citaloman, I was the same when I first started the medication, I felt very sick, couldnt eat, lost so much weight and had about 8 hours sleep in 5 days. I can honestly say I felt the worst I had ever felt the first 4 weeks on meds (I dont know if it was completely down to the meds but I think it was a contributing factor!)...BUT...please please please stick with the medication, its a good medication that has clearly helped other suffers. It maybe your like Slog and you may need it increased but you will have to return to your doctors to get their help and opinion.

We are all different and dont get disheartened if you need to go on a higher dosage or a different med - check out this link on OCD Action and look at the Medication for OCD section - this may help you a little

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/support-info/resources/

I know its easy for all of us to say who have suffered that part and were fortunate enough to come out the other end but a very good friend of mine said to me... 'The Darkest Hour is always Before Dawn' and in my experience it was very true!

Take Care all and stay strong

ACB

Tue Jan 24 2012 14:29:49 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi there everyone... To be honest, I'm struggling with my medications to be honest... I'm now on the new ESA benefit, so may struggle to pay for prescriptions... When I was on incapacity benefit we had income support, but now that is gone... I don't know what to do...
Wannabe

Tue Jan 24 2012 19:45:09 #
Citaloman
Member

This will be week 3, next Monday being the start of being week 4. I'm so sorry for writing this but staying alive for another two weeks is my main worry. I said to my doctor today that this morning scared me as it was a horrible feeling. She said its definately the meds. The first week I was on 20mg then up to 40mg the second week to match my citalopram dose. I have CBT tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it.

I also asked the doctor if she has other OCD patients and she said I wasn't the only one. I asked her if the other patients worries felt so real, at that point I touched the desk to show her that I felt my worry was that real if that makes sense, like a real object, that real.

She said yes.

I hope tomorrow morning im not hyped again.

Just want my life back. All I want to know is that I haven't down anything wrong.

All I want is to love again as well.

Tue Jan 24 2012 20:19:25 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Citaloman, stick with it my friend... It is easy for me to say, but not for me to do, cos I'm scared too... It sure isn't easy this OCD game... I'll be thinking of you for tomorrow, doing the CBT... I wish too that the meds would help me, but they must be, or I wouldn't be here today writing this... The CBT works in tandem with the medication, a sort of double approach to attack the OCD. I wish you well with your CBT tomorrow...
Wannabe

Tue Jan 24 2012 21:09:51 #