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Prozac for Panic Disorder User Reviews

Prozac has an average rating of 6.8 out of 10 from a total of 76 reviews for the treatment of Panic Disorder. 62% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 28% reported a negative experience.

Prozac rating summary

6.8/10 average rating

76 ratings from 84 user reviews.

Compare all 31 medications used in the treatment of Panic Disorder.

10
34%
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14%
8
13%
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4%
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4%
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3%
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3%
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7%
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18%

Reviews for Prozac

  • DGano
  • October 10, 2020

"Hello! I have now been on prozac for 7 months now and I can honestly say this medication has helped me so much! I use to have irrational thoughts and fears of getting sick and would not want to leave my house. I always told my self I don’t need medication, I can handle it myself. My advice, do not fear Prozac! It caused a few side affects the first 2 weeks but over time it became better. It gave me my thoughts back and I can do things without fear now. I started on 20mg and went up to 30mg after a month. My only regret was being scared and waiting over a year to finally do something to help myself. Do not be scared of the reviews, I have been where you were, and it WILL get better."

9 / 10
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206 Report
  • KitkT
  • August 7, 2014

"Have been on Prozac since it came out many years ago. I had severe panic disorder with anxiety attacks. I was also agoraphobic. Since being in Prozac I was able to return to work, go to college. Now that I am retired I am able to travel to different states."

10 / 10
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270 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 24, 2019

"I have always suffered with generalized anxiety until recently due to stress from nursing school, it spiralled into full on panic attacks that became daily and debilitating. I started taking prozac which completely changed my life. I had very mild side effects, lucky for me I didn't get the side effects that many have stated on this forum just some mild insomnia but it completely eradicated my panic attacks and brought a whole new outlook on my life. Im not afraid to step out of my house anymore and could truly enjoy life. This drug was truly helpful, I can breathe again! It took about 2-3 weeks for the effects to kick in and again don't be afraid of the side effects in the beginning, they will go away! Good luck to anyone suffering from panic disorder, I feel your pain. There are solutions and you will get better! God speed."

10 / 10
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151 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Bill
  • March 18, 2020

"Mother had severe panic attacks for 6 months. Absolute awful and no help or solution from GP.....best he could offer was to blow into a paper bag. Tell that to someone who thinks they are dying. Demanded to see Consultant who prescribed PROZAC. Incredible change !! Problem resolved in 10 days. No more panic attacks."

10 / 10
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131 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 22, 2020

"Do not give up! This drug does work but it takes time. I am going on week 4 of 20mg and I am finally starting to feel better and more like myself. The first week was REALLY hard. For 2 days I had massive anxiety, worse than ever before to the point where I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I almost stopped this medication, but I pushed through because that’s what everyone said. After those few days it got better. I don’t have a lot of “what If” thoughts anymore and I am starting to feel myself. I know this is different for everyone, but my advice is try to push through the first 2 weeks if you can!"

8 / 10
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118 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Ak72
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 18, 2016

"Hi there , I started thanking this magic pill about 4 mos ago . I've had general anxiety disorder and depression for at least 20 yrs . Biggest anxiety is with taking medication . Finally at 44 it hit me like a brick & I stopped driving and not being able to work due to crippling anxiety and irrational fears ..I seemed help and got the courage to start on 10 mg Prozac about 4.5 mos ago , increased to 20 mgs after 3 weeks . I have to say this medication truly saved my life & sanity ! I feel normal again and anxiety is gone ! I recommend it to anyone who has double thoughts about it , it truly works :)"

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180 Report
  • Alex...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 20, 2014

"I started experiencing panic attacks a few months ago, so bad that I thought I was dying each time I had one, my college NP prescribed me Prozac, the first month of taking it was HELL, my anxiety defiantly increased and I had more frequent panic attacks, my doctor said this was normal and to stick with it and I did! Let me tell you it has changed my life, I am able to function normally now and even though I experience some anxiety, I am able to manage it. Prozac has just made me a genuinely happier person and I recommend it to anyone with anxiety, especially with panic attacks and depression."

9 / 10
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198 Report

More FAQ

  • Justp...
  • October 14, 2015

"I have currently been on prozac for the past 4 months and it has been a miracle drug. I was having severe anxiety and panic attacks every day. I couldn't drive a car by myself for fear of having a panic attack and losing control, I couldn't go ANYWHERE by myself and I could not stay home alone. I am a 22 year old female and once I turned 21, I developed debilitating anxiety. I tried zoloft and lexapro and both drugs made my anxiety and panic attacks sky rocket. Before starting prozac, I was a mess. My anxiety prevented me from functioning. I could barely even go to class or work without having a panic attack. I am currently taking 30mg of prozac and I am doing so much better, it is amazing!"

10 / 10
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161 Report
  • Lemons
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 16, 2019

"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 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 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. Its 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 to happen to me I am strong enough to get through them. I used to cry multiple times everyday and I haven't cried once this week. I really hope it continues to work for me!"

10 / 10
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92 Report
  • jacks...
  • January 16, 2009

"It's a miracle drug. I took this for anxiety and panic attacks and slight depression. It has changed my life. I am happier. I have made more friends in the past month. It has helped with everything; school, stress, anxiety and self confidence. I cant recommend it enough."

10 / 10
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201 Report
  • laure...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 9, 2012

"Prozac absolutely changed my life. Not only did it get rid of my daily anxiety and is slowly but surely getting rid of my social anxiety, but it also made me generally a happier person. By far the best anxiety medicine I've tried."

10 / 10
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154 Report
  • chand...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 31, 2013

"I've been taking Prozac 20MG for 3 weeks now. It has changed my life. I take other meds (Xanax 1MG, Depakote 1000MG, Norco 10/325MG, Nexium 40MG) For other problems. Well I take the Xanax 4 times a day as needed to help with my anxiety and panic disorder. My Panic attacks were so bad I was hospitalized for a week. I couldn't function. I suffered unknown seizures because of panic disorder. Now I can Go about my Life. The only problem I have with Prozac is that it makes me go to the bathroom very often. The first few days it made me sleepy but that went away. I'm 16. It also helps depression too, its helped mine a lot. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from severe anxiety like me."

8 / 10
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135 Report
  • Guest
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 20, 2018

"I thought I was trapped that way forever. I tried EVERYTHING. 20mg and the book DARE saved my life. It took 6 weeks and got worse before it got better. Please know that you will recover and you aren’t alone."

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80 Report
  • Ivyrose
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 12, 2019

"I started 20mg daily. The only side effect I experienced was delayed orgasm and this was within first week. This medication takes time to begin working. People who concentrate on their physical symptoms too much often throw in the towel before this medication has had time to start working. Don't do that. Give it time. Prozac makes me feel normal again. I don't feel like I'm going to panic over everything I feel in my body anymore. I'm sleeping much better and my crazy mood swings have disappeared."

10 / 10
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68 Report
  • Jen
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 24, 2016

"I have suffered from severe depression and anxiety for 9 years and have tried every medication under the sun and nothing has worked until now! I feel normal, not drugged and best part is no anxiety or depression. I take 10 mgs of this with 1 milligram of Risperdal daily for bipolar disorder and I get so much accomplished its ridiculous! I'm okay with being alone, I don't feel like I need a man or a miracle anymore and my expectations are more realistic. I look forwarding to coming home which is something I used to dread as I have 3 young children, 1 with autism. Prozac makes my job as a single mother so much easier!"

10 / 10
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104 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 22, 2016

"Re Prozac: I started this medication May 1, 2016 for Anxiety and Panic Disorder. I started at Prozac 20 mgs and felt good but it suddenly stopped working after 10 days. 10 days later, I bumped it up to 40 mgs. At the onset of taking 20 mgs and 40 mgs, 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."

10 / 10
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86 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 6, 2010

"I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder and Major Depression which was a total panic in itself. My doctor and therapist both agreed that I should take an antidepressant. I was so scared of the medicine because of the panic disorder that I tried other remedies first. I did EMDR cognitive thinking as well as many others. After a few months of therapy, and depression getting worse I decided to give it a try. It has saved my life. If you are scared it is worth it. The side effects for me lasted about 2 days and were very mininal really just dry mouth and tired that was about it. I have only been taking this medication for 3 weeks and feel awesome. I have some anxiety but I am able to control it the way any other human should and can. I recommend it."

8 / 10
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126 Report
  • Zen
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 28, 2022

"Absolutely a zero for me. I wish I could give it a negative rating. This drug is an absolute poison. I had it for 6 weeks and I had all the worse side effects possible. It gave me panic attacks, It made me get OCD, rumination, confusion, I was literally questioning everything that I was doing. Something as simple as choosing a dress to wear was confusing to me. Concentration difficulties and Sexual Dysfunction. It is a horrible drug. I have lost my faith on psychiatrists, I was dealing with my own problems much better before trying out this drug. My opinion is: Never take any psychiatric pills unless you are completely unable to function or get out of bed. Mild to moderate problems should be dealt by you."

1 / 10
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24 Report
  • David...
  • 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!"

10 / 10
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89 Report
  • OnceS...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 7, 2014

"Fluoxetine is pretty gentle compared to most other anti-depressant medicines. I had a good response from Zoloft almost 20 years ago, and when I had breakthrough depression I was switched to Effexor. Effexor worked but was prohibitively expensive. Then I was finally stated on Prozac(fluoxetine). I had zero side effects during the first week--which was vastly different from my experience with the other two--and at 40mg/day fluoxetine seems just as efficacious. Fluoxetine has worked well for my panic, depression, and general anxiety. One must give it time to work. For people that are really struggling six weeks can seem a lifetime, but for many that is how long it takes for fluoxetine to 'work'."

9 / 10
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92 Report
  • Anonymous
  • October 30, 2009

"I just started using Prozac a couple of weeks ago and it has been life changing. I am a combat veteran who suffers from severe anxiety and sleeping problems and this drug has completely abated those symptoms. My mood is much better, I can concentrate for longer periods of time and I don't have the social anxiety that was plaguing me since I left the Marine Corps. All in all, this is a great drug that has helped me move on from my anxiety. I take 20mg per day (minimum dose) and that is working fine."

10 / 10
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120 Report
  • Dee_l...
  • July 10, 2015

"I'm on day 25 taking this medication. I am taking the generic Prozac for anxiety and severe panic attacks. I started on 20mg. The side effects were horrible. I couldn't stop shaking, my heart was racing, I couldn't eat, sleep, it made my anxiety worse. I went to my doctor by the 10th day and he prescribed me klonopin. I only took klonopin once, it did help but I just didn't like the feeling. I wanted to stop taking fluoxetine because it made me feel worse but I kept taking it. By the third week I was able to eat again. It is now day 25 and I am starting to feel like myself again. My anxiety and panic attacks went from a 10 to a 3. I am planning on upping my dosage by day 30. I highly suggest trying out this medication. Don't be scared."

9 / 10
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82 Report
  • jarg
  • August 31, 2008

"I took Prozac for 15 years and it was definitely a wonderful drug for my disorder. I was Agoraphobic for 22 years before my doctor discovered Prozac helped with Panic attacks. I started it and in a week I was walking out of my house and greeting my neighbors! I started working and doing things I never dreamed I could do. Then in 2005 my insurance changed to another Pharmaceutical plan and you could take generics or pay full price for the brand name. Unfortunately the generic did not do the same thing as the brand. Prozac price has risen to $403.65 for 3 months and unfortunately I cannot afford this."

10 / 10
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115 Report
  • Caius
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 1, 2017

"Just wanted to share my experience. Woke up in the middle of the night 2 weeks ago with a massive panic attack that I thought was a heart attack. Went to the ER two nights in a row because they just wouldn't stop. Saw my doctor the next day and was diagnosed with general anxiety and panic disorder. Was prescribed 20 MG prozac (fluoxetine). First week was horrible, almost all my symptoms increased couldn't eat lost my sex drive. It's now a week in and I can't even tell you how much better I feel. Everything is back to normal eating like crazy, sex drive is back this drug is a miracle. It will probably worsen your symptoms at first but think of it as an investment and keep pushing through and you should feel better. Hope this helps anyone."

10 / 10
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58 Report
  • Amber
  • December 11, 2019

"I started taking Prozac 9 days ago. I have my first ever panic attack 2 days ago in which I thought I was wasn't going to live. Since the panic attack I haven’t been able to sleep, eat or drink. I haven't stopped thinking about dying once. So for these 2 days I have been throwing up, nervous feeling in my tummy, dizziness, feeling scared and panic and it hasn’t stopped. It’s been here constantly. I’ve spoke to my doctor and my counsellors and they said to ride it out. But I’m not going to do that. I had a suicidal thought last night which has never happened for me. I’ve had to move in with my mum for the next couple of days so I’m not alone because I’m that scared of dying. I hope that after the tablets leave my system I’m back to my old ways. I just don’t know what to do or say to anyone anymore. Doctors have even had to give me diazepams so I can stay calm and half the time they only work for around 15-20 minutes, all of this is torture. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS."

1 / 10
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42 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.