Fluoxetine for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

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

"Been on and off Prozac for depression. Very effective for turning negative thoughts into positive ones, increased energy and motivation to get things done and get through the day, less fatigue from stress and worry, better sleep at night, better appetite, able to cope with life's stressors, feel like spending more time with friends and family and doing activities when not depressed, more social/talkative when not depressed, increased confidence when not feeling anxious or depressed. In better health, feel more in control of my life, more optimistic and positive."

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2019

"I have been on it for 5 weeks. Initially, I did not feel so great, and sleep went out the window. Over time, the meds started working, and now I feel much better. Less anxious and depressed, more confident, sleep is still iffy but improving. Doc stated for me it may take 6 to 8 weeks, and I ain't stopping."

• jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2019

"Excellent! This is the third time I'm taking Prozac for depression. It works great. It's energizing to me, not sedating like Lexapro and others have been to me. It works very fast for me (first day) every time I've started it again. I can tell it's working the first day. My husband started taking it 3 days ago but says he can't feel it working yet. I guess everyone is different."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2016

"Fluoxetine/Prozac 20mg for depression/anxiety. Within 4 hours of taking it at 4 pm, I truly felt better by 8 pm and happier. Not sure if it was the meds at first or believing it to be working? Had done a lot of research before taking it, both positives and negatives, so I have an open mind about Prozac. Certainly felt better quickly after the initial dose! First 2 weeks: slight headaches, a bit spaced out initially, groggy, dry mouth, difficult to concentrate, but I did feel like this while depressed! Now on the 3rd week, it's kicked in after 2 weeks and I feel calmer, relaxed, able to think clearly, not a foggy mind, feel focused, happier, and motivated. This drug has dealt with anxiety & depression, 100%. I was worrying about everything. Sleep is okay now, no sexual dysfunction yet. Good luck."

• eth...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2023

"Once my diagnosis with schizophrenia came out, it changed my entire world. I did not change it in a good way. I was depressed and did not feel like myself at all. I struggled to get through each day for about a year and a half. Even got let go from a couple jobs because I was not able to work at my full capacity. I first tried Pristiq with no results. Then I tried Cymbalta with no results. Next was Wellbutrin with a slight improvement but not enough for me to be okay with. Then I tried Provigil, which also made a slight difference. I then tried Prozac, still with Wellbutrin and Provigil. An hour after taking Prozac, my entire world changed. I feel energized, a good mood all day long, a good feeling all day long and I feel like myself again. My first day on it I ended up cleaning the entire house and getting rid of things that were not needed. Words can't explain in this review how Prozac has changed my life."

• Mel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 17, 2019

"I have been on and off of Fluoxetine for the last 7 years. I initially started on 20mg and the first 3-4 weeks were tough with the side effects... but once you get past this, the Prozac works wonders. I increased to 40 mg but found it too much so cut back down. Now, 7 years on, I’ve been on 20mg for around 3 years and again the side effects for the first few weeks were tough. I’ve today increased to 40mg and I think I felt very unwell initially - but I’m going to stick with it. One thing I found is if I drink quite heavily then this would completely negate the antidepressant, leaving me incredibly low. So monitor how much you are drinking if possible, especially on 40mg."

• Ceb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2021

"I’ve finally found the right antidepressant. At first, Prozac made my anxiety worse, just for a few weeks. I bared with it, and I’m so glad I did. I literally feel like my depression is cured, and I’m so much calmer. I’d say this drug works better for depression than anxiety. The side effects are much less severe than sertraline. I feel like I’m out of the black hole."

• Luk...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 14, 2019

"I’ve been taking Prozac for 2 1/2 years now. I started in September 2017 at 20mg, stopped in October 2018, and restarted in January 2019 at 10mg. As of July 2019, I’ve increased to 20mg. Prozac makes me feel “normal” every time, especially the 20mg. It’s amazing! What’s odd is the first time I took it, I gained weight and lost sexual function; however, this time I seem to be losing weight and sex isn’t impaired. I wonder if stopping and taking it again changes how the body responds? Overall 10/10."

• Sum...
• January 26, 2021

"I have been on fluoxetine for a week now for bipolar and borderline personality disorder. I was prescribed 20 mg. I took my first 20 mg pill in the morning, and that entire day I felt awful. I was so exhausted, felt 'high', couldn't think, felt sedated, and my anxiety was through the roof. The next day, I decided to reduce my dosage in half. I split the pill and took just 10 mg that morning. I felt so much better. I had energy throughout the day without overwhelming tiredness or sedation. I have been taking 10 mg since then and continuously feel better and better. I was extremely scared of starting a medication like this, but I do not regret it now. I have started feeling real things again. I'm feeling emotions instead of mimicking them when I am supposed to. I have snapped a lot less. I am much calmer and a lot more patient. I have more energy. I just expect to keep getting better from here! Highly recommend 10 mg if you are struggling with the 20 mg (especially if you have any sort of anxiety/panic issues)."

• Mus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2019

"Felt horrendous for years with menopause. Now I'm on Prozac as didn't want to take HRT. It has literally saved my life. I am back to normal and no side effects. Highly recommend. I'm in the UK so I get it for free."

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2009

"I have been put on Prozac about a week ago (10 mg) for depression, anxiety, and panic disorder, as well as OCD. (I know... a lot of conditions) But this is the best medicine so far out of the 48 others I have tried in the last 6 months. The first few days, I felt a little manic on it - very happy and had a hard time sleeping. But today, day 5, I feel more balanced, and the only side effects I am experiencing are nausea, some dizziness, and diarrhea, but that should go away within the next week. I look forward to going back to college, spending time with my kids, and enjoying life without my ups and downs, lack of energy, and no desire to do anything. Prozac has been a Godsend to me."

• Rat...
• January 5, 2010

"I'm 56. I've been on Prozac for about 20 years. I would rather not take any medication but the reality is that, for me, there seems to be no choice. Like many who have seen their share of shrinks, I tried everything - and then everything in every combination. Prozac is the only drug that helps me. I have been off of Prozac now for about 3 months. I tapered off very slowly. Thought I made it! But I have gone back to my old miserable self. I hit myself, hard. I want to break everything that doesn't 'cooperate' immediately - a button, a hard-to-open package, or a pen for example. I never feel like hitting another person - just myself. I'm going downstairs to begin my Prozac regimen again."

• And...
• August 20, 2017

"I was so depressed, and I started this medicine without expecting that after 15 days, I am like I've taken ecstasy. I am full of energy. I don't hesitate to be myself! I love being myself, actually! I'm not thinking anymore about cocaine, weed, and stuff like that because that was the main reason that I needed a doctor! THANK YOU, PROZAC"

• Ove...
• August 7, 2015

"I can honestly say that Prozac works for me. This medication takes some time to kick in to full effect and many people stop taking after they feel nothing the first week or so. That is a big mistake. If you wait the full 6 weeks, you will see such a difference that it will amaze you. The way it builds in the system and its afterlife is why it takes a while to get to optimal serum levels in the bloodstream. I have battled severe depression and suicidal ideation for over 25 years now. This medication Prozac 40 mg, along with Abilify 10 mg, have solved most of those issues. I also take Ativan 2 mg as needed for severe anxiety. Talk to someone if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or just do not know what the point of life is."

• Jac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 21, 2019

"My side effects of Prozac are 1. All-night dreams. At my age, 72, I wake up at least four times to go to the toilet, every time I wake up with a dream. 2. During the first years of using the drug, the quick throw after intercourse was solved but not anymore after 65 years old. 3. Diminishing of appetite to having sex, once every 3-4 weeks. 4. Flu and colds are very little. Otherwise, it is the happiness pill which I cannot stop after 32 years of using it."

• Gga...
• December 16, 2018

"I've been taking Prozac for three months. Initially, I felt better, my family and partner agreed that this is the best medicine for me, and that I was doing great. I felt hopeful but not certain. I have now changed to a new antidepressant as I had side effects: very sore eyes, muscle pains, shaking hands, no interest nor motivation to do anything I usually would. I even had anxiety seeing my closest friends, and I would lay in bed all day up to 6 pm. I stopped cleaning, cooking, and taking care of myself and didn't want to eat. The only time I would force myself to get up is to go to work as I did not want to lose my job. Has anyone else had this experience? I truly feel worried that my mood is down a lot and that my motivation is gone, especially not feeling like moving out of bed. If anyone has any tips for me, I honestly would appreciate it because I want to push forward in my life. I'm only 26 and would like to get far in life. Thank you in advance."

• Lko...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2019

"This has been the most effective antidepressant I've used. Have taken Lexapro for 2 years but going back to Prozac as Lexapro didn't do a whole lot. 20 mg is the best dose in general with Prozac, even though some people take more (with more side effects). I personally would never go above 30 mg, trust me on that one. Also, because it has a super long half-life it is easier to stop taking it."

• gre...
• October 30, 2011

"Prescribed Prozac 20 mg in 1988. In three days, I felt much better. Tried several times to reduce dosage, but could not stay with lower dosage. I have been on 20 mg ever since. It gave me back my life. In 1955, I was hospitalized and given electroshock treatments for a month. Then the depression returned in 1982 (same year of menopause). My psychiatrist prescribed Elavil, then Palimor, and then Prozac. I am now 81 and take the same dosage. Still enjoying husband of 63 years, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Thank God he sent Prozac."

• Ak3...
• February 14, 2018

"I’m a 45-year-old female. I had a very tough past. It has haunted me in the present, preventing me from being a whole person. Although I had made peace with myself on some levels, my head would spin, go to dark places, feelings of self-loathing, inadequacies would take over. I am premenopausal now as well, which in itself is a struggle. I started the meds almost 8 weeks ago. I was at 10mg for 4 weeks, very slight side effects, mostly foggy. I felt it was “scratching the surface” in terms of helping. I was increased to 20 and it is doing the job just fine. My concerns were weight gain and sexual dysfunction, of which I have neither. If I have put on a couple of pounds, it’s worth it for the clarity in my head. I am very pleased. My only regret is not starting it sooner. Good luck, I hope this helps."

• cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2017

"Some useful advice. TIMELINE: Started 5mg, felt slightly high, just a little more positive. Took 5mg for 9 days, then had a major crash that lasted about 5 days, plus 2 days to level out. Valium is very handy, just hang in there, it will pass & get better. Day 13/14 started feeling much better, now on 10mg, @day 16 really good now. Initial day 9 crash as autoreceptors sense too much serotonin and move to regulate levels, so they drop, making you feel like the world is coming to an end. Once they desensitize, things improve. Tips: stay calm, relax, talk to people, take Valium, sleep, eat carbs, distract your thoughts, walk if up to it. Do not read reviews, will do your head in - too many depressed people + reviews = many negative, useless reviews :-)"

• Lor...
• November 14, 2014

"In 1995, I was miserable for no particular reason and was diagnosed with depression and prescribed Prozac. Great life, depression in check. In 2013, I weaned myself off it because I didn't think I needed it anymore. As luck would have it, I hit a period of challenging events in life that the brain interpreted as trauma. To cope, I began drinking a little, which evolved into daily. I concluded that I had gone off Prozac, decreased self-control, and created a personal crisis. I'm back on Prozac, and my moods have leveled off, and I so far have the ability to abstain. I won't go off it again."

• chl...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 11, 2013

"I started taking Prozac 20mg a day for nearly 6 years! I stopped taking them 7 months ago as I thought I didn't need them anymore. Since I've stopped taking them, I've become really agoraphobic, really depressed, can't stop crying, I've just shut myself away. I'm thinking of starting Prozac again."

• pil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

"Prozac is one of the better antidepressant pills I've taken. There are better pills out there that treat depression, Effexor is one. But Prozac affects everyone differently, and for the most part, it's been positive. I have suffered from depression my whole life, and I can tell you to at least give Prozac a chance. I am currently in Germany, and it's helped me a lot."

• Ziz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2013

"I am a 25-year-old PhD student. I have been taking Prozac for 5 weeks now. It started affecting me on the 3rd week. I felt so much more active, and I had hope for living. I am working more efficiently, and my sleep schedule is perfect. I am gaining some weight, which means I should also start exercising. I still have vivid dreams and wake up several times during the night, but I don't mind it because my life has changed so much, and I feel so happy after years of depression."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2015

"Most of my life I have struggled with severe panic attacks, general anxiety, PTSD & moderate depression. Been on meds twice before until I felt better & then I would stop taking them. This last time it had been close to a year that I had been suffering again before I decided to reluctantly go back on meds. I tried Celexa again- it worked kinda okay in the past but this time it made no improvement for me. Saw the doc who switched me to Prozac- all I can say is WOW! Best yet- I feel like my old, happy self after only 1 month! 10mg the first week, 15 the second and 20mg the last two. Give it time to work & be patient- it might make you feel a bit off & not better at first, but it is a miracle drug. These bad feelings will pass hang in there!"