Fluoxetine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• March 9, 2012

Fluoxetine "I took Prozac for 15 years and it worked great for obsessive-compulsive disorder! About 3 years ago, I started noticing 'mania' where I couldn't sleep or sit still to even eat. After seeing several different doctors who treated it with medication for ADHD or bipolar, it was determined that it was a side effect of Prozac, so I stopped taking Prozac and all the mania stopped. Google shows two side effects of Prozac are 1) can't sit still and 2) can't sleep at night. I wanted to share this unusual experience to help any others who may be experiencing mania and can't figure out why. If you too are on Prozac, then it may be a side effect, but check with your doctor."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2011

Fluoxetine "Taking 10 mg for OCD and social phobia with very satisfactory results. Only side effects I've experienced are loss of appetite and mild forgetfulness. I have not experienced a loss of sexual desire, in fact, my libido has increased somewhat."

• Sem...
• October 22, 2019

Fluoxetine "I benefited a lot from the medicine, and combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), it cured my OCD. It takes around 2 years to be completely cured and to have my thoughts under control, and I continued using 20 mg of the medication to control anxiety. I am again successful in life. I recommend a good CBT program."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2017

Fluoxetine "Used to read these over and over when I was contemplating 'obsessing' over whether or not to take the medication. Prozac has given me my life back. Life is no longer a struggle just to enjoy. It is not a miracle drug, you still have to put in the work, therapy really helps. But at times when I feel a wave of anxiety come over me that used to last 3-4 days/sleepless nights, I can almost feel the medication working. And the next thing I know, I'm 100 steps down the road from that worry. Some side effects in the beginning with up dosing, such as headaches and not getting full nights' sleep, but all have passed, and I can only say the only side effect is I feel so good I forgot to take my Prozac. Get your life back and just try it!"

• Hel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 19, 2018

Fluoxetine "So happy this was invented. I feel like I am the person I was supposed to be my whole life but was too afraid/mentally ill to become. Was bumped up over time to 40 mg, and my OCD has been kept at bay. I've been going to therapy for years, but after starting Prozac, it was like I was finally capable of following my therapist's advice. She has since told me to stop coming so often because I am doing so well. Awesome. Prozac saved my life. Everyone around me has noticed. Some cons: I was a little nauseous whenever my dosage was upped and had sleep issues for a while, but they went away. In fact, I actually have an irrational fear of vomiting and was very nervous about starting because of this, but it was negligible at worst and, if I haven't said enough already, worth the brief amount of time I experienced it. The most noticeable issue was that it's significantly harder for me to achieve orgasm, but thankfully not altogether impossible. Please don't be afraid to try it out."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2024

"I can't begin to tell you how much Prozac changed my life for the better. I have done so many things I dreamed of doing but was held back because of my crippling OCD/anxiety. It was destroying my life. I started on 10mg of fluoxetine for 6 weeks and felt a little better at the 5-week mark. I then went up to 20mg and have stayed at this dose for 3 months. I literally feel so much better - my personality hasn't changed, I feel more myself than ever, just without the horrible anxiety and intrusive thoughts that I used to have constantly. First 3 weeks I was super anxious, sweating more than usual, had no appetite (can't complain), and just felt out of it. I feel great at this dose without many side effects. You have to stick with it - it's so worth it even though it takes long, just trust. I tried a few meds before this and couldn't handle getting on them. Things will get better. I can't believe I'm writing this! Stay strong, you will beat this. I also have previously done ERP alongside the meds."

• Med...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 29, 2023

Fluoxetine "This medication is a godsend. I have spent years on 20+ psych meds, in mental health treatment, both inpatient and outpatient, and this is the golden med. I have severe OCD that results in psychotic episodes where I will hallucinate. Prozac and my other two meds have been my best chance at living a semi-normal life. I can go to work, college, and be a functioning person in society. I am currently on 30 mg per day of Prozac, and many of my OCD symptoms have eased, and I feel like I can breathe again. Before Prozac, I was experiencing severe OCD rituals. I was scratching open my skin and ripping out my hair. I still have times in the day where I do experience my symptoms, but it is the nature of my disorder and cannot be fully cured ever, but I have had major relief. I do not have deep wounds on my skin, nor do I rip out nearly as much hair as I did before. I would hug whoever invented Prozac because it has given me a chance at life."

• Gre...
• February 15, 2016

Fluoxetine "Had to switch to this after sertraline didn't work when I tried to go back on it. OCD blew up as soon as I stopped my previous SSRI, and I ended up sick. Always consult your doctor, and if you have severe OCD, it's an SSRI for life. Fluoxetine had the usual side effects: suicidal thoughts, anxiety, worsening of depression, and tiredness. Unfortunately, you just have to work through this with these meds. After a few weeks, I started to see some slow progress, and my obsessions decreased. I was still severely depressed, and I augmented this with risperidone. That too made me a bit crazy for a few days, but after a couple of weeks, I was able to return to work after 3 months off. These meds take time. 18 months on, I'm just on fluoxetine 60 mg and feel great!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 24, 2017

Fluoxetine "It took a few months for it to start to settle in, I think, but total game changer. Six months ago, I was in an awful state due to undiagnosed OCD and depression. Started going to therapy and taking Prozac, and now it feels like I'm standing on more solid ground. I haven't felt this good in years and feel silly for my past apprehension at trying SSRIs. Only side effects I've noticed are I'm a bit sleepy throughout the day, and I'm having vivid dreams most nights (never remembered my dreams before taking Prozac), but no complaints about the latter. Recently bumped up to 30 mg after being on 20 for a few months to try and kick the last of the obsessive thoughts. Really couldn't recommend enough. I can only hope this keeps working."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 8, 2020

Fluoxetine "My son takes Prozac. Thing I like about it, it works for OCD. He still has it, but compared to how it was - the compulsions and tic-like compulsions were almost unbearable. Then there was the hoarding! Since taking Prozac, most of that has subsided. He still hoards, but it’s not near as extreme. He still has compulsions, but it’s less and more manageable. My issue is, when we have periods and his OCD is ramping up, we have to increase, and it seems like we have a honeymoon period and need to increase again. Also, for my husband, this medication was horrible. It did not work on him at all. He had better success with Lexapro, but we were not trying to treat OCD with him. I think if you’re trying to treat OCD, this is a great option."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 13, 2019

Fluoxetine "I’ve been taking Prozac for 1 year now. I started with 20 mg. The anxiety and obsessive thoughts were still there. My doctor decided I should go up in the dosage to 40 mg. And it helped tremendously. I would say the side effects while being on the medicine were weight gain and inability to orgasm. After 8 months of being on 40 mg, she suggested trying 30 mg, and that was definitely a game changer. I am now able to reach orgasm normally. The first three weeks, my sleep was still disrupted, so she prescribed me trazodone 25 mg. I took that for the first two months, and it helped me. I don’t need it anymore."

• Aha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2021

Fluoxetine "Fluoxetine: the 24th day. I feel a little change. I'm on day 25. I think it will take some more time for full effect, so I'm good. The first 23 days were very tough because I always woke up with anxiety attacks and suicidal thoughts, but on the 24th day, it's gone and I feel better. Don’t quit, it’s seriously working. This is the best decision I have made in my life. Fact: it takes time and gets worse before better, and takes time to be fully effective. Love for those sharing their experiences, these reviews helped so much. I'm so thankful to all."

• Jef...
• March 24, 2015

Fluoxetine "Prozac really saved my life 6 years ago when I was suffering from major obsessive compulsive disorder and insomnia related to it. Tried to stop it a few times but always had to come back. No sexual side effects even at 40 mg/day. Unfortunately, it seemed that the medicine had pooped out on me after 5 years, and I currently started taking Paxil."

• Gir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2021

Fluoxetine "I started taking Prozac three weeks ago. I have depression, anxiety, PTSD, and severe OCD with intrusive thoughts. Before Prozac, I battled with depression and anxiety for years, but the OCD has just hit hard within the past year and a half. To the point of losing my family and friends over it because I was constantly questioning and accusing, and it was just awful. My family doctor wasn't giving me the correct medicine. I have tried wellbutrin, Lexapro, Effexor, etc., and none of them were helping me, I just felt like I was getting worse. I started seeing a psychiatrist, and she diagnosed me with severe OCD and put me on Prozac. The first week, I couldn't really tell anything, the second week I felt alive again, like a weight had been lifted off of me. Thoughts were still there, but I was able to dismiss them a lot easier. Week three, I am feeling a little down and depressed this week, but I am not giving up. The way I felt with week two, I hope to start feeling more often and even better."

• Anx...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2019

"I suffer from GAD and OCD. Before taking this medication, my intrusive thoughts were so bad I was struggling to get out of bed and face the world. I'm not sure how anyone can suggest (as read in a previous review) that this medication is a placebo effect. It has real side effects at the beginning, which did increase my issues, but once in my system, my intrusive thoughts have virtually disappeared and my anxiety is manageable. I was extremely poorly and had no control over my thoughts. Just wanting something to work wouldn’t have worked for me. Fluoxetine really works and has also helped me lose weight. Brilliant stuff."

• cin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2025

Fluoxetine "I have dealt with OCD of various themes since I was a child, and when I became a young adult, it got significantly worse. I had severe OCD and had been in therapy for a while, but I still felt like I was dying every day. This drug was the missing piece for me. Prozac was my first antidepressant, and I could feel its effects a few days after starting. It is miraculous. I cannot describe how much this drug helped me! It's like I am living again, I am myself again, and I have my life back. I was depressed and anxious since childhood, so I forgot what it was like to enjoy life. I have been on it for around 3 months now, and life just keeps getting better. I am excited to live and feel like I can overcome my OCD fears, whereas before, I couldn't even imagine getting over the fears! My doctor started me on 10 mg for a few days, and then increased to 20 mg. Now, I am taking 30 mg and plan to increase to 40 mg. I was afraid to start meds, but pushed through, and it was more than worth it!"

• dar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 17, 2015

Fluoxetine "I wasn't sure if this drug was helping with OCD. When asked, I would reply, 'It seems to make it easier to deal with it.' Then my doc decided to lower my dose in order to take me off it. When I got to 60 mg, I lost it. The obsessive thoughts were out of control. Compulsions increased as well. I am back on 100 mg and feeling and thinking much better. The med helps a lot but doesn't fix me completely. I challenge my compulsions every day so I can reinforce that I do not need them."

• Gas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 20, 2017

Fluoxetine "I take this medicine primarily for obsessive-compulsive disorder, but I also have depression and general anxiety disorder that it helps with. I took it several years ago, but it pooped out on me, and my psychiatrist decided to try it again about two years ago. I worked up to 80 mg because she said that I needed a really high dosage. I take it when I wake up in the morning and find it activating. It's so weird because I find things that I realize I do now that I would've never done before being on this medicine. It's such a good feeling each time I realize that and am reminded of how far I've come. I love this medication and really, really hope I can stay on it this time and not have it poop out on me."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2022

Fluoxetine "I am taking Prozac to treat OCD and the anxiety that results from it. A little background: I took 50 mg Sertraline (Zoloft) five years ago for anxiety. It was a difficult ramp-up period. I had dry heaves, drenching night sweats, and no appetite. After about a month, they subsided, and I went up to 75 mg. Zoloft did fix my anxiety, but it left me 'flat.' I wasn’t anxious or sad, but I also never had any joy. It turned me into Mr. Spock. Oddly though, and contrary to so many reviews, my libido went through the roof. I came off Zoloft after about a year and was fine for about 4 years. Now, I’ve been diagnosed with OCD that the prior doc didn’t recognize. Prozac this time. I was nervous for the side effects, but they’ve been minor. Very mild nausea and some insomnia. And, just like Zoloft, increased libido. My OCD and anxiety are lessening. Don’t let negative reviews dissuade you from trying Prozac. Everyone reacts differently."

• Vil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 2, 2019

Fluoxetine "I have been on Prozac for about 8 months for OCD and depression. It has been a miracle drug for me. It allows me to actually use my skills learned in years of therapy to fight the intrusive thoughts and urges, withhold food, and ritualize. I still have thoughts and urges, but I’m increasing my dose to 30 and then to 40 per doc's orders, and am just happy I am living my life without my fears and thoughts ruling over me. I can eat without my fear of contamination ruling my mind and process through a lot more. I experienced side effects when starting, but then they go away. I also take 5,000 mg of vitamin D for my low levels, which helps with the depression. Good luck to all!"

• ocd...
• July 14, 2017

Fluoxetine "I was reluctant to begin fluoxetine because I'd had a terrible experience when my GP started me on 50 mg of sertraline. Eventually, I ended up going private, and the psych prescribed me Prozac, starting on a really low dose of 10 mg for a week, then 20 mg for 4 weeks, and now 40 mg for the last month. It's been great. Really cut down my intrusive thoughts to basically nothing, concentration is better, I'm enjoying life again! This is also due to a good therapist, but the medication has definitely helped. The main side effect was sleepiness, but having suffered with insomnia on and off for years, it's been great not dreading bedtime anymore. In the first couple of weeks of a new dose, I'd have a bit of brain fog, but other than that, it's been great!"

• ItG...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 27, 2023

Fluoxetine "I started Prozac when I was eleven, around 11 years old, when I started to hit puberty. My hormones were going crazy and I had started to have severe anxiety, depression, and extreme OCD. I basically was miserable and wanted to end it at only eleven years old when I had a really good life. They put me on several meds, including Lexapro and Zoloft, and none worked and some even made me worse. I tried Prozac and it felt like my life was saved. I was only on 20 mg, and I was happy again and pretty much completely went into remission for OCD. I still had a little more anxiety than the average person, but it was tolerable and I lived a really happy life. At about 17 and a half, I stopped taking the drug because I was in a pretty good place in my life and I felt like I didn't need it. (I DIDN'T NEED IT BECAUSE I WAS ON THE DRUG!) Basically, I was okay for a few months, and I believe it was mainly because of the half-life of the drug and since I was on it for so long, it built up in my system. Basically."

• Sou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 2, 2016

Fluoxetine "If you scroll down a bit to 2014, you will find my rave review of Prozac for OCD, and more than 100 people found it useful as well, which is great. Now it's 2016, a year and a half later, and I went from 115 lbs (I NEVER struggled with weight) to 151 lbs today, and I'm just 5'2'. My diet did NOT change. In fact, I battled anorexia in my teens. I just don't enjoy food that much and still don't. I truly believe some people may eat more, but ultimately it messes with your thyroid and hormones badly. So, this is what I'll say: Prozac is pure genius and DOES work very, very well. You will probably lose weight in the first few months, and then, as you approach a year, the weight comes on fast and hard."

• OCD...
• November 10, 2008

Fluoxetine "I have been on Prozac for about 3 months and I must admit that it is a wonderful drug. It helps me control anger and anxiety issues that I have. My only complaint is that I seem to get tremors, but I could live with that."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2024

Fluoxetine "Significantly helps my OCD. I am finally free, although I struggle with dosages. I started with 10mg and it helped for 2 weeks, then I went up to 20mg and it only worked for a month. Now I’m trying to get to 30mg. I hope I find my proper dosage soon. No side effects and I have no more compulsions. I still worry about things, but reassuring myself is so much easier and I feel no need to do my compulsions. I live my life without constantly worrying, and it’s so nice to feel alive again."