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I started taking fluoxetine 80 mg again after a 6 month break. The reason I stopped was because of my poor financial situation, Although I'm taking the exact dose that my psychiatrist previously prescribed, I couldn't afford an appointment, so I restarted the medication on my own.
I've been taking it for only two days, and I've been sleeping a lot... more than 15 hours a day. Is this something I should be worried about? I'm asking here because I can't afford to consult my psychiatristt right now,
I've also noticed that my appetite seems to have decreased a little.
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Restarting fluoxetine directly at 80 mg/day is generally not recommended, even if that was your previous maintenance dose. After a long break, most psychiatrists would restart at a lower dose and gradually increase it over a few weeks to improve tolerability. A mild decrease in appetite can occur during the first few weeks of fluoxetine and often improves with time. Increased sleep may also be related to the underlying mental disorder.
Next Steps
Visit a low-cost government mental health institution as soon as possible. Do not increase the dose further.
Health Tips
Avoid stopping the medication abruptly without medical advice and vice versa
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Restarting fluoxetine at 80 mg suddenly after a 6-month break is a highly intense shock to your central nervous system. Fluoxetine is typically started at a low dose (like 20 mg) and titrated up slowly over weeks. Jumps straight to the maximum therapeutic dose of 80 mg explain why you are experiencing profound hypersomnia (sleeping over 15 hours a day) and a dropped appetite. These are acute, dose-dependent side effects of rapid serotonin accumulation, and while not an immediate medical emergency, this approach carries a high risk of worsening distress or inducing Serotonin Syndrome.
Next Steps
Do Not Stop Cold Turkey, but Lower the Dose Safely: To prevent severe withdrawal on top of your current side effects, do not stop abruptly, but you should not continue at 80 mg unmonitored.
Access Free or Low-Cost Psychiatric Care: Since private consultations are a financial constraint, please visit a government hospital, medical college OPD, or community mental health clinic where psychiatric consultations and essential medications are provided free or at a nominal charge.
Get a Supervised Taper Schedule: Let a doctor at a public facility guide your restart. They will likely lower your dose to a safer starting point (like 20 mg or 40 mg) to let your body adjust without extreme exhaustion.
Health Tips
Serotonin Syndrome Warning: Seek immediate emergency medical care at a public hospital if you develop severe red-flag symptoms such as high fever, severe muscle twitching or rigidity, extreme restlessness, shivering, confusion, or a racing heart rate.
Stay Hydrated: Since your appetite is low, focus on drinking fluids, coconut water, or small frequent meals to prevent dehydration while your system stabilizes.
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