Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress User Reviews (Page 5)

• OCD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2017

Prozac (fluoxetine) "This medication was a game-changer for me. I've suffered from anxiety/OCD/depression my whole life, and for the first time, it feels like I can handle what life throws at me. My anxious/intrusive thoughts still come, but they no longer ruin days/weeks/months. I was very nervous to start this medication because of reviews about side effects, but I honestly believe that most people who come on these sites to write reviews are the exceptions who have bad reactions. The worst side effect I had was losing a little weight, while the best thing it did for me was probably saving my life."

• Tammy
• April 9, 2017

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I should have been on this sooner. I'm a 26-year-old recent law school graduate enduring the bar exam - unfortunately twice. My first round of studying, I was crying daily, couldn't sleep, was irritable, extremely depressed, and anxious - I am normally these things, but it was heightened by the bar exam. My first time taking the exam, I didn't come close to finishing the exam on the second day. I was crying and couldn't control my panic attacks. Second round of studying for the test, I decided to see a psychiatrist who gave me Prozac. I love it. I feel like a normal person. A better version of who I was. I feel even, I don't have panic attacks, don't cry, I feel great."

• knew
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2016

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I am 25 years old and I have been dealing with anxiety and depression for most of my life. My GP prescribed me Fluoxetine 20mg and I have been taking it for 2 months now. I could see results within the first 2 weeks - things that bothered me every day were slowly diminishing. It's not like they weren't in the back of my mind, but it's almost like a wall was keeping me from thinking about those issues excessively. Essentially, I don't care about petty things anymore, and I am genuinely happy now! I still have anxiety/panic attacks, but they are not as extreme as they once were. I did have side effects initially: indigestion, headache, fatigue, weakness, yawning, loss of appetite, and nausea. Those have diminished greatly now."

• Lola
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2015

Prozac (fluoxetine) "Third week on Prozac, and I feel great. My mind is clear. I am able to focus on today and not obsess over the future. It's amazing. The first week I started on 10mg, and then the second at 20mg. Only side effects I had were insomnia and nausea for the first week. Still, definitely worth it for me :) I am finally present and not stuck in my mind."

• Etpho...
• May 4, 2016

Prozac (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."

• Speed...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 25, 2021

Prozac (fluoxetine) "The first few weeks were awful. My anxiety increased, my sleep was non existent. However because I knew to expect these common side effects it made them easier. I have been on it for 2 years and have been stable and feeling I am living life."

• Hopeful
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2024

Prozac (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."

• trishy
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 25, 2020

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I have been told Eli Lilly no longer supply PROZAC and you can only be prescribed the generic fluoxatine this is terrible news for me as the generic gives me side effects. has anyone else had this problem...."

• Ris
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2020

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I started 10mg dose of Prozac, then was increased to 20mg dose. I was on it for irritability for two months before it started inducing severe panic attacks, racing heart and the inability to think. I had constant headaches and no feelings, I couldn’t even feel pain. I’ve been off it for two months now and the withdrawal has just started. It has been horrendous, racing heart, anxious feelings, severe anxiety, loss of appetite, memory loss, foggy brain, feeling off, panic attacks every night. So far two weeks of this. I don’t recommend this, it’s been the worst 5 months of my life."

• berfe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 2, 2015

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I went on Prozac about a year ago after I saw how well it helped my boyfriend. We met two years ago, and I knew he was suffering, but didn't know from what. He and I were soon diagnosed with OCD. I was so wary of taking any meds, especially any that said 'weight gain' as a side effect because of my obsessive-compulsive behavior with my appearance. One day, my boyfriend said, 'It's okay if you gain a couple; if anything, you need to,' said in the nicest way. So I finally gave in and started at 10 mg. I later went up to 20 mg, and I noticed I didn't seem to be beating myself up every day, maybe only every few days. I didn't gain any weight, and it even helped with my binge eating disorder. It also helped my more 'intense' feelings to 'normal'."

• RemiB
• January 29, 2016

Prozac (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."

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

Prozac (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."

• JD68
• December 28, 2017

Prozac (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."

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

Prozac (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"

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

Prozac (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!"

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

Prozac (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 less 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 our” like my experience with lexapro. I’m more relaxed, sleep better, cope with stress more effectively, and laugh everyday! 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!"

• Jamie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2019

Prozac (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 its been the best choice I have made for myself and my family."

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

Prozac (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."

• Tomtom
• April 19, 2017

Prozac (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 can not 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 mediation, quit drinking, do CBT, take up exercise, see a therapist, be around people more."

• wicke...
• March 20, 2017

Prozac (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......."

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

Prozac (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, its great. I am certain it works differently for everyone, as peoples 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."

• Chlob...
• October 20, 2015

Prozac (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!"

• Music...
• June 29, 2015

Prozac (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."

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

Prozac (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."

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

Prozac (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."