Increased Fluoxetine dose

[dollydiamond]

Hi, I suffer from anxiety & panic disorder & depression & have been on 20mg of fluoxetine for about 6 years now. It has been a God send helping me to live a proper life again. However 4 wks ago I had my 3rd baby & I now feel awful again. For the 1st time ever my doc has increased my dose of fluoxetine from 20mg to 40mg. For the 1st 3 days I felt normal again but out of no where my anxiety & panic levels have increased majorly to the point it feels I am just living in a panic attack constantly. Not sure what to do & feel really really scared & depressed. Is this normal? Can anyone help??

[nursegirl6572]

I agree that this could be post partum related, however, it could also be attributed to the increased dose.  It's very common to experience an INCREASE in anxiety while you're adjusting to the new dose, similar to the start-up side effects one would have when first starting the medication.

Since you've already increased the medication, I would recommend giving it some time, a few weeks to be fair.  About 4 weeks will allow you to start (hopefully) benefiting from the medication, as well as allowing the side effects to abate.

Hang in there, and make sure you're keeping in close communication with your doctor.  Let us know how you're doing...and most importantly...CONGRATS on the new bundle of joy!!!

[bardderton]

Oops, I accidently pressed submit...blood loss. The fatigue and exhaustion may be triggering your adrenal glands so you can keep going and going and going..this adrenaline response may be what is manifesting as your symptoms of anxiety.
What do you do..first check your hemoglobin to see if you need additional iron.  Before you go to sleep, place a note pad and a pen or pencil at your bedside..many times I used to wake up with My heart racing, lump in my throat, pins and needles. Many thoughts coarsing through My mind. Basically what was happening I was subconsciously worried that I would forget to do something for the upcoming day, so my body would go through through an adrenaline rush, because I subconsciously SCARED myself, which led to adrenaline rush, hence fight or flight, but I would not do either one, because there was no reason for me to flee or fight, so my body experienced an anxiety attack related to the improper utilization of adrenaline..then of course my body felt like blah.
Oh paper is to jot down thoughts that may coarse through your mind in the middle of night.

[bardderton]

Ask your physician if you may wean yourself back to twenty. I am a not a physician, therefore I cannot diagnose..but I get the impression you may be suffering PARTIALLY from post partum depression..you could also be suffering from fatigue related to sleep deprivation (new baby in the home) possibly anemia related to blood liss