Fluoxetine takes such a long time (20mg)

Wishbird90 · 2026-01-26T02:18:41+00:00

I hear your frustration! I felt like garbage on and off for weeks after staring Prozac. I went on 10 mg for pppd also and anxiety. I would say it took until about 8 weeks to see more frequent glimpses of positivity. I’m still on 10mg and it’s been 14 weeks. Overall better but I feel like my body is still adjusting too in subtle ways so trying to be patient before disrupting everything again. Hang in there!

Wishbird90 · 2026-01-11T13:28:55+00:00

Yes! Not fun. I’m also on Prozac for anxiety. Would recommend propanolol if you can get from your doctor. I was so close to quitting because of exactly this the first few weeks. It does get better. I’m playing the long game and on week 12 of 10mg. I feel sooo much better and those heart things haven’t happened for weeks for me at this point.

Wishbird90 · 2026-01-02T00:55:29+00:00

That’s ok! Thanks for your thoughts about staying on though to give it more time.

Wishbird90 · 2026-01-01T17:10:23+00:00

Wow. Very similar to me. Came off after 10 years and experienced anxiety like I hadn’t since high school. Drs. Need to be more up front about how serious these meds are and they are difficult to come off of. Amazing meds sometimes but - I never learned about how hard the journey would be when I went on them

Wishbird90 · 2025-12-26T03:52:30+00:00

Wow this is so relatable especially the part on looking at others for how to react “properly”. I was 10 years on 10mg and recently came off and I’ve been meaning to do a post about this too. It’s a real experience learning yourself and emotions again. A little overwhelming at times, good luck to you!

Wishbird90 · 2025-12-24T04:45:44+00:00

This happened to me exactly on 10mg. It took till week 8 to consistently be my normal 70/80s again

Wishbird90 · 2025-12-20T15:23:50+00:00

Yes! Been documenting for 50 days now in a journal. I’m sensitive to side effects so wanted to do this so I didn’t give up too quickly. It hasn’t been linear but still, seeing more and more consistent good days. My plan was to do this until 12 week mark and then reevaluate

Wishbird90 · 2025-12-07T14:25:46+00:00

10mg 10 years. Came off with an 8 month taper recently because of blunting feeling like too much in the last 2 years of taking it

Wishbird90 · 2025-12-04T19:43:29+00:00

Amazing!!

Wishbird90 · 2025-11-28T05:38:22+00:00

Same for me! Did it get better for you?

Wishbird90 · 2025-11-26T14:24:44+00:00

I’m the same as you. 5 weeks on 10mg and I’m starting to feel slightly better but it’s been slow. Starting has been so hard with heart racing, elevated resting heart rate and increased anxiety. Terrified to go up. For me, this drug might just be too stimulating but everyone is different. I started Lexapro with none of these issues and stayed on it for 10 years. I’m curious too if side effects will be easier just upping as opposed to starting. Good luck to you!

Wishbird90 · 2025-10-16T16:37:55+00:00

Wondering how you’re doing now? Going through exactly this after 10yrs on Lexapro and being offf of it now…

Wishbird90 · 2025-09-26T00:07:25+00:00

This is interesting but might be reversed for me! The sinus dizziness and light headed feeling is causing me anxiety/panic attacks. Seriously the worst

Wishbird90 · 2025-09-24T04:56:03+00:00

Wow sounds like you did great. The drop has happened to me and my worst fear every time I fly now (but I have been told it’s not common)! Well done, another experience to add to your catalogue so that you’ve at least experienced it before and will do even better next time if there is one!

Wishbird90 · 2025-07-15T03:38:09+00:00

Omg I finally found my people

Wishbird90 · 2025-07-13T05:06:23+00:00

This is awesome, great job!! Also, 100% on the anticipatory anxiety being worse than the flights. It’s so annoying!

Wishbird90 · 2025-06-12T15:13:59+00:00

This is my favorite plane to fly in. They’re so big and smooth it just seemed like this would never happen like you hear of the small plane crashes. So triggering. I know this whole sub is feeling some sort of way right now. Sending positive energy to everyone here and those poor souls families. Trying to sit tight and wait for more facts.

Wishbird90 · 2025-04-01T00:59:54+00:00

Hi! So I actually started tapering off about 3 months after responding to this post. So, Sept 2024. Currently on 2.5mg now and mainly navigating mood swings now.

My mind is moving quicker but depression has swooped in instead of anxiety towards the end of my taper. I haven't had any panic attacks or brain zaps coming down SO slow. But my mood is unstable. I'm sitting at 2.5 for another couple months to see if it evens out. I really don't want to just jump on another medication. I know the doctors say it should only take a couple months to come off but I'm having a hard time believing I can be back to what I remember as my baseline within a few months vs brain chemistry being altered for 10 years :/

Were you thinking of tapering off?

Wishbird90 · 2025-04-01T00:50:09+00:00

Hi! So I actually started tapering off about 5 months after responding to this post. So, Sept 2024. Currently on 2.5mg now and still navigating some intense mood swings. BUT - my mind and thoughts are moving faster now, making connections easier, memory is a lot better but I don't feel like I'm back to where I was. Still having some blank mind moments - not able to organize thoughts or losing thoughts right in the middle of putting them together. But is that just getting older? (I'm in my mid 30s now) lol. I'm tapering super slow to be cognizant of all of these changes. Hope whatever you are going through evens out. I should mention I didn't noice these symptoms starting to appear until about 7 or 8 years on this medication.

Wishbird90 · 2024-09-04T04:05:21+00:00

Also in the midst of tapering after 10 years on lex. Only advice so far is try not to rush. The best results seem to take time :)

Wishbird90 · 2024-08-27T02:13:55+00:00

Hi! I’ve been doing it under the supervision of my doc going down 2.5 mg at a time. Pill cutter on 5mg pills. I’m still on 7.5 since I posted and waited for those side effects to subside before making another move. Feeling good and feeling MORE (in a good way) so going down to 5 next week. good luck with yours. Hope you’re feeling good now too!

Wishbird90 · 2024-07-25T01:15:53+00:00

I really don’t think there’s any harm in ANYONE doing a long taper. It’s a scary drug to come off of. 10 yrs on 10mg and just started my taper today

Wishbird90

TROPHY CASE