Did anyone on Prozac experience weight loss, and is that go away with time?

I’ve been taking Prozac for many years. It takes 2 to 3 weeks from my experience to see full effect. Just recently it was necessary for me to increase dosage and I had the same experience on the increase.. Hope this helps.

I’ve been taking 10 mgs of Prozac for a week, and have no appetite, nauseous, still having some anxiety, and have no energy. Is this normal? My daughter takes Zoloft, and told me to give it two weeks. When she started taking Zoloft she was nauseous, had no appetite, and lost weight. During this Covid mess my anxiety has been out the roof.

Yes, there is an initial phase where fluoxetine will diminish your appetite, especially at 40mg. Studies have found that 40mg and 60mg have the same weight loss effect on controlled groups. However it does change after a while. If you are overweight, you can leverage the first few months to lose as much as possible but the appetite eventually returns. I'm not advocating it as a slimming pill, however it is used in people with binge eating disorder and bulimia. Eventually your system gets used to it and all the symptoms leverages out. 40mg seems to be the optimal dose for me with regards to my depression and suicidal thoughts. I am overweight and 20mg just increased my appetite like crazy. On 40mg I feel 'normal' and 'balanced' now.

I really like Prozac. I was up to 60 mg a day at one point, now I am on 20 because of all my other medications. Yes, I did lose weight and since I like losing weight this is my depression medication of choice. I think it makes me feel up and alive.

I've been taking it for 6 eeks and hoping it will help me lose weight.

i have been taking prozac for around 15 years for panic attacks. i am now 58 years old and it stopped my panic attacks after about 3 weeks. over the years i have increased to taking 80mg per day. i was always skinney,but i gradually started gaining weight since taking it. i never lost weight own it,but my mood was happier and i could handle stress better. it took the edge of things..i also have depression which i have to fight. i can't say for certain that it was prozac or middle age that caused my weight gain. i just know that i never had a weight problem before and i am really over weight now. thought i would share this with you so you could be aware if you start to gain weight.

Hey mariana,

The side effects will lessen as you continue taking this medication. As you reach theraputic levels over the next month, you should feel better with less anxiety and the appetite should return. If the side effects of increased anxiety and nervousness don't improve over the next couple weeks, please inform your doctor. Everyone responds differently to medication, so give it a good try, upwards of a month, and then evaluate the benefits versus the side effects if any.

Good luck on the new med and keep us posted,

Laurie

In clinical studies of Prozac, weight loss occurred in 2% of people taking the drug. Usually, people do lose only a small amount of weight due to Prozac. However, it is possible for people to lose large amounts of weight while taking the medication.

It is not entirely clear why Prozac can cause weight loss. Prozac can often cause loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea, which may contribute to weight loss. Often, these side effects go away with time. Also, since weight gain can be a depression symptom, treating the depression can lead to weight loss.

If you are experiencing too much weight loss with Prozac, be sure to let your health care provider know.

Take care, be safe & well!