[medik8]

Prozac
Generic Name: fluoxetine
Treatment for: depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic disorder, and bulimia (binge eating and purging). Also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Have you taken or do you take Prozac?
How did it work for you? Did you experience side effects?

We want to hear your story. Please feel free to share your experiences (good and bad) while taking this drug.

Prozac (fluoxetine) is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Fluoxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression or mood disturbances, eating disorders, or obsessive or compulsive symptoms.

What are the possible side effects of Prozac (fluoxetine)?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking fluoxetine and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
-- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
-- an irregular heartbeat or pulse;
-- low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness);
-- high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision);
-- chills or fever;
-- unusual bleeding or bruising;
-- a rash or hives.
If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue taking fluoxetine and talk to your doctor:
-- headache, tremor, nervousness, or anxiety;
-- difficulty concentrating;
-- nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight;
-- weakness;
-- increased sweating;
-- sleepiness or insomnia; or
-- decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Consumer Information at
http://www.drugs.com/prozac.html
http://www.drugs.com/cons/Prozac.html
Professional Information at:
http://www.drugs.com/pro/prozac.html

[KarenRB53]

I have been using Prozac for over 5 yrs now and it is the only medication that really works well for my depression. I have tried most of the other SSRI's as well as several other meds and they do not lift my depression. When I first started taking it, I finally knew what it felt like to feel "normal". It definitely takes away major depression for me e.g. suicidal thoughts,hopelessness,worthlessness, etc. The only problem I have with Prozac is it does make me feel anxious. I have to take Ativan with it now and that works fine, however, I do wish there was something I could take with the Prozac that would eliminate the anxiety and agitation that would work better than the Ativan.

[singinmom]

I have been taking Zoloft for about 4 years for Panic Disorder. Over the last 13 years, I have been on the following drugs: Buspar, Luvox, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. I also took Xanax temporarily. My doctor wants to switch me back to Prozac, due to my perimenopausal and premenstrual symptoms. I am worried about switching from one to the other, as I had a bad withdrawal reaction when I went from Paxil to Zoloft. My doctor tells me to simply switch from Zoloft to Prozac; no need to wean myself from Zoloft. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.[:0]

[no_self_control]

Prozac was the first antidepressant I ever took. It worked amazingly--as another poster has said, it was like knowing what "normal" was for the first time. The depression, the crankiness, the OCD, the social anxiety were all gone without a trace! HOWEVER, the Prozac killed my ability to orgasm. Note that this is NOT the same as the "decreased sex drive" doctors tell you might happen; I was still very very interested in having orgasms, I just...couldn't.

I've always had a high sex drive, and having my "drive" suddenly end in a cul de sac every time was one of the most horrible experiences of my life. With my depressive moodiness gone, my husband and I were getting along better than we had in a long time--except I was afraid to let him near me in case we started something I couldn't finish. Stupidly, I didn't go off the Prozac because I was afraid the next drug would do something even worse, or just not work at all (and anyway being dead "down there" was a small price to pay for all this fabulous mental health...right?).

I remained on Prozac for around 8 months, at which time it inexplicably stopped working. I've been on 5 or 6 medications since then and none has ever worked as well--although, in fairness, I probably wasn't on most of them for long enough. Every SSRI I took had the same orgasm-killing effect, which made me immediately quit taking them. I've been on one non SSRI (Mirtazapine) and it allowed me to orgasm but it didn't actually help me much (and also I gained 15 pounds).

At the moment I'm pretty sick of waiting and hoping and enduring side effects, so I've decided to go drug free. There are a number of non-drug things a person can do to improve their condition (I posted them under the Depression topic if anyone's interested). I know I'll never be able to make myself function like I did on Prozac, but right now I'm willing to settle.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention: the Prozac also made my eyeballs move around by themselves. Just a little back-forth twitch every now and then--I didn't even make the connection at the time because the orgasm thing had me so preoccupied. I also got a weird nervous tic in my right eyelid while I was on Prozac, and it never went away (Prozac can cause "facial twitching" that doesn't stop even when you stop taking it. The random eyeball movements only happen while you're on it, though).

[liquid___]

i have been on and off prozac 3 times for bulimia and depression. in the last year.
when i feel im good to go solo, boom im again depressed and bulimic. i wonder if theres any tips on how to live a don depressive life without prozac...

[tjb555]

PROZAC
I was on Prozac for a number of years. I have to say that I was very happy with it --especially the lack of SEs
HOWEVER...there did come a time, probably sooner than I eventually realized, that it no longer worked.

The withdrawal was horrific, and lasted for months.
There is now some very convincing evidence that Prozac actually stops working after a very short time, that the half life is extremely long, and there are, indeed, many SEs that the manufacturer has never reported.

Before using this drug, I'd suggest you do some research OTHER than the manufacturer's site. Particularly trials conducted in Europe, who aren't in bed with the FDA.

--t

[LPenney]

Prozac and Zoloft are in the same class, so switching should probably not cause an extreme rection. I have been on prozac for 20 years for pain and depression due to fibromyalgia and arthritis. I have gone up and down on the dosage over the years, and am cutting back again, hope to be off it entirely in a few months. Yes, you must withdraw gradually, as it is a selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor, which affects your brain chemistry, so gradual reduction is the safest way to be. It worked great for me, but I am not in chronic pain any longer and am cutting back. I do know of people who had negative reactions when they started it, obviously, every one reacts differently.If one anti depressent doesn't work, or stops working, then you really need to switch, but do monitor your reactions.
Good luck to you...
Linda

[Latinjen]

I have been on and off Prozac 80mg for 3 yrs and I LOVE IT![:X] I am taking the weekly dose (time released) 2x's a week and remeron 15mg for sleep. All the others I had major side effects(tapping, restless ness, night sweats, ect). I too feel normal, but I still get the anxiety attacks. Does anyone have any advice as to what I could add to my mix to help?

Always Down....
Jennifer

[scubablt]

Hello. News about PROZAC and Wellbutrin vs. Zoloft (My very personal experience.) Since PROZAC is in the same class of Rxs. as Paxil and Zoloft, this post will prove helpful to you and the sexual dysfunction problems I encountered!!!

~~~ Here is some info from me @ Prozac and Wellbutrin. I had started my depression treatment w/ Zoloft, and below you will read about my horrible experience with the Rx. "Zo--I Can't Get the Big Boy Up Any More--Loft" and that is why I was changed by my Dr. to Wellbutrin. Although Wellbutrin did not and is still not working very well for the depression, the side affects I suffered w/ Zoloft disappeared. You have to decide which you want: better help w/ Depression OR to be able to get it up and cum. ... you decide.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is my story about Zoloft vs. Wellbutrin. I need to use the intimate details I do to make the point and to be totally honest as to why I HAD to GET OFF Zoloft ASAP!!! Here it is:

*** "I hurt my back in 1999 and still suffer intense PAIN. I even had surgery, P.T., Injections, and much more. The only thing that has helped is Pain Rxs.

I am also still suffering from severe depression from all I have been thru since the injury where I hurt my back -- (All this happened in a 18 month period of time!!!) The death / loss of my last living parent AND grandparent, loss of my mother in law, two dear pets dying, I moved often and lived in 5 houses in 13 months while my new house was being built, resigned a job due to unethical acts at the top of the mgmt. level, took two other jobs and resigned them due to much better offers, marital problems, supervised the building of the new 2-story house mentioned above... that encountered several major problems that just about cost me over 50,000!, major car problems, wife getting sick in a bad way and having 2-surgeries three months apart,financial problems, and the while time I battled intense level 6-9 back pain due to above info. about back, and the dark world of DEEP DEPRESSION has just about over taken my whole life... and it still is as I write this.

So, to make a long story short, my Dr. prescribed me Zoloft a few years ago for the depression and it worked OK, but I was so depressed, It would be hard for anything to work. I should say it did not work at first, until they got the dose up high enough... which took several months of experimenting w/ the dose. ***But, here is the BIG problem I suffered w/ Zoloft: The Zoloft left me totally impotent! I could not 'get it up' hardly at all, and when I did finally get the 'big boy' to come to the "Taco Party," (get it?), I could not cum or have an orgasm at all! It took all desire away for sex due to my inability to enjoy any pleasure at all. I mean, who wants to go thru the work of having sex and not enjoy it? I did not!! So, this made my wife mad, and she started considering getting laid by others to pleasure her. So, I chose to get off the Zoloft to save my sex life and marriage.
So, Zoloft helped w/ the depression, but the side effects were not worth it. I switched to Wellbutrin, BUT It does not seem to work at all on the depression, so I still suffer thru life w/ horrible pain and in the dark, miserable, terrible, life-threatening, career ending, and extremely lonely world of deep depression. sometimes, the deep depression is worse than the intense physical pain I suffer.

So, that is my word @ Zoloft... it worked some, but killed other parts of my life. Wellbutrin does not have the bad sexual side affects, but does not treat my depression near as well. I have considered stopping it many times, but since it does not seem to be causing me any problems, I thought, "What the heck... maybe it is helping a little, so I might as well keep taking it." Any thoughts on this anyone?

Any advice from anyone that could help me?
I hope you can get some effective help. Good luck on your own struggles. Mine are literally killing me one day at a time.

Lee

Keep the Faith & trust the RXS!!! In SCUBA: Don't hold your breath, and come up slow blowing bubbles. Also: God created WOMEN for MEN... PTL!

[stormie]

I read your statement on Prozac I am haveing a hard time getting answers to how the withdrawls side effects if any if you have been on it awhille n just quit taken it cold turkey how or what some of the things could happen to you n about how long before you would start noticen them cause doesnt it take awhille to get out of your system ? I would apperciate your help

quote:Originally posted by tjb555

PROZAC
I was on Prozac for a number of years. I have to say that I was very happy with it --especially the lack of SEs
HOWEVER...there did come a time, probably sooner than I eventually realized, that it no longer worked.

The withdrawal was horrific, and lasted for months.
There is now some very convincing evidence that Prozac actually stops working after a very short time, that the half life is extremely long, and there are, indeed, many SEs that the manufacturer has never reported.

Before using this drug, I'd suggest you do some research OTHER than the manufacturer's site. Particularly trials conducted in Europe, who aren't in bed with the FDA.

--t

stormiedon

[Miles]

I often wonder why good experience is never considered a part of a disease continuum. It seems that we do not want to diminish our responsibility for the behaviors that make us happy, but we do want to blame neuro-transmitters for the lack of meaning in our lives. If people want to use Prozac, they should be free to do so, but it "works" to relieve depression only in the sense that it makes people feel less.

Miles

[prozacbutterfly]

i've been on abilify for manic depression, zoloft, and xanax. prozac is the only drug that hasn't caused me serious side effects. in fact with prozac i sleep more (i have insomnia and manic depression) i take the highest dosage available because of former drug abuse. i'm only 15 and i have to take prozac to keep me under control. it doesn't cure depression or anything it just givess you space to breathe and work through the problems causing depression and manic,ect. if you are truly worried about switching from zoloft to prozac talk to your doctor about it.....the switch helped me.......the way i see it is if you are out of control with depression, manic, bulimia, ect. then take what works best for you, everyone is different and therefore if prozac doesn't work as good as other forms of antidepressants then don't take it. for anybody taking prozac who has dangerous side effects whether if it's a high that you like or whatever it is in your best interest to tell your doctor immediatly. if you feel high when you take it then it can lead to drug aduse and other serious problems.

[Raine]

My name is Raine and I am 18 years old. I have been taking Prozac for nearly a month now. I am on 20mg. I have read a lot of bad things about going off of Prozac, but I have no choice. I do not like the way it makes me feel. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there had any advice for me. Just tonight I cut my pill in half and only took 10mg. I heard that is the best way to taper off, but I am still kind of scared to stop taking it after the things I have heard, although the more I keep taking it the worse I feel. If anyone has any helpful information for me I would greatly appreciate it. My e-mail is magical_enchantment@hotmail.com if you would care to e-mail be some information, if not, posting on here is fine. Thank you.

§ Raine §

[lebre56]

you wein yourself slowly off of prozac as cutting it straight off can cause a shock to your system and cause you to feel worse than you did....i am down to 10 mg a day....will start going every other day with it next week....cut down less a month to two months a little at a time...everyone's system is different so go by what feels good for you. also remember that we all have good and bad days...that's natural....so don't be afraid to do it if 1 day you are a bit depressed...go out for a walk and get your endorphines going...bre

[Webmistress]

Originally Posted by lebre56

you wein yourself slowly off of prozac as cutting it straight off can cause a shock to your system and cause you to feel worse than you did....i am down to 10 mg a day....will start going every other day with it next week....cut down less a month to two months a little at a time...everyone's system is different so go by what feels good for you. also remember that we all have good and bad days...that's natural....so don't be afraid to do it if 1 day you are a bit depressed...go out for a walk and get your endorphines going...bre

I took this for a short time and am totally against this drug! The best depression medicine i have ever taken and am still on is Zoloft - 50mgs a day. (no more and no less) More makes you gain weight.
Prozac & celexa made me very nervous... I would advise that anyone on it would try zoloft in its place... And, as you see (the prozac & celexa) is very addictive...
Zoloft helped with my depression, nervousness, panic issues, ocd and more... it really is a great medication.

[drugbuster]

Home > About Health Canada > Media Room > Advisories, Warnings & Recalls > 2004

Advisory
2004-31
June 3, 2004
For immediate release

Health Canada advises Canadians of stronger warnings for SSRIs and other newer anti-depressants
OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising Canadians that Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer anti-depressants, now carry stronger warnings. These new warnings indicate that patients of all ages taking these drugs may experience behavioural and/or emotional changes that may put them at increased risk of self-harm or harm to others.

The new warning for each of these drugs, which are listed below, appears in the information package received by patients and in the prescribing information available to health professionals.

Patients, their families and caregivers should note that a small number of patients taking drugs of this type may feel worse instead of better, particularly within the first few weeks of treatment or when doses are adjusted. For example, they may experience unusual feelings of agitation, hostility or anxiety, or have impulsive or disturbing thoughts that could involve self-harm or harm to others.

Should this happen to you, consult your doctor immediately. Do not discontinue your medication on your own. It is very important that patients do NOT stop taking their medication without first consulting with their doctor due to the labelled risk of discontinuation symptoms with all of these drugs, except bupropion. Treatment with these types of medications is safest and most effective when the patient communicates well with the treating physician about how he or she is feeling.

It is important to note that Health Canada has not authorized these drugs for use in patients under 18 years of age. The prescribing of drugs is a physician's responsibility. Although these drugs are not authorized for use in children, doctors rely on their knowledge of patients and the drugs to determine whether to prescribe them at their discretion in a practice called off-label use. Off-label use of these drugs in children is acknowledged to be an important tool for doctors.

Doctors are advised to carefully monitor patients of all ages for emotional or behavioural changes that may indicate potential for harm, including suicidal thoughts and the onset or worsening of agitation-type adverse events.

This advisory stems from advice given by an independent expert panel and is the result of Health Canada's extensive review of the latest worldwide safety data available for these drugs. It follows the advisory Health Canada issued on February 3 advising Canadians of the need for patients under the age of 18 who are being treated with newer anti-depressants to consult a physician. Following the meeting with the expert panel, Health Canada conducted an analysis of all adverse reactions experienced by patients taking SSRIs. Although Health Canada did not find a direct link between taking SSRIs and incidents of death, the Department felt it important to let health professionals and consumers know of the possible risks associated with the drugs.

This advisory applies to the following anti-depressants:

Bupropion (Wellbutrin® and Zyban®)
Note that both of these drugs share the same active ingredient. Zyban, a smoking cessation drug, now carries an appropriately modified version of the above warning.
Citalopram (Celexa®)
Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
Mirtazapine (Remeron®)
Paroxetine (Paxil®)
Sertraline (Zoloft®)
Venlaflaxine (Effexor®)
Note: Health Canada issued another advisory on this topic on August 9, 2004. To access this advisory, visit:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media...2004_44_e.html

[drugbuster]

2004-44
August 9, 2004
For immediate release

Health Canada advises of potential adverse effects of SSRIs and other anti-depressants on newborns
OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising Canadians that newborns may be adversely affected when pregnant women take Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer anti-depressants during the third trimester of pregnancy. This advisory is intended to increase awareness among mothers and physicians of the possible symptoms that may occur in the newborn, so that symptoms can be recognized and addressed quickly.

This advisory applies to the following anti-depressants: bupropion (whether used for depression or for smoking cessation), citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine.

International and Canadian reports reveal that some newborns whose mothers took these medications during pregnancy have developed complications at birth requiring prolonged hospitalization, breathing support and tube feeding. Reported symptoms include: feeding and/or breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle rigidity, jitteriness and constant crying. In most cases, the newer anti-depressant was taken during the third trimester of pregnancy. These symptoms are consistent with either a direct adverse effect of the anti-depressant on the baby, or possibly a discontinuation syndrome caused by sudden withdrawal from the drug.

When treating depression in pregnant women, physicians and patients should carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of the various treatment options for both the mother and the unborn baby. To date, there is little evidence-based information on how best to treat depression during pregnancy.

If a woman is pregnant and is taking an SSRI, or other newer anti-depressant, she should discuss with the risks and benefits of the various treatment options with her health care professional. It is very important that patients do NOT stop taking these medications without first consulting with their doctor.

The frequency of symptoms may vary with each drug. In the case of two of the newer anti-depressants - bupropion and mirtazapine - discontinuation problems appear to be less than with the other drugs. In the case of mirtazapine, there are only two reports. Health Canada is issuing this advisory to encompass all newer anti-depressants in order to alert Canadians to the potential risk. Health Canada has also worked with the manufacturers of these medications to update their labelling with new precaution information.

Any suspected adverse reactions can be reported directly to the product manufacturer or to:

Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP)
Marketed Health Products Directorate
HEALTH CANADA
Address Locator: 0701C
OTTAWA, Ontario, K1A 0K9
Tel: (613) 957-0337 or
Fax: (613) 957-0335

To report an Adverse Reaction, consumers and health professionals may call toll free:
Tel: 866 234-2345
Fax: 866 678-6789
cadrmp@hc-sc.gc.ca

[km311]

Hi, my doctor recently prescribed Prozac for me, saying that it would help increase my energy levels. I have been very tired/lethargic lately and can hardly muster the energy to get out of bed to eat. As a result, I have lost a significant amount of weight in the past few weeks. I'm going back and forth debating on whether or not Prozac is right for me because it's tricky. Is there something my doctor isn't telling me, or can Prozac really be used to increase energy?

[Snitt1980]

Hi... I have been on Fluoxetine for 2 years and am coming off now...

I have done one month of every other day, and now I have switched to one pil every third day as instructed by my doctor but I am starting to feel very down and anxious. I also have nausea, dizziness and chest pain.

Does anyone have any advice? Is this normal for withdrawal or am I coming off when I am not ready?

[lov4k9's]

Here is my story~

I started on Prozac in 1998 due to a mild situational depression and continued using it on and off for approx. 8 years. Prozac worked well for me during this period and I experienced no start-up side effects and no withdrawal effects upon discontinuation. I wasn't depressed, but stayed on Prozac all of those years because life just seemed easier as I was calmer, less irritable, and less critical of myself and others. So, what the hell? Why not take the med if it made me feel better?

Because the long term side effects of Prozac are unknown I decided to go off the med in 2006. My libido improved and I was more irritable off the meds but those were the only changes I noted.

Thanks to my increased libido I became pregnant and, unfortunately, suffered a miscarriage in Sept 2006. Around Thanksgiving time I noticed I was feeling blue due to the miscarriage and thought that I was maybe going into a depression. My GP put me back on 20mg/daily Prozac and within a week I was started suffering terrible, vile, side-effects in order of occurrence, as follows:

1. Heartburn
2. Headaches
3. Suicide Ideation (never had before)
4. Intense Anxiety (never had before)
5. Confusion
6. Inability to Concentrate/Inability to Work
7. Akathasia
8. Incurable Insomnia (never had before)
9. Stomach pains
10. Agoraphobia (never had before)
11. Memory Loss (never had before)
12. Absolute Loss of Appetite
13. Severe Depression (never had before)
14. Lack of Emotion (never had before)
15. Lack of Labido

Needless to say, 3 weeks after starting up I was a basket case and my GP thought that perhaps she should start me at a much lower dose. So I tapered off the drug and seemed to be feeling better about 2-3 weeks later. I decided to stay off the Prozac, but fell into a deep depression about 6 weeks after discontiuation (which I now attribute to a delayed withdrawal from the Prozac). I then started back up at only 5/mg but by week 8 I was a basket case again. It was clear to me that Prozac was no longer my friend and that I had to discontinue use.

Prozac really wreaked havoc on my mind and body and I'm still recovering 8 weeks later. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would ever experience this kind of hell in my life.

Post discontinuation symptoms continue and include:

1. Sever Loss of Appetite (lost 30lbs)
2. Hypersensitivity to Stimuli
3. Anxiety
4. Depression
5. Brain Numbness/Lack of Emotion/Disconnected (feel dead inside)
6. Inability to Concentrate
7. Insomnia
8. Apathy/inability to feel love or pleasure
9.Lack of Libido
10. Suicide ideation


Recap: I was feeling mildly blue before Prozac (this go around). I wasn't crying, I still enjoyed life, felt love etc...Now I am a completely different person. Cyring all of the time, apathy, just want to die because life isn't worth living.

I am hopeful that I will fully recover and get back to who I was before starting back up in November of 2006, but have to admit that I sometimes wonder if the Prozac caused irreparable damage to my brain and/or nervous system.

[bearjj]

I have just started on Fluoxetine and am having the following reation:
the shakes, forgetfullness, wierd dreams, no sexual desire at all, anger out of nowhere, occational suicide thoughts (didn't have b4) insomnia and always tired, headaches like I have never had. I am thinking of switching to another drug but am scared of more of the same. I would like to get off anti depressants completely but I dont want to be depressed again. any advice?

[antoan.smith]

i think paxil better