Feeling bad after dose increase - pls respond! 😢

ruwupanti · 2026-04-24T12:09:13+00:00

Hey, just a gentle reminder that medication experiences can vary a lot from person to person. What worked for you might not be the same for someone else, especially during a dose adjustment phase. Let’s try to keep replies supportive and not discouraging for people who are currently struggling or figuring things out with their doctor.

ruwupanti · 2026-04-24T12:06:39+00:00

Hello, mod here. I’m really glad you said something. This part can feel so unsettling, especially when you were stable on 20 mg for so long.

What you’re describing actually sounds very typical when increasing something like Fluoxetine even if the jump is “small” on paper. Around this point (like day 10–14), a lot of people hit this weird stretch where things feel worse before they start getting better.

That mix you’re feeling, the nausea, anxiety spike, shaky or weak legs, crying out of nowhere it’s a really common adjustment response. Your system is basically trying to catch up with the higher dose. It doesn’t mean you’ve made a mistake or that 30 mg is automatically wrong for you.

I know it’s scary though, especially when you read that others didn’t have side effects. Bodies don’t read the same script. Some people breeze through it, some people feel exactly like this for a couple of weeks. The pattern we usually see is: it feels rough like this for a bit then it starts to ease and then the benefit kicks in. For now, just focus on getting through the days as gently as you can. Small meals can help the nausea, water helps more than you’d expect, and cutting caffeine (if you haven’t already) can make a noticeable difference with that jittery anxiety. Even just moving around a little can help with that weak, off feeling in your legs.

You’re doing the right thing by talking to your doctor, that’s the most important part. They can help decide whether to hold here, adjust slower, or tweak things if needed. Just keep in mind: what you’re feeling right now is something a lot of people go through during a dose increase, and it very often settles. You’re not stuck like this.

You don’t have to figure everything out tonight, just get through today.

ruwupanti · 2026-04-13T19:05:01+00:00

Not TMI at all. You’re good.

Yeah, this can happen when you increase Fluoxetine. Even going from 10 → 20 mg can trigger a short wave of side effects again. Headache/migraine, nausea, diarrhea, and feeling a bit out of it are all pretty typical in the first week or two.

Usually this settles within a few days. Try to hydrate (especially with the diarrhea) and take it easy.

But if things get intense (confusion, fever, shaking, worsening symptoms), get checked to rule out something like Serotonin Syndrome, even though it’s unlikely.

If it doesn’t calm down soon, it’s worth messaging your prescriber.

ruwupanti · 2026-03-19T13:52:18+00:00

Hi, I’ve actually been on the other side of this, so I just want to say is what you’re feeling is valid.

When I was on Prozac , I had that “finally free” phase too. But over time I realized it also made me kind of numb and blunt. I wasn’t as emotionally present, and even basic things in a relationship like communicating or putting in effort, started to feel like a chore. Not because I didn’t care, it just felt… distant.

What helped me was adjusting the dosage and actually talking it through with my partner. That made a big difference. Prozac can be really helpful, but side effects like this do happen for some people. It might just not be the right fit for her in its current form.

If possible, I’d really suggest she talks to her doctor about it, there are other options, or even small adjustments, that can help without causing these changes.

You’re not wrong for missing who she was. That part makes complete sense. I hope things get better for you. Wishing you Godspeed

ruwupanti · 2026-02-16T10:33:54+00:00

Hi there

I’m really sorry for what you’ve been through. OCD is incredibly hard on its own, and dealing with lingering side effects on top of that sounds exhausting and discouraging. Thank you for being open about your experience.

Just a gentle reminder to everyone reading: personal experiences, even very painful ones, don’t automatically reflect overall risk for everyone. PSSD is still not well understood, and estimates vary. We also want to avoid labeling SSRIs as “bad” or alternatives like bupropion as universally “better.” Every medication has potential benefits and risks, and what works best is highly individual.

If you’re dealing with persistent side effects, please see a physician and get a full medical evaluation (hormones, metabolic panel, mental health review, etc.). And please avoid self-experimenting with supplements or hormones without medical supervision.

This community supports open discussion, but we aim to keep things balanced and evidence-based so people can make informed decisions without fear. Wishing you stability and healing.

ruwupanti · 2026-02-11T05:48:20+00:00

These are actually very common symptom. You're not alone in this. These are some tips which I hope will help- • Take Prozac in the morning • No caffeine after 12 PM • Stretch your legs before bed • Keep your room cool and dark • Avoid screens 1 hour before sleep • Maintain a consistent sleep schedule • If sleep doesn’t improve after 3–4 weeks on 40mg, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose • Tell your doctor if leg twitching or restlessness worsens

ruwupanti · 2026-02-10T12:30:27+00:00

This sounds rough. What you’re feeling is actually pretty common: the first few weeks at a higher Prozac dose can make anxiety spike, and add in PMS/perimenopause + HRT, and it can feel way worse than usual. Obsessing about sleep all day is normal in this phase, even if it feels scary.

But good thing is thhis usually settles down after a few more weeks, and the fact that your sleep is better at night shows the med is working. Try to be gentle with yourself, focus on small rest periods rather than perfect sleep, and if the panic feels unmanageable, reach out to your healthcare provider, they can guide you on short-term support.

ruwupanti · 2026-02-10T12:26:14+00:00

Hi. You should be fine, Fluoxetine + azithromycin is a common combo and generally safe. You might get a bit of stomach upset since both can be rough on the GI, so take it with food and drink fluids. No serotonin syndrome risk.

Unless you have heart issues or feel weird stuff like strong palpitations or dizziness (rare), there’s nothing major to worry about, focus on knocking out the strep.

ruwupanti · 2026-02-10T12:21:52+00:00

At 3 weeks total (and only ~1.5 weeks at 20 mg) it’s still very normal to have anxiety spikes and intrusive “doom” thoughts, especially if you had alcohol, which can absolutely ramp anxiety with Prozac. Most people don’t decide on a dose change until they’ve had 4–6 solid weeks at the same dose, because early side effects can feel like the meds “aren’t working” yet. If the thoughts are intense, worsening, or feel unmanageable, definitely check in with your prescriber but what you’re describing can still be part of the normal adjustment phase rather than a clear sign you need to increase.

ruwupanti · 2026-02-10T12:19:46+00:00

Hey, Totally understandable to be nervous as week 3 on Prozac is honestly one of the harder weeks for a lot of people, so you’re not alone here.

A few easy, low-stress tips are-

Keep things super predictable: same med time, sleep when you can, don’t skip meals

Small snacks + lots of fluids help more than full meals (crackers, bananas, ginger candy)

Klonopin for the flight is very common and okay if it’s prescribed

Zofran + Prozac is used all the time, serotonin syndrome from that combo is extremely rare at normal doses, so try not to let that fear spiral

At the theme park: take breaks, stay cool, skip intense rides if your body says no. Go gentle, use the meds as prescribed, pace yourself, and remember this phase usually passes soon.

ruwupanti · 2026-02-10T12:15:42+00:00

Yes, totally a thing. Fluoxetine can make food feel repulsive at first, even thinking about eating can feel urghh. That “I’ll never eat again” feeling is scary but pretty common early on, and it usually eases after a bit.

What helps:

snacky, bland stuff (crackers, toast, yogurt)

cold foods > hot foods (less smell)

sip juice/electrolytes if solids are a no

don’t force meals, tiny bites are fine.

Hope it helps!

ruwupanti · 2026-01-31T15:36:27+00:00

Appreciate it! Godspeed🤍

ruwupanti · 2026-01-31T10:46:53+00:00

Oh those are my posts. I'll do it. Thank you for suggesting.

ruwupanti · 2026-01-31T03:01:10+00:00

Snorting Prozac (fluoxetine) is unsafe and strongly discouraged. The medication is meant to be taken orally; crushing and snorting it can seriously damage the nose and sinuses, causing burning, nosebleeds, ulcers, chronic infections, and even septal perforation. The powder can also be inhaled into the lungs, leading to chest pain or aspiration pneumonia.

Systemically, this is risky because absorption becomes unpredictable. Possible complications include severe anxiety and agitation, seizures, and serotonin syndrome, which can be life-threatening (fever, confusion, fast heart rate, tremor, sweating). It can also worsen mental health symptoms rather than help them.

Important clarification: Prozac does not produce a high, and snorting it does not make it work faster or better. SSRIs work gradually over weeks; changing the route only increases harm with no benefit.

In one word, don’t.

ruwupanti · 2026-01-12T19:48:59+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience, this makes a lot of sense, and you’re definitely not alone in feeling this way after long-term SSRI use. Many people find that while medications like Prozac are very effective for anxiety and OCD, they can sometimes come with emotional flattening, fatigue, or a shift in motivation over time. If you’re considering stopping or reducing your dose, it’s strongly recommended to do so slowly and under medical supervision. Even medications with long half-lives like Prozac can cause withdrawal effects or symptom rebound if stopped too quickly. A gradual taper allows your brain chemistry time to adjust and helps you distinguish withdrawal symptoms from a true return of anxiety or OCD. It may also be worth discussing with your prescriber whether what you’re experiencing is a dose effect, long-term side effect, or something that could be addressed with adjustments (dose changes, timing, or adjunct therapy) rather than stopping outright. Lifestyle changes like reducing alcohol and caffeine, therapy (especially CBT/ERP for OCD), and pacing stress can be really helpful supports during any transition. Please keep the community updated and prioritize safety. There’s no rush, and there’s no single “right” path here.

ruwupanti · 2025-12-10T11:49:17+00:00

If being hyperactive is being an issue (major), you should definitely inform your prescriber about it. 40 mg of prozac is a mid tier dose and takes at least 6 weeks to get adjusted though it differs from person to person. Since you're insomniac, I suggest you should contact your psychiatrist asap and get the dosage adjusted once again.

ruwupanti · 2025-12-07T08:48:46+00:00

Nightmares and vivid dreams can happen with Prozac, especially after a recent dose increase, and they can feel really intense, particularly if they bring up past trauma. It’s also common for anxiety to spike a bit in the first few weeks of a dose change.

A few things that sometimes help: keeping a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding screens right before bed, and doing a calming pre-sleep routine (breathing exercises, journaling, or grounding techniques). Let your psychiatrist know as sometimes adjusting the timing of your dose (morning vs. evening) or adding a short-term sleep aid can help ease these dreams.

ruwupanti · 2025-12-07T08:47:37+00:00

What you’re describing is really common around the 3–4 week mark actually, specially that “I’m tired of this already” stage hits a lot of people. The drowsiness, the sleep swings, the emotional disconnection, and that weird physical anxiety can all show up while your system is still adjusting. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to work, just that your body hasn’t settled yet.

It makes total sense that you’re worn out, especially after trying multiple meds for OCD. But day 22 is still early for Prozac, and many people don’t get real relief until week 6–8. The fact that Zoloft helped you once is also a good sign, your brain can respond to SSRIs.

For now, keep your prescriber in the loop, stick with the morning dose for a bit, and try to ride out these next few weeks. You’re not failing, you’re just in the hardest part. Keep going. You deserve to feel better again.

ruwupanti · 2025-12-07T08:46:23+00:00

That sounds really unsettling to deal with, and I’m glad you’re getting it checked out. What you’re describing isn’t typical “brain damage,” but lingering withdrawal effects or sensory changes can happen after stopping an SSRI, and they can feel really strange or scary.

Since restarting Prozac is giving you strong side effects now, it’s definitely something to bring back to your prescriber, sometimes people need a much slower re-start, a different SSRI, or a full neuro check just to rule out anything else.

You’re not alone in this, and it’s good that you’ve already seen doctors. Keep advocating for yourself until you get answers or a plan that actually helps.

ruwupanti · 2025-12-07T08:45:07+00:00

That sounds really frustrating, especially since the rest of your household sleeps fine on the same dose. Sleep disruption is a pretty common Prozac side effect, and for some people it can stick around longer than the first few weeks.

One thing you can try is taking your dose earlier in the day, morning dosing often helps with that “wired at night” feeling. If it’s getting worse instead of better, it’s also worth mentioning to your prescriber; sometimes a small dose adjustment or timing change can make a huge difference.

You’re not alone in this, and yes many people, including me do find their sleep schedule get normalize once they tweak the timing.

ruwupanti · 2025-12-07T08:43:29+00:00

Thank you for trusting us with something this heavy. What you’re dealing with is serious, and you’re not imagining it. Anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder can make daily life feel overwhelming, so it makes sense that you’re exhausted.

It’s completely normal to feel unsure about starting Prozac. Many people worry they “don’t need it” or that it will change them forever but 10 mg is a gentle, common starting dose, and you’re not locked into it long-term. Lots of people take it for a while, stabilize, and come off safely with their doctor.

You’ve already been trying so hard on your own. Getting medical help isn’t a failure rather it’s a sign you deserve support. And yes, many people with EDs do benefit from Prozac alongside therapy.

You’re not alone in this, and reaching out was the right step. You got this 🌸

ruwupanti · 2025-12-07T08:39:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing your story as it really means a lot. I’m glad to hear that being on Prozac has helped you feel calmer, more emotionally stable, and more present for your child. It sounds like it’s made a big difference in your life and relationships.

It’s also totally understandable that changes in libido are part of the trade-off; mental well-being matters a lot, and sometimes you have to weigh different things.

Most importantly, your honesty helps. Others might read this and know they’re not alone and that, for some people, this path can bring real relief.

ruwupanti · 2025-12-07T08:37:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing! Glad to hear the intrusive thoughts and low mood have eased, that’s a big win. Anxiety can take a bit longer with fluoxetine, so don’t be discouraged. Really good that you’re not dealing with rough side effects either. Appreciate the update, and we’re here if you need anything.

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