Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress User Reviews (Page 5)

• Etp...
• May 4, 2016

Fluoxetine "I was put on Prozac 5 years ago to help with severe premenopausal symptoms (i.e., anxiety, night sweats, hot flashes, depression, lack of concentration). I was amazed at how good it felt and how much it helped with all these symptoms. The extra bonus was that I was much happier, relaxed, and more social than I had ever been before. The serotonin was a miracle drug. I take 20 mg 3 times a day, and if I miss more than 4 days, all my symptoms as well as depression kick in. I'm 51, and it's been a lifesaver for me."

• 1te...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 16, 2024

Fluoxetine "I have been on Prozac for over 20 years, and it has significantly reduced daily anxiety. I started at 20 mg and went to 30 mg for the first 15 years, and up to 40 mg for the last 5 years with no notable related weight gain or side effects."

• chr...
• June 5, 2021

Fluoxetine "I have been dealing with anxiety for years and have been able to manage with exercise and other outlets until the pandemic hit. I started to experience panic attacks and anxiety 24/7. My anxiety started to interfere with my sleep. I was prescribed Prozac (10 mg), but I was so fearful of the side effects that I put off trying Prozac for over a month, which led to severe anxiety and depression. I finally gave in, and I had a positive reaction initially. For the next 4-5 days, I experienced minimal side effects: lack of appetite, irritability, decreased libido, and fatigue. I had increased anxiety in the morning, some days were better than others, day 8 was by far the worst day. Day 9, things started to improve day by day. I'm now on day 12, I'm sleeping better (continuing to improve), and my anxiety is almost nonexistent. I wish I would have started Prozac sooner. What works or doesn't work for me may not work for you. Because of this, don't put off taking medication because of someone else's experience."

• wic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2013

Fluoxetine "I had been on Celexa for 2 years, which caused weight gain, low motivation, sleepiness, and my anxiety came back full strength. Now, 1 week on Prozac and I feel like myself again. High energy, good appetite, alert, no anxiety - basically I feel great! I was drinking 5 alcoholic beverages a day, now I am not interested in drinking more than 2 a day. I am over 45, and my vision was beginning to slip when reading items close up. Ever since I started Prozac, my vision has improved and I can see things less than 6 inches from my face. Not sure why that happened, but it did. Give it a try - you will get your life back."

• JD6...
• December 28, 2017

Fluoxetine "Been on Prozac 6 weeks now. Developed PTSD, suicidal ideation, work stress+++, parent dying no warning. Life sucked in 2017. After several attempts with sertraline, Zoloft, Prozac, stuck with Prozac. Saved me from doing the unthinkable. On 20mg. Just cruising along, happy, content, started exercising, eating healthy. Life is great. Wife kids happy I’m back to normal."

• Rel...
• February 1, 2015

Fluoxetine "I honestly feel that this medication saved my sanity and my life. After going through an extreme amount of stress in a short time, and then having a miscarriage, I started having extreme panic attacks out of the blue. I was having them almost every day; one night I was laying on the couch for four hours shaking uncontrollably and thinking I was going to die. Finally saw a psychiatrist who put me on 20 mg of Prozac per day. At first, it made me dizzy and gave me headaches, and I couldn't sleep. I was ready to give up and try something else, but finally after about 6-7 full weeks, I started to feel better and the panic attacks stopped. Haven't had an attack in over 3 months and I feel like myself again. I am also taking 0.5 mg of Klonopin to sleep."

• Rem...
• January 29, 2016

Fluoxetine "In about 1996, I started Prozac for 13 years and then it stopped working. I was on 2 different meds since then, but the last one caused excessive body sweating to the point where I could not work as I work with the public. I just went back on Prozac 3 days ago, and I already feel so calm and rational. When I was on it for those 13 years, my doctor said I was the poster child for Prozac as I had no symptoms. So far, I do not have any. I love Prozac."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2016

Fluoxetine "Started more as a supplement to Wellbutrin, but I got more from this so I quit Wellbutrin and take this at 20mg. I feel great. Calm and clear. Focused and motivated. Side effects were mild... vivid dreams and absolutely zero appetite. I eat lunch and that's it. Not hungry the rest of the day. Great for motivation and clarity."

• MIC...
• February 16, 2017

Fluoxetine "I have been suffering from anxiety and paranoia for about 6 months now. The past month has been extreme with constant thoughts that I'm going to die, when healthwise I'm perfectly fine besides needing to lose a few pounds. It has gotten to the point where every ache and pain makes me think something is wrong with me and that I'm going to die. I fear being alone with my 8-month-old the most. I fear something will happen to me and nobody will know, and my baby will be alone in the house until daddy gets home. I tried almost everything except medicine because I am scared of side effects. Prescribed fluoxetine 20mg. I've had the prescription for 2 weeks and been holding off. I finally gave in and started today. Your posts give me hope."

• Zoe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2016

Fluoxetine "Ok, I felt better two days into treatment. Then, a week in, I am calm. Two weeks in, still calm. Just even. Finally. I've struggled with rapid heartbeats, sweating, panic, fear, talking too fast, gasping for breath because I have so much anxiety, and just a general uncomfortable feeling my whole life. Of course Xanax and meds like that worked, but when they wore off the anxiety would come back worse. This drug Prozac? Like, why didn't I try it earlier. I've been on many other antidepressants and only Cymbalta came close. On 20 mg and my headaches and muscle tension are also reduced. I hope this lasts. The only side effects: early waking, and waking up a few times at night, but I just take some Benadryl and I sleep through the night"

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2012

Fluoxetine "My psychiatrist prescribed me Prozac recently when he diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression. My depression and anxiety were really bad. I constantly worried about the same things over and over again and couldn't control it, got bad panic attacks, could not eat or sleep, and became very depressed. Xanax helped me but only temporarily. I'm taking Prozac 20mg nearly two weeks now and already I feel like I'm getting back to myself. I no longer worry, I'm eating and sleeping better, and panic attacks are just a thing of the past. The only side effects I have are increased appetite and fatigue. But all I can say is that Prozac is a Godsend, that I would highly recommend it. It has helped me so much."

• Car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 27, 2025

"Two years ago I had a very big mental breakdown that I really felt I wouldn’t come through. Suffering from anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and eating disorders all my life, I was stubborn/scared and refused medication. That was until I hit middle age and couldn’t anymore. I was so, so scared of medication! But two years in now and my life is amazing, I want to share this so that anyone who is where I was before medication isn’t scared. Fluoxetine saved my life, literally. I am on 60 mg and hope to get down to 40 mg eventually, but even if I am on it for life, so be it. Please, please, please don’t be scared, you will get better, just be open to help. Life is too short, it’s easy to see that now I am well."

• Chl...
• October 20, 2015

Fluoxetine "20mg a day changed my life. Head pain due to stress and anxiety is gone when taking this tablet and also OCD in the form of dermatillomania (finger) completely better. I had this for about 3 years and decided to stop, the weaning off was very tough. I had a good month or two of hit sweats, shakiness, and agitation. However, I went completely back to normal for over 2 years after that. I have now restarted Fluoxetine/Prozac due to having a very stressful year and struggling to get by day to day. 1st pill and I am mellow as a mellow thing once again, goodbye stresses!"

• wic...
• March 20, 2017

Fluoxetine "This is my 4th review since 2014. Prozac has almost completely eliminated my anxiety episodes. Weight loss ceased some time ago, and I gained weight back, most likely due to drinking. Appetite is normal, bowel movements are more normal than ever - sorry, but when I had severe anxiety, that was a big problem. I can speak in large group settings with no problem, travel without issues, and deal with stressful situations effectively. Overall, I feel great with no side effects. Cons: Drinking can be an issue. Definitely drink moderately, eat before drinking, and drink plenty of water. Alcohol can sneak up on you and cause drowsiness or blackouts. Believe me, I know."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 27, 2013

Fluoxetine "I was suffering from extreme anxiety and panic disorders. The smallest things would lead to a full-blown attack. I couldn't sleep, eat, or care for my young son. It was crippling. My doctor first prescribed Ativan and something else, but I began feeling like a zombie and was sick. I couldn't wake up. I stopped taking the medicine after a few days and returned to the doctor worse off than before. He then prescribed Prozac and I noticed a difference within two days. The anxiety was less severe and completely gone within 6-7 weeks. Side effects were drowsiness for the first few weeks. I have been on Prozac now for 7 months and we are going to begin weaning off of it in the next month or two. It was a lifesaver in my eyes!"

• Be ...
• July 2, 2016

Fluoxetine "Prozac for anxiety and stress: I started Prozac 20 mg on January 1, 2016. I feel great so far with no anxiety and panicky feeling. Not every day is perfect but that is life. The first two weeks on Prozac 20 mg, it made my anxiety high, it made me nauseated, unable to eat, and unable to sleep. Since I suffer from GAD, 20 mg suddenly stopped working, and I went up to 40 mg. Increased to 40 mg, it gave me a lot of anxiety and panicky feeling again. After one week or so, the anxiety was gone, and the panicky feeling was also gone. I have tried three other ADs, and they all gave me chronic nausea and headache. However, on Prozac, I feel great. I do feel nauseous but it is manageable. Give Prozac 7 weeks before you quit. Two thumbs up!"

• Mus...
• June 29, 2015

Fluoxetine "I love this medication. I'm 16 and had major anxiety. I used to not want to be around people at all. I hated so many things. Now that I'm taking the medicine, I realized I also had depression. I'm a whole other person. I'm so happy, and my anxiety has lessened greatly."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2019

Fluoxetine "I have suffered with anxiety my entire life. After having 2 kids, my anxiety got so bad I stopped going to work, stopped eating, couldn't get out of bed. I was afraid of my own thoughts. I was hospitalized for a week. When I was prescribed Prozac, I had anxiety about taking it, and the first 3.5 weeks of being on it were HARD. Diarrhea, insomnia, heightened anxiety, and depression. But I took Klonopin as needed to help me get through. By week 5, I literally felt like my old self again. I can't believe the difference. I'm so grateful I stuck with it. I'm on 40mg, and it's been the best choice I have made for myself and my family."

• Anonymous
• October 27, 2010

Fluoxetine "I started taking this medication because my doctor thought that I had too much stress and anxiety in my life, which was causing me to feel like I couldn't breathe. I have never taken any anti-anxiety, depression medicines before, and was very skeptical. The first few days to the first few weeks were not so great. I felt tired, depressed, and just plain crappy. I worked through it and kept taking the medication. I am now a month into the medication and I feel great. I can concentrate on class and other tasks much better without worrying about other things. My relationships are much better with my husband and child. So far so good!"

• dar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2016

Fluoxetine "I have been on fluoxetine 20mg for six months. It took about 8 weeks to notice any positive mood changes. After a few weeks of starting it, I began to feel like I was living in a fog and had a difficult time concentrating, but that eventually went away and turned into optimism and feeling great. Please give it a couple of months to work. It takes time to kick in. After 8 weeks, I felt good and happy for a while, but recently have relapsed into anxiety and depression again. My MD has now upped my dosage to 40mg. I am hopeful I will get the happiness and optimism back again soon from the higher dose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2019

Fluoxetine "I began taking this for anxiety/obsessive thinking, depression, & bulimia. This has been a miracle drug and has improved the quality of my life. I started out at 10mg then went up to 20mg the very next week for about two months and now take 20-30mg. And to top it off, I had ZERO side effects and started feeling better depression-wise in less than a week! The 20-30mg has been so helpful with my obsessive thinking and I have much fewer thoughts about food and everything else I used to obsess over. Yes, the anxiety is still there and will always be, but this has helped tone down my thoughts so much without feeling “zombied out” like my experience with Lexapro. I’m more relaxed, sleep better, cope with stress more effectively, and laugh every day! I can’t imagine how I was functioning before this. I am also in therapy and exercise on a regular basis which I feel like in combination help tremendously. Highly recommend this!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 28, 2015

Fluoxetine "Works great for: anxiety, depression, OCD, PMS, IBS, coping with stress, fibromyalgia, sleeping better, low immunity from stress, headache prevention, helps you think positive rather than negative thoughts. Negative side effects include daytime fatigue, dry mouth, agitation/hyperactivity, harder to orgasm, harder to feel in love/emotional numbness, vivid dreams."

• Cav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 4, 2019

Fluoxetine "I began Prozac due to work-related stress and anxiety. After a few weeks of taking it, I noticed subtle changes in my attitude towards work situations. Within a month, I felt calm, much less anxious about these stressful situations. I began to enjoy my evenings more at home. I have never taken much medicine, not a big believer in it, but it was either try something or find another job. I tried Prozac and for me, it's great. I am certain it works differently for everyone, as people's body chemistry is different. I wouldn't do without it now. When I retire, I'll come off of it, but for now, it has improved my quality of life."

• Tom...
• April 19, 2017

Fluoxetine "Personal experience: 1. Put up with the initial uncomfortable feelings of dizziness, increased anxiety, insomnia, lethargy (the anxiety is usually your fears related to taking medicine and the 'what ifs'. Medicine alone cannot make you think bad things). 2. After 2 weeks (yes, I was one of the unlucky few who had very bad side effects for all that time, but I stuck with it), the therapeutic effects start coming through eventually. 3. Don't just assume medicine will make you completely happy, you still need to actively change your life to fix the root causes of anxiety or depression, i.e., do meditation, quit drinking, do CBT, take up exercise, see a therapist, be around people more."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2024

Fluoxetine "I was very much against anti-depressants all of my life! My only regret about this drug is not starting it sooner! I had a very traumatic childhood and suffered from terrible social anxiety and PTSD. I’ve only been on this medicine a couple of months and feel like a miracle happened! I feel calm, social, and my heart isn’t beating out of my chest with nervousness around others. Please don’t suffer if there is hope from medicine; we all need a little help sometimes."