For 20 years, I took 20mg of Prozac for depression and panic attacks and it worked wonders. This past year, I went through a phase where I was forgetting to take it and before I knew it, I hadn't taken it in months. All the old depression and anxiety symptoms returned with a vengeance and I started taking 20mg again. For two weeks after starting back on the 20mg, I've had terrible headaches, dizziness and nausea. I stopped taking it and felt better. I went to see my psych and she started me on 10mg. I've been on the 10mg four about 9 days now and the side effects aren't as bad as when I was on the 20mg, I don't have the nausea, but I still have the extreme dizziness and headaches - and don't even want to think about going up to 20mg yet. As far as the depression goes, I already feel much better, but I don't know how much longer I can tolerate the dizziness. Should I just be more patient or is it time to think about changing to a different medication? My psych suggested switching to Lexapro but everything I've read about it sounds like it is very similar to Prozac.
How long will Prozac side effects last?
Question posted by mommysue on 28 June 2012
Last updated on 20 October 2021
9 Answers
Try rubbing Vicksburg vapor rub on forehead for headaches. Takes mine away in a few mins. I am 9n 40mg prozac and I take it at bed it helps with the dreams seroquel causes..
I don't have any side effects from prozac but Cymbalta was a nightmare I couldn't ear sleep drink sit still nothing. I was put on it for pain. I never weaned off I just threw it away. Dr then gave me 20mg prozac and I was doing so good I asked for increase to 40. Doing really good. Good luck
I had the same problems so I switched it to night and no more side effects and helped my sleep.
Hi there
I’ve just been reading through your comments. I started taking fluoxetine 6 days ago I’m only on 10mg but it’s made me feel so low. I’ve just woke up in the night feeling as if I’m going to be sick and come over all hot, sweaty and tingly. This sick feeling has lasted almost all week along with this my anxiety has been through the roof, I’ve had headaches, I feel really dizzy and so tired. Do I persevere with it and carry on or do I go back to the doctor? I just don’t know what to do and im so worried I’m going to have a panic attack because of these symptoms.
That sounds like u should contact your doctor. Those side effects don't sound super common.
Oh no.. I’ll give her a call on Monday. I just feel at the moment that it’s never going to get any better. I know it’s early days and everything and I need to be patient but it’s so difficult when I just want to feel normal again. Thank you for your help.
I'm having the same exact symptoms as you. I have been on Zoloft for 10 years and over the last couple of years I think Zoloft has stopped working as well. I've tried Paxil, Effexor, Lexapro to no avail. I went back on Zoloft and two months ago my psychiatrist put me on Prozac and he weaned me off Zoloft again. I'm frustrated because over the last two months I can't tell if Prozac is helping me or making me feel worse. My Psychiatrist tells me to wait it out but I'm up to 50 mg and I've had more bad days then good. I am a hypochondriac and I always think the worst..I thought these medications would help my fears and anxiety. My doc also took me off Klonopin a couple months ago as well and gave me Propranolol to curb my panic attacks. I feel defeated because nothing is working for me.I'm having a real hard time with the dizziness. Any advice from any of you would be greatly appreciated.
Beth you said you are on 50mg of prozac? I never heard of that dose. It is usually 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80. If you have been on the meds for months and u are having more bad days then good its time to tell teh doctor. You know your body better than they do. You shouldnt feel dizzy and tired like that. I am not sure what med that is for the anxiety either. You shouldnt need that after months of being on a medication. I would move onto another med. Maybe u should try welbutrin. Alot of people are helped with that med. I was on it and still am but weaning off. Nowadays there are so many meds out there. One is bound to help you. ASK about the DNA testing for psychiatric meds. I just had mine done and it turns out i have a problem converting folic acid to folate which causes confusion and concentration issues. Will be starting a folate pill. And i will report back how it works later on
I have sort of same question I started Prozac last Wednesday 20mg I feel AWFUL so low worse than ever!! Is this normal and roughly how long will this last
I am on Prozac 20mg. Started at 10mg a week ago and just bumped to 20mg. I have bad anxiety too. Side effects usually take 2-3weeks to subside. It's all about how well u can tolerate them or if u can. Im waiting for my doctor to call me to see what the next steps are. I can't live off Xanax forever. It's not good for u.
Xanax is very good for Anxiety and depression if the medication is taken correctly however not taken correctly can cause major issues.
Prozac is a good one if it works for you, its all trial and error the problem with these Medications is the side effects and some only work for a short time.
You must have a holistic approach or dual diagnosis.
I know it's five years later, but I'm wondering how it turned out. I started Prozac (I was switched from Lexapro) two 16 days ago. Felt great for 14 days now I'm miserable with anxiety and nervousness. I don't know if it's worth it to wait it out or not.
If you're still taking your initial dosage you might ask your doctor about increasing your dose to the maintenance level. This is usually done 2 ~ 3 weeks after starting therapy if there's no improvement or if your symptoms return.
I'm just curious as to why my dr would switch me to a med that has a side effect of anxiety when that's my main problem to start with. Why not Effexor or something else? It seems from what I've read Prozac is the one with the worst beginning side effects.
ALL antidepressants can exacerbate and increase anxiety initially. Whether it affects you that way is just that ~ how it affects you. Every drug affects every individual in a different fashion and what it does for me is not necessarily what it will do for you. Also, bear in mind that on average <10% of all users have any side effects at all.
Best bet: talk to your doctor and follow her/his advice.
Well I went to the dr today. She raised my Prozac to 40 mg and also added lamactil 25 mg. I've never heard of it
Well I went to the dr today. She raised my Prozac to 40 mg and also added lamactil 25 mg. I've never heard of it
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is a mood stabilizer. Good stuff.
Ok another question, I've read that Prozac causes anxiety in the first fewweeks. So will doubling my dose cause more anxiety or help it get in my system faster?
I was started on Prozac on about a week ago. Experienced headaches, nausea, no appetite (but told to eat when I take it) just feel kind of like a zombie... Will this go away? I was started on 10mg so the lowest dose, hoping to not have any side effects. Honestly I didn't read the side effects becasue I didn't want them in my mind. Currently read them and glad I did I thought I caught a cold or was starting to get a sinus infection. Found a rx of zofran from a surgery and it helps with the nausea. Just hope the side effects get better. I am so tired of trying different medications. Someone earlier mentioned effexor stay away from this stuff! It has horrible side effects and is extremely hard to get off it!
I went to a psych and was taken off of Prozac after 24 days. He put me back on Lexapro. I basically stopped waking up with anxiety the morning after stopping Prozac, but I've still had it during the day some. I'm on week 5 of the lexapro and I'm about 75% better, but he also put me on gabapentin so I'm not sure which one of the meds is really helping.
Basically, all selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) are the same, just with different side effects. It might be time to listen to your doc and make the switch to Lexapro. You never know, might make you feel better sooner rather than later.
Been in your flip flops,
Sweet Hippie
I agree. But she wants to wait it out so she'll go through the effects and continue to feel miserable, without any result. (my own point of view). Take care hippie
Peace pledge,
H
Switched to 5 mg of Lexapro. Took it for 6 days and didn't feel any different than when I was taking the Prozac. So incredibly dizzy, headache, anxious, nauseous. It was helping my mood, but just can't stand the side effects. Decided I wanted to enjoy my 4th of July and haven't taken it for 3 days now - all the side effects are gone. Wondering if I just won't be able to tolerate SSRI's. Will call doc on Monday. Hope there's some other options for me.
Hey mom,
After 43 years on the bipolar treadmill, SSRI's, SNRI's, tricyclics, every known anti-seizure drug, ad nauseum, I finally found a good combo, at least for a while. I feel better than I have in a long time.
After the drug allergy reaction from Hell due to Depakote, I was started on Lamictal or the generic, lamotrigine. I started out St 25 mgs a day, increased dosages weekly, up to 200 mgs. About 2 weeks into the lamotrigine, I could feel the stuff changing my moods, and no side effects. Hmmmmm, this is a good thing. Now that I have been on the lamotrigine for a few months, along with my clonazepam, I feel great and only start rapid cycling under overwhelming stress. Add 20 mgs of doxepin and I can sleep most nights also. I am a new relaxed woman.
Thought I'd share my newest combo of psych meds that seem to be managing the depressed part of my bipolar issues. Might want to talk to your doc about this when you get tired of the SSRI merry- go-round.
Just a thought, might help you feel better. And "just say NO to anti-psychotics ".
Can't figure what that's all about. Who thought anti-psychotics would be used as a primary med for depression, can we say pharmaceutical companies?
Don't quite understand that. Oh well, maybe I'm not suppose to, but I have had terrible experiences with them, and now I wouldn't take one if you paid me
The combo I'm on is just fine until it isn't.
Hope you are feeling better,
Peace,
Hip
I would give it more time, as the other person stated. Your body sounds like it's going thru a change reagarding you going back and forth between mg. and you're not giving it enough time to adjust. Do not change mg. without CONSULTING your doctor! Please. The dizziness may also be due to anxiety. Think about it. Do you have that? I did a few weeks ago and luckily it stopped. It was all due to not getting my period for 8 months. It is perimenopause and also other female things plus work related issues. But everything is ok. Let me know. {{{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Thanks auntof3sjb! I think you're right, the dizziness is probably due to anxiety, but I think the Prozac is causing the increase in anxiety. It's such an uncomfortable feeling but I am going to give it a little more time on the Prozac. Glad to hear your bout with anxiety stopped - it gives me hope that this won't last forever!
I have come if Prozac 40mg's after 5yrs. As slowly as my dr. Advised me. I'm 55 menopausal period every 4mths. I stopped 2mths now and I am crying, moody sad no desire to do anything, I was inly anxious from a car accident when starting these now, wow! Us this what menopause feels like, I came off the prozac because I started getting side affects, Im calm while in a car or driving no issue, just this horrible rollercoaster ride thank God its not always so bad, I really have to push myself, if this is from the prozac I am not happy with this at all, I am taking bio- identical hormone progesterone because plety of estrogen & testosterone no sex drive, hot flashes are gone. Has anyone gone thru this? Please I just read all post and it sounds like the meds.
Yes, be much more patient. This stuff takes a long time to settle in, by stopping and starting your system has to make huge adjustments. Hope this helps.
Thanks! I am going to give the Prozac more time. It's hard to be patient when feeling so badly.
I know, but you can do it.
Hello mommysue. I would not give it much longer. At this point dizziness should not be a major player effecting you as it has. You might try the what I call the sister drug, Zoloft. Very similiar in compostion but not so in side effects. Regards, pledge
I omitted to say that your doctor was correct, time to change the medication. You can opt out on Lexapro if not comfortable in that particular drug and as suggested, another SSRI ,Zoloft or any number of other possible alternatives.
Zoloft is not as good as prozac I'd switch to taking it at night.
Related topics
prozac, depression, panic disorder, side effect
Further information
- Prozac uses and safety info
- Prozac prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prozac (detailed)
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