Fluoxetine for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Sabo
• February 25, 2019

"I was having horrible PMS, starting with hot flashes , some anxiety, all because of being perimenopausal . Doctor put me on 20 mg. Now side effects include headache which I had EVERYDAY FOR FIRST TWO WEEKS. If you stay with it they do go away after two weeks , I promise . Now my PMS is basically gone , hot flashes much much better , and no anxiety. Plus I don’t eat a lot now and lost some weight. Plus I’m not irritated by every little thing anymore . Only down side is you really don't wanna do anything . I don't wanna clean ( which of course is necesssary). You are really just very content to watch a movie or just chill ."

• Lady
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2018

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I have been on 20 mg of prozac for about 3 months now. It has really worked for me. I don't have suicidal thoughts anymore and overall feel more functional. I was very anti-psychiatric drugs before taking them myself but it has really worked in a way that nothing else has. I took 5-HTP, GABA and tryptophan before the prozac and these all helped a lot, but I still felt extremely depressed around my menstrual cycle. Prozac has stopped that. Side effects are that I get hot more easily, sometimes have nausea and trouble staying asleep through the whole night but they are completely worth it to me."

• jules
• March 1, 2012

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "At age 30 obgyn prescribed Sarafem for PMDD.. made a huge difference.. went through life changing events, a death, divorce, and was at the bottom and had quit taking the medicine. Symptoms got worse at age 50 changed obygyns (had no issues with my 1st obgyn, but just wanted a female dr) and she read me the riot act.. Pre-menopause.. and last yr confirmed menopause. It absolutely makes a huge difference in my life. I laugh every day. Don't stop taking it if you have no side effects. I don't fly off the handle still get moody occasionally, but nothing more than a little venting with a friend can't cure."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2009

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "I wish I knew about this medication years ago. It has been a year this month and I have had tremendous results. My husband is shocked. This was very scary for me to try because I always was told that I should use alternate ways to relieve my symptoms. My mother and grandmother suffered from PMDD and I wish they had this option. I highly recommend it, especially for those who do everything else; eating right and exercising."

• Tot
• March 4, 2019

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I'm 27 and I suffer severe PMDD, rage, mood swings, irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety. I decided one day, when I was PMSing severely; punching things, crying and breaking things, it was time to try meds. Long story short, I gave prozac a shot. It was great for a few months. I stopped crying, I was calm, anxiety has been to a minimum. Well it's been about 4 months and I'm now weaning off my meds because of the side effects. I can deal with excessive yawning, but now I am breaking out on my inner elbow, the back of my legs, my ears and neck, my chest feels heavy. One day I had horrible pain in my chest and throat like I was having a heart attack. I have no allergies, I don't smoke, I eat healthy, I sleep well, etc. the meds stopped working, I suffered PMDD this month as if I wasn't even on medication. I am going to look into herbs and natural remedies"

• Allicat
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2020

"I was so hesitant to try this. I really didn't want too. But the PMS symptoms were making me start to feel unstable. I workout, I try to keep a schedule, try to eat well. I finally reached out to my doctor and tried this. Within 2 days the symptoms subsided. I actually felt happy after a few days, on my period!!! Like I don't even remember the last time that happened. If it makes you more awake you can take it in the morning or sleepy take it at night. It's given me back those 2-3 weeks of exhaustive, draining, and everything in-between that I didn't even realize was related to my PMDD. Try this, you have nothing to lose. You only take it for a few days 7-10. I feel like I actually got to breathe, my husband forgot it was that time of the month. Do this for you. You deserve it."

• ljj
• November 26, 2014

"Was prescribed fluoxetine and have been taking for about 6 months. Was prescribed this for my perimenopause moodiness. Everyone was getting on my nerves I just wanted to scream every time one of my co-workers asked me a simple question. This has been life changing for me, things don't bother me like they did before. I wish I would have told my Gyn about my moodiness with PMS would have been nice to take this for that."

• madison...
• September 18, 2013

"I have been taking 20 mg of Prozac for about five years for my premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It has changed my life and I will never quit taking it. Before, I was quick to fly off the handle. Ironically, I dreaded weekends because my family stressed me out so much. I'm embarrassed to admit was not a very pleasant employee/coworker. I noticed a difference after about a month of taking it when I realized that I'm a different person - for the better. When I first started taking it I was waking up at about 4 am every morning but that has gone away. I still don't always sleep very well but my understanding is that happens to everyone when they get older!"

• Phill...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2017

"I have been taking 10 MG daily for just over 3 weeks now. My doctor said it usually takes 4-6 weeks to work, but I swear I started feeling better after only TWO doses! At first it made me feel lazy but that is going away now. I usually have a bit of anxiety and depression all month long, but I am legitimately emotionally unstable and mentally INSANE right before and during my period. In the past three weeks since being on this medicine, I have had a few small bouts of depression but I haven't felt any "deep emotional pain" like I usually do. My feelings of intense desperation and loneliness are gone! I did get angry at my mother a few days ago, but I was able to calm down MUCH faster than I normally would. I hope this continues to help!"

• hopes...
• November 26, 2019

"Well, I tried taking this in desperation after a very bad period. I took 20mg for three days and was hopeful about it after reading positive experiences here. However, my own experience with it was very bad. I got a whole bunch of the side effects and spent two nights not sleeping at all, marching up and down with very wired energy, having panic attacks. My mouth was so dry and I had to drink water all the time. It was pretty unbearable and frightening and, under the advice of the doctor, I stopped taking it immediately. The shock of all this, and my partner telling me they can't cope with me anymore, has pushed me to focus on getting my life really sorted out - meditation and going to the gym every day. I will be talking to my doctor about trying a contraceptive pill as I read on the website that there is one called YAZ that is recommended for treating PMDD. Good luck to all you PMDD warriors out there! One way or another, we're going to get through this!!!!!!"

• Abigail
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2016

"The best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I'm only on my second month but my PMDD symptoms have already reduced and the anxiety that I had throughout the rest of the month is pretty much gone!I feel like myself again and can't believe how much brighter everything seems. Did get flu symptoms at the beginning, dry mouth and awful nightmares but after a couple of weeks they all disappeared, I'm on 20mg."

• CSC
• October 11, 2018

"I have overeating, irritability, depression/anxiety, argumentative, crying spells, and suicidal idealizations. It is a horrible feeling to constantly fight and ruin my relationships, work (coworkers/supervisors), friends, and self destructive. I knew that I have problem and always wanted to be medicated. I finally got my hands on prozac 20mg. The first pill, I already felt the difference! I was irritable and hungry which are the first signs of my PMDD. The 20mg was too strong when I took it the first day, I had a slight head ache. Now I take 10mg daily for the next 2 weeks. It is the most fantastic medications. It is only day 4 and I have to tell you that I never been this happy and optimistic for many years! It really a life saver. I also suffer from anxiety and OCD. But my main concern is PMDD since it also affect the people I am around. There is a solution!"

• Hill...
• December 6, 2009

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "I started taking Sarafem for my severe PMS about 2 months ago and am SHOCKED at how well it has worked for me! I take it for about 7 days before my cycle - the same week that normally I would be paralyzed with anxiety and absurd thoughts due to my PMS. The Sarafem worked the first day. What is also odd is the rest of the month was even better, even though I wasn't taking anything. The 15mg was a little too much for me -- I was WAY TOO HAPPY --- but splitting it in half is perfect."

• macky...
• May 1, 2011

"I am in my late 40's. Had bad mood dips for my whole life 3-5 days before my cycle. Bad enough to think about divorce and feel that life was utterly black and hopeless every month, then swinging back to everything being fine a few days later. I finally got up the guts to talk to a gyn about it. Fluoxetine has changed my whole family life. I finally feel able to reasonably handle the normal rhythm of things. If any one wonders if their mood swings are bad enough to take something to help, I advise you to talk to your provider and give Prozac a try. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. "

• College...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 12, 2013

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I absolutely loved Prozac. It helped me immensely! I noticed an extremely positive change in my mood and behavior after my body adjusted to the medication. Friends and family were surprised to hear that I was even on medication because of how relaxed and happy my disposition became. I'm happy I gave it a chance. I built my way up to 60 mg a day for almost a year. However, my body has become used to it over time and I'm having to change medications."

• Bunsh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 8, 2021

"For PMDD, medical advice is to take this drug for only 14 days before your period, not all the time. I totally recommend this strategy for PMDD! After suffering severe depression and anxiety for 10 - 14 days before my period for years, I was amazed at how well this dosage strategy works - hardly any doctors have heard of it but when they looked it up agreed to prescribe it. It really changed my life as now I only experience minor irritation rather than crushing mood swings. Also I've had zero side effects and none at all when stopping taking it on the first day of the cycle. I've had SSRIs before and I know how bad it is coming off them, but this is completely different. Talk to your doctor about taking this two weeks on/ two weeks off for PMDD."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2013

"I have been on this medication for 3 months now. Mainly taking it to reduce PMS symptoms and it is working. The first few weeks I felt really tired, not hungry, and just all over weird. After the first month, those side effects subsided. I have not gained any weight and do not have those "moments of rage" I would get before my period. I don't plan on being on it forever but I will take it as long as I see fit."

• Holly...
• July 12, 2017

"For the past several months I've had horrible PMS symptoms that last for two weeks out of every month. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, mood swings, crying fits, migraines. I would throw things across the room and scream at my fiance'. My doctor prescribed me 10mg/day of fluoxetine. I've tried many different antidepressants in the past with no luck, so I had low hopes that this would help. I'm so glad I tried this! I've been on this for five weeks and the only side effects are it takes me longer to have an orgasm, and my blood pressure is slightly lower. I had no PMS symptoms this month other than being slightly more tired. I feel like my stable, happy self again with no more horrible PMDD."

• Anonymous
• January 20, 2010

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "I've been taking fluoxetine (Sarafem) for PMDD for about 8 years now. I just recently was upped from 10 to 20 mg after symptoms of PMDD started to come back. That jump in dosage was enough to get me back on track and feeling better. I recommend this drug for sufferers of PMDD."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 29, 2016

"I have my life back now! PMDD used to make me suffer with so many symptoms and anxiety it felt like I was in a haze for many days of month and it was like clockwork each month. Now I barely notice any symptoms. It took a couple of months to see the full affect. No side effects as of yet. On 10mg daily."

• Tmack
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 7, 2019

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "I was diagnosed with PMDD a little over 20 years ago and Sarafem is the only thing that works for me. The side effects for me are low libido, loss of appetite, slight hand tremble. Sarafem does stop my anxiety, severe deep, depression, rage and irritabilty goes away and I can focus when I'm on it. These things effect my everyday life so the side effects are durable. The only reason I'm not taking it on a regular basis is because with work insurance it went from $40 to $700-$900 then back down to $70 with Dr.s paper to the pharmacy/insurance company back to $700+ if there are any issues. I don't care what anybody says, but when it comes to me fluoxetine doesn't work for the same for me."

• Lizzzzz
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2017

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "My Dr told me to take this to ease premenstrual syndrome - one week before my period - the second time I used it I felt very strange - I couldn't stop crying I called my Dr and broke down in her office. Before this I had not spoken more then a few sentences to her, she got upset with me and told me to see a shrink who put me on Prozac 3 weeks of use and I had a manic episode and was informed I had become chemically bi polar and that SSRIs can cause this to happen. It took 2 years to feel ok again"

• Kat
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2020

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I was diagnosed with PMDD by my OBGYN. I began taking Prozac 10mg cyclically. I would take it on day 14 of my cycle and then stop once I got my period. We did it this way because I only experience symptoms the week before my period. This medication changed my life! I no longer have the depression symptoms. However, after two months of taking it- I began experiencing heart palpitations. My doctor switched me to Zoloft 50mg where I experienced the same symptoms about 8 days into taking the medication daily. So, SSRI's just might not work for my body, But I definitely recommend Prozac to anyone!"

• zfly
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2014

Prozac (fluoxetine) "One week ago I started Prozac and side effects have been bad for me. Fatigue, headaches, body ache, forgetful, sleepy, nightmares, yawning. My Doc told me to give it another week. Hopefully everything will work out. I am tired of PMS."

• Rey
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2018

"I was given 20mg to take and my anxiety was so bad I was scared to take it eventually my doctor gave me 10mg. I took it for PMDD and anxiety and I was also depressed. I was signed off work and the first 2 weeks were awful, I was so spaced out and had absolutely no sex drive. I had no appetite and my first period I was so angry! Fast forward to week 7 and I was driving with no panic attacks, back at work, socialising and had no depression! I am now on week 11 and I still need to work on some stuff but the difference is unbelievable. I hardly noticed my last period! I was meant to take day 14 of my cycle for 2 weeks but agreed to take 10mg daily as it was helping my anxiety. I recommend that people don't give up on this tablet it's definitely worth the rough ride! By no means am I 110% yet but the difference is huge, so far I have lost 5lbs and it hasn't went back on so hopefully it stays that way. I can also drink alcohol with no issues"