Fluoxetine/Mood Swings/Dosage

Hello,

Just a quick question really. I'm 17 and I've been prescribed Fluoxetine for long-term bulimia and depression, and I started a couple of days ago. I'm currently on 10mg, which will be upped to 20mg after a week - my therapist is very cautious with dosage. Is this normal, firstly? Secondly, I suffer from horrific, rapid mood swings anyway which are currently destroying my life, and I've heard that Fluoxetine can have an adverse effect on rapid mood-swings like the type I have. In addition to that, I've been having a terrible time recently, and didn't really tell my therapist that I've already been having some suicidal thoughts - concerned also that the drug will heighten that too.

Thank you very much,

smallcat

Hi there,

that's a perfectly normal dosage to start with. Lots of people are fine with 20 mg, but if you need more, your doc will up your dosage after a few weeks.

Mood swings - if the swings are caused by the depression, fluoxetine can help with them. The side effect you mention happens most often to people who suffer from bipolar disorder, something your doc will have taken into account before he prescribed your meds.

About that and the suicidal thoughts - the most important thing is that you monitor them, and, should they get worse, contact your doc immediately. There's no telling in advance who will get which side effect, if any at all.

Try and tell your therapist about the suicidal thoughts, it can be a big relief when you don't have to carry that burden on your own. I really hope the meds and therapy will work for you!

Hey Smallcat,

I too just got recently put on Prozac at 10mgs and just got upped to 20mgs after my first two weeks. I didn't really notice a difference between 10mgs and 20mgs, but I also didn't get too many side effects. I'm just really weird and handle most medications bizarrely well.

The thing with ADs is that each person reacts differently to them. For the most part I'm told that the risk of increased suicidal ideation on ADs is possible but also quite rare. They just get so much attention because well it's a pretty scary thing. Keep that possibility in mind, but don't obsess over the possibility of that happening. Hope all is well. I know you've posted this a while ago.

Sorry if this hijacks the thread, but I don't want to create a whole new thread since this is on topic.

I just recently started this medicine. I'm unsure of my dosage, probably 20mg. Ever since taking it I've noticed I have severe mood swings where I am literally laughing one minute and then uncontrollably crying over literally nothing the next. I am also on 100mg seroquel at night.

Is it unusual to have severe mood swings on this? Should I contact my doctor? I don't actually have a psychiatrist yet because I just got out of hospital and it was at the hospital that I was prescribed the prozac and seroquel and taken off my zyprexa.

If it helps I've been diagnosed with BPD, anxiety, Depression, and PTSD.

Hi,

I've been on 20mg Fluoxetine for about 3 weeks now, I haven't noticed any major mood swings. I have read that any side affects should ease off after i think it was 4/6 weeks (dont quote that tho)
If you're worried, its probably best to ask your doctor or pharmacist.

I hope things settle down soon.

willow

NihilismOppurtunity wrote:Is it unusual to have severe mood swings on this? Should I contact my doctor?

I see that you are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. I mention this because some people with bipolar disorder can experience severe mood swings/mania when put on an antidepressant. Borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder can be very similar when it comes to mood swings, and they are often misdiagnosed one with the other. I'm not saying that you may have bipolar disorder, but that it is possible that the fluoxetine could be causing the shifts in your mood. I would contact your doctor, at least to get their opinion and what you should do. ie. stay on the med and "wait it out" or make a change etc.