How long does it take Fluoxetine to lift depression?

Question

has anyone felt anxiety when taking fluoxetine.

Answer 1

Fluoxetine (Prozac is the Brand) and most all the other SSRI's (thats the class of drug) such as Zoloft, Paxil, etc... take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks to reach their full anti-depressant effect. This is true when you stop one of these meds and switch to another as well.

Most docs will advise a taper off, then a 2 week "wash-out" period before starting another therapy.

The reason it takes SO long to "ramp up" and "ramp down" in your system is that these drugs are actually changing the amounts of chemical singals released in your brain. These chemicals are not like turning on or off a light switch. Its more like growing grass. You fertilize a yard, you don't see the effects the next morning, you see it in about 1 month's time. Also, if you stop watering your yard, it doesn't turn brown and die tomorrow. It takes a few weeks.

As for the anxiety. It could be a component of the depression. Some poeple require an anxiolytic drug on an as needed basis in addition to the anti-depressant.

Additionally, some people diagnosised w/ depression are in reality bi-polar. This means that they cycle between manic (overly happy / sometimes impulsive) states followed by depression. These cycles usually happen over a long period of time (like 3-4 times a year).

Often, a bi-polar person will NOT seek medical attention when they are in the manic phase. They feel good, they have energy. They might be a little impulsive (i.e. shopping spree, big impulse purchase, fly off to Vegas for a long unplanned weekend), but often nothing so destructive as to bring it to the attention of themselves, their spouse, family, or friends. But, when they are depressed - they KNOW it. Their friends and family KNOW it. They seek help.

So, the doc looks at them and their symptoms and says "you're depressed - here's an anti-depressant". However, on an SSRI, the drug can actually push a true bi-polar person into a manic phase. Often the first signs and symptoms of a manic phase is a feeling of unrest / anxiety / unable to relax. Often, with the SSRI - these feelings may be more pronounced than they were when the person was entering a manic phase without the medication.

I have no idea which category you might fit into - however, if you are on Fluoxetine or any other anti-depressant and are having issues with anxiety, you need to bring this up with your treating physician. They can help determine the best course of action with regards to adjusting your treatment.

Hope this helps. - Sorry for such a long post.

Answer 2

about 5 years ago, I started to fall into a really depressive episode. At first I thought it was only because I had a bad break from a relationship but the feelings wouldn't go away even after I got a new girlfriend. It was wrecking my life until a point where it was seriously affecting my work and personal life.

She was very worried but at the same time couldn't understand why I was still sad and thought that I still couldn't let go of my previous relationship. Being the wonderful person that she is, she put aside her feelings and suggested I go for psychiatric evaluation. Many months later and even more anti-depressants, I was not coming close to being better at all.

After doing some research online, I found out the real cause as you described it really makes a lot of sense and purchased this program. The results were simply astonishing. I read this book over three times and put all words in action. Using this method, I've kept my depression at bay ever since. Up to date I'm still living happily with my girlfriend.

Depression Free Method?

Answer 3

2 weeks so the psychiatrists all say. that's how long it takes for medication to reach therapeutic levels in the bloodstream.

yet it can take a couple of months to really feel the full effects.

anxiety can be part of the depression or a side effect of the anti-depressant.
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you ought to ask your doctor, psychiatrist about the anxiety as soon as possible. they should be able to put you on a sedative for anxiety at least for a little while. usually, they give medication for anxiety when they first give a person an anti-depressant, for the first few weeks, until the full effects of the anti-depressant kick in.

you may want to consider switching to a different anti-depressant if the anxiety is from the flouxetine, and anxiety, nervousness, worrying are possible side effects; or of course if the flouxetine isn't lifting your depression.
this is something you need to discuss in depth with your doctor.

if you weren't suffering from anxiety before you started the flouxetine then it most likely is that causing it.

i also, had a rough time with this medication, it made me feel very ill even on the smallest dose, with excrutiating headaches.

Answer 4

Hi a p,

I started taking Fluxotine about 3 weeks ago. I am still getting used to them. To be honest it's hard to feel a wow effect but i do feel a small lift and did after apporx 2 weeks, I feel less suicidal and sometimes they give me more enegry, however in getting used to them i have had days where i have felt very sixk, anixious and has disturbed sleep...still have all these things the odd day and sometimes instead of giving me enegry it zaps it from me and leaves me feeling exhausted.

I do see the benefit though and am glad i have started taking them, esp as i was so against taking medication. They can have side effects which should subside after afew weeks (if that's any consitation) and if your not already on them, just to let you know your doc will keep an eye on your for a month or 2.

They don't turn you into the outgoing high person you may want but they try to return you back to how you felt before being depressed....that's what my doc says!

Best of luck!

xxx

Answer 5

Fluoxetine is approved for the treatment of depression
It may take 4 to 5 weeks or longer before the patient feels the full benefit of fluoxetine for most indications and even longer - up to 3 months, for obsessive compulsive disorder.

Answer 6

fluoxetine (prozac) like other SSRI anti-depressants, take apx 2 weeks to reach therapeutic levels in your bloodstream, assuming you take them regularly as perscribed. Tell your doctor or psychiatrist about any side effects you are experiencing as all medications effect different people differently. Side effects may go away but if it is intolerable you may need a different medication.
Regarding the anxiety, this class of medications is commonly used to treat both depression and / or anxiety. Did your anxiety begin after taking the meds or was it there before? Be sure to discuss this with your doctor as well.
Good luck - and remember, depression won't last forever. Keep in touch with your doctor and support system and don't give up!

Answer 7

fluoxetine like most antidepressants can take up to six weeks to deliver their full effect. It is not at all uncommon to begin experiencing panic disorder once the depression is under control. Severe depression suppresses the panic response.
There is some debate as to whether or not the panic disorder caused the depression in the first place. IF you are not getting therapy along with the meds, you need to do that. The therapist can teach you skills for dealing with the panic. And help you with the issues that led to the depression. All the meds do is help your mind to think more clearly and avoid the circular thinking that depression causes, they do not cure the depression, only therapy can help along those lines.

Answer 8

From 2 weeks to several months, depends how bad the depression is, how long you have had it etc every person is different, side effects can last 2-3 weeks and cause anything from a simple headache feeling sick to anxiety, suicidal thoughts. Once through that it's plain sailing, an average person may feel better in 4 weeks.

Answer 9

It can take up to six weeks for Prozac to really kick in. A lot of people feel 'nervy' and anxious during the first few weeks - if you feel really bad, or your depression worsens during this period, you MUST call your doctor.

Hopefully after the first three weeks or so you'll start to feel much better. If by the end of about five weeks you're no better, again, call your doctor; he might need to change the dose. But don't ever change the dose on your own, only with medical advice.

I took Prozac for six weeks and found it really did reduce anxiety once it started working. Unfortunately I had to switch to another medication, but Prozac does work wonders for many, many people - there's a good chance you'll be one of them!

And if not, don't worry; many of us have to try several medications, and you will find one that works for you.

Answer 10

Not all ' depression' responds to medication of any sort. Most antidepressants including fluoxetine, which is an SSRI take at least 3 weeks to cut in. Perversely fluoxetine, which is also frequently used to treat anxiety, can produce paradoxical anxiety!