Prozac and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• Sca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I’ve been on Prozac for 7 weeks now. I started 10mg & increased to 20mg after 10 days. I absolutely did feel worse before I felt better. I was already at an unbearable level with my anxiety & the Prozac did increase it for me for around 2 weeks. After around 3 weeks I started to feel good. I can drive again, I’m starting to enjoy being outside & doing things. I’m a lot happier, settled & at least 80% less anxious. I still have moments & I’m definitely not cured but I’m managing. Side effects for me are vivid dreams, loss of appetite & some weight loss. In the beginning, side effects were insomnia, increased anxiety, intrusive thoughts & agoraphobia. I got through it & it was like the sun finally came out once they started working. I spent hours researching & reading reviews, scaring myself silly. If you’re doing that also, I can’t say what it will do for you as everyone is different but for me, it has improved my life. If I can get through those 1st tough 2 weeks, anyone can."

• Cal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I have spent a lot of time reading threads on Prozac. They have all been very helpful during these past few months so I thought I should share my own experiences just in case anyone out there might find it helpful. I started Prozac 20mg about 2 months ago. I always knew I had anxiety and mild depression and was always curious about taking antidepressants. But when my boyfriend and I broke up, I literally went to my psych doc the very next day. I had done my research on ADs and thought that Prozac would be the best for me. My doc agreed. I kept a log every single day I took Prozac starting from Day #1 until Day #30. It took 24 days before I started feeling little random bursts of happiness. But up until day #24, it was pure torture. It hurt to smile, I completely lost my appetite, I could not sleep, I was sad, I experienced so much anxiety, it was painful. But thanks to reading all these threads, I did not give up and was hopeful that things will get better just as everyone said it will. Every day after Day #24 just seemed to have gotten better and better. And on Day #30, it finally hit me, and I understood what Prozac is all about. Yes, it is true that it is a life saver. If I had to put it in just two words to explain how I feel on Prozac, I would have to say “Calm” and “Clear”. But I’m not finished just yet… after a few weeks, I started feeling like the 20mg wasn’t really working. So my doc increased my dose to 40mg. This time around, I almost gave up and went back to 20mg, but thankfully I did not. For 3 weeks of taking 40mg, I was so tired, fatigued, and lethargic. I did not experience this on 20mg, and I was constantly hungry too. So after week #3, I called my doc, so I can make an appointment to go back down to 20mg, he was out of town, so I had to wait. When his office called me back to schedule me in, the awful side effects of 40mg were gone, and I was back to feeling clear, calm, and happy again. So here is my own personal advice from my own journey with Prozac… I’ve been on it for a little over 2 months. You have to get worse before you get better. No matter what you think, YOU WILL GET BETTER. Prozac is literally reprogramming and rewiring your brain, and that TAKES TIME. Side note: I’m 31 years old and ex-boyfriend and I are back together and happy. So were all those days of torture worth it? It sure was."

• OCD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was very nervous to try Prozac because of my horrible hypochondria and fear of trying new medicines. I was constantly struggling with OCD intrusive thoughts and compulsions, as well as TERRIBLE anxiety. I felt as though my OCD and being in a constant state of worry were taking over my life. I’m 29 years old, work full time & decided that this way no way to live. I caved and started 10mg daily. Week 1 I was exhausted and in a fog. Week 2 was brutal, I had peak anxiety and OCD. I almost felt manic. I had a panic attack, was nauseous, & couldn’t eat. Week 3 I started feeling better, I noticed my intrusive thoughts weren’t constantly haunting me. Week 4 I woke up one day and felt like a new person. I no longer have intrusive thoughts or OCD “routines”, irritability is nearly gone, and I’m not in a constant state of worry. I feel 100x better, Prozac has changed my life. I’m posting this for people who are nervous to try. Try fighting through the side effects, it’s SO worth it."

• Cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "I was told that anti-anxiety meds take a while to kick in, but I feel like this one has kicked in sooner than I thought it would. I only take 20mg for anxiety, and overall I have started to feel a lot more positive and less stressed out about things I usually stress out about. I haven't noticed any side effects besides my stomach feeling a little off the first week, and lately I have not been as hungry as I usually am and get full a lot faster, but I wake up in the morning starving. Weird, but no headaches or trouble sleeping or anything! I hope I can continue to take this medicine because it does seem to keep me 'level' with my emotions."

• Meo...
• March 19, 2014

For Depression "I've been on fluoxetine 10 mg for only 5 days. I have noticed some changes already. I have the worst anxiety, and for the past 3 days, stressful situations seem a tad bit less stressful for me. I already lost 4-5 pounds on it. It makes me never think about food anymore. It makes me not hungry for hours. Even a small granola bar can keep me satisfied and full for 5-6 hours... But I force myself to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Things seem brighter, colors are more vivid to me. Overall, I think it's starting to work. I will re-respond in a few weeks to touch base."

• Md1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I began experiencing panic attacks two months ago, due to a lot of stress and anxiety from work. It got to the point that I was scared to leave the house. I was prescribed 10mg of Prozac, and the side effects for the first 10 days were horrible. My anxiety increased by 100%, felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea. I wanted to give up, but the only thing that kept me sane was reading all the positive reviews on here. Everyone was right, it had to get worse before it got better. By day 10, I was waking up less at night, eating more, and my anxiety decreased. By day 14, I felt like my old self again. This drug needs time to get into your system!"

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2014

For Depression "I finally had the guts to mention my depression to my doctor. Thank God! I was depressed for years and was at the point of uncontrollable crying, missing work because of it. This was not the wife and mother I wanted to be, so I finally asked for help. It has changed my life. No more depression and many things that used to cause me stress bother me much less or not at all. Not many side effects except fatigue, appetite loss, and a spacey feeling that only lasted a few days. Please don't wait to ask for help. I wish I had done this long ago."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "I am starting my 3rd week on Prozac, 20 mg daily. I feel like a new person and am so grateful. I agonized over this choice for weeks, but after 6 months of unbearable anxiety and sadness, then skyrocketing blood pressure, I knew I had to do something. I visited my GP - we did the physical, blood tests, etc. to rule out other factors. It turns out empty nest beginning menopause have done a number on me. The medicine made me feel nauseous, sleepy, like being on cold medicine. On the 10th day, my appetite returned! I don't notice side effects at all anymore. The sadness - 97% gone. The anxiety - 75% gone. I also start visits with a therapist in 2 weeks. Again, I'm grateful to get my life back."

• sea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Started Prozac one week ago. I've struggled with anxiety, guilt, and fear for most of my life. Have also struggled with panic attacks for the last couple of years. Recently felt my fear and anxiety become so intense that I've slipped into depression. I've taken Celexa in the past and had no side effects but not much anxiety relief. Also tried Cymbalta but felt so exhausted that I would sleep all afternoon even with a full night's sleep. Now trying out Prozac based on generally positive reviews. Even if it doesn't work out for me, reading people's success stories on here gives me hope. So far I've had reduced appetite and increased anxiety, as many others have reported in the first few weeks. I take Lorazepam when I feel panic coming on. I am going to continue on Prozac and hope for the best. Thanks to everyone else for sharing their experiences-- they have really helped me during this difficult time."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2018

For Depression "I've taken Prozac for 2 weeks now. So far I've experienced a big decrease in appetite, which has been okay. The two major things that this drug has changed for me is that it's made me calm and collected, and it makes me worry/stress less. The thoughts and problems that usually fill my head don't affect me as much anymore, and I get over things much quicker, which has led to decreasing my stress and my severe anxiety. I've also felt very calm and mellow, which could turn some people off, but for me, it has been a blessing. I've always not been able to stay still or focus, and I am very scatterbrained, so this is a huge change that I've welcomed. It has helped me actually get things done and focus, and has made me much more productive since I actually have the motivation to do things now. Thanks for reading, I wish all of you luck on Prozac! Will definitely continue taking this amazing drug and am excited to see how much more it can positively change my life in the future."

• Lem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I am on my 6th week on Prozac, and I can't believe how much this medication has helped my panic disorder. I went from having up to five or six panic attacks a day to having only one very minor one this week. I have also experienced probably 90% less derealization and disassociation episodes in the last three weeks. My hypochondria is 100% VANISHED!!! I was so scared of the side effects that I obsessively read reviews on this site and many others, but I had none except a minor loss of appetite the first week. I noticed a change in energy by the end of my first week. It's not that I have euphoria or experience no moments of anxiety, but they pass faster. I don't immediately catastrophize, and I am beginning to believe that even if bad things happen to me, I am strong enough to get through them. I used to cry multiple times every day, and I haven't cried once this week. I really hope it continues to work for me!"

• Pot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Dr. tried me with Prozac. First 8 days were bad. Severe nausea, no appetite, and worsened anxiety. After reading everything I could on the net, I stuck to reading just the positives. Made my mind up to stick with it as I think so many give up too soon. Now day 11, and the fog is definitely lifting. My last 3 days have been so much better. Think of it as a journey and rate each day out of 10. Write it down. Day 1 I scored 3, so pretty low. Day 2-5 scored 2!! Today I’m a 6.2, so please don’t give up on this med. I may score 5 tomorrow, but I WILL NOT stop taking it. I believe in it and that gives me a positive attitude towards my recovery. Even if it is a placebo effect, I’ll take that any day over depression and anxiety. I’ll never be a 10, but the high 7’s will do just fine."

• kne...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "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."

• chr...
• June 5, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "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."

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

For Anxiety and Stress "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."

• Be ...
• July 2, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "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!"

• pur...
• June 2, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "Prozac helped a lot with my depression and anxiety. It helped me be more calm. The only thing I don't really like is the loss of appetite, and recently I have been drowsy. I sometimes feel jittery. I've been taking it for less than a month but have seen a difference."

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Started taking Prozac for anxiety and panic attacks. I wasn’t leaving my house and running out of public places. Collapsing in public from panic. I decided to stay in for months. Ok, so I tried Prozac and it worked amazing!! I’m so much more calm and able to function again. I’m in such a good mood all the time. I feel like myself again. Only side effect is loss of appetite, and I’ve been on this for about a month and a half now."

• mys...
• January 9, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "After reading all the reviews, I decided to try Prozac. I am extremely sensitive to medications and have been on many different antidepressants, usually stopping due to side effects. My doctor gave me the liquid Prozac so I could take a tiny amount and work my way up. Initially, I experienced loss of appetite, nausea, slight dizziness, tiredness, and weight loss. I am 8 weeks out, and most side effects have improved. I feel so much better. Anxiety is low to nonexistent, clear thinking, hope has returned. I am still dealing with grief from my mother's death, but I feel better equipped to handle it. That is a miracle! I take 2mg, yes 2mg, and when I go higher, I can't tolerate the side effects."

• vin...
• February 9, 2014

For Depression "It's always a test of one person. Everyone will have antidepressants that work best for them. I tried Lexapro and Wellbutrin. I hated Wellbutrin. Prozac gave me ZERO side effects. No sexual frustration, no irritability, and no insomnia. I'm on my 6th month and just got bumped from 20mg to 40mg because of seasonal depression and feel a HUGE deal better. I've lost 10 lbs in 3 weeks because my appetite and drinking are also under control. I've also heard Prozac is associated with weight loss. If something isn't working for you, give it a try."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2016

For Panic Disorder "Re Prozac: I started this medication May 1, 2016 for Anxiety and Panic Disorder. I started at Prozac 20 mg and felt good but it suddenly stopped working after 10 days. 10 days later, I bumped it up to 40 mg. At the onset of taking 20 mg and 40 mg, my anxiety was 5-fold, unable to sleep well, constant nausea, & lost my appetite. I did use a benzo at times to reduce the anxiety which was high. It is now June 10, 2016, I got my appetite back and sleep pattern was back to normal. Prozac has made a big change in my life. I feel less anxiety and less panicky. Prozac is working pretty well thus far and haven't had to use a benzo in over 14 days. You must give Prozac at least 6 or 8 weeks and you'll know by that time if it is for you or not."

• Sou...
• February 2, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "This medication has truly been life-changing. I suffered from severe anxiety for years. After taking this medication for a month, most of the anxiety and intrusive thoughts disappeared. I take the lightest dose, 10 mg, and have found that it is just enough for me when used in conjunction with mindfulness techniques that help keep anxiety at bay. I will say this medication made my appetite disappear completely. I lost 15 lbs very fast once I started taking it."

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

For Anxiety and Stress "I started a 10 mg dose of Prozac, then was increased to a 20 mg 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 five months of my life."

• mg1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I read every single review on this drug because I was terrified to start it. I suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD. I knew there was a possibility of worsening anxiety before taking it, and the thought of that was unbearable, so I put it off as long as I could. I ultimately decided I not only wanted, but also needed my quality of life back. I started low at 10 mg and slowly worked my way up to 40 mg over the course of 2 months. The startup effects included slight nausea and lack of appetite, night sweats, and insomnia. All of these symptoms got much better over time. I felt the biggest change when I made the jump from 30 mg to 40 mg. It was like night and day. My anxiety and intrusive thoughts have decreased significantly. I have not had a panic attack in over a month. I feel so much more positive, lighter, and like myself again. Everyone around me can notice the difference, and I've been such a better friend, family member, and spouse. I'm very happy with this decision."

• DDa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 13, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I stopped my Prozac about 3 years ago on a doctor's advice as I have Bipolar 2. I have felt I was slipping back recently into anxiety and depression with poor appetite, poor sleep, etc. I restarted them yesterday and I have felt a different person today and enjoyed my lunch. I am also taking Sodium Valproate regularly as a mood stabilizer. Anybody else had such a quick response? I live in the UK."