How long does it take prozac to begin working for anxiety?

"Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood, anxiety, and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve."

I would avoid the benzodiapezines because they are now generally only prescribed for severe panic attacks. This is because besides being habituating they can actually CAUSE increased depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and memory loss.

When it comes to antidepressants that are also used for anxiety it's mixed group bubbles per say. Act like there are two bubbles (circles) one bubble anxiety one bubble depression. When you put them next together they overlap in the middle. Therefore it's treating both. It takes at least 30 days to get into your system &u have to take it everyday!! and again it's for both it will help with your anxiety but doesn't completely illuminate it to make it go away completely. It lowers the feeling of anxiety but not enough(still feel anxiety and uneasy) in my experiences the anti-depressants/anxiety reducers,the docs claim, lowers anxiety but does not cure it. I would ask for Valium, Klonopin or Xanax. Valium and Klonopin stay in your system for a longer time where as Xanax is in and out quickly. I like Xanax because you can take it only when and if needed. Not dependent on it. Just when needed

I know this was asked a long time ago but I’ll answer anyways. As someone who was put on Prozac for my extreme anxiety disorder at first it didn’t do anything (the first 3ish weeks). It honestly made it worse. I felt terrible and was practically trembling with anxiety. After the first 3 weeks I started feeling better but it wasn’t until around 7 weeks where I started feeling really really good. Way better then before I started. It honestly changed my life for the better. It takes time. It’s not an overnight thing. I definitely got impatient at some point but once the time passes everything is better.

If the Cymbalta worked wonders, why did you come off it?

I agree with some of the responses to your question: specifically, why take a person off an antidepressant that "works wonders" for their anxiety? Antidepressants are like automobiles. I would be upset if a sales person tried to talk me out of buying my favorite car. Everyone reacts to medications in their own way. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I take Prozac and have been since I was like 18. The doctor told me to give it like a month before it starts really working good. It helps me alot I had to go up on my dosage once, but I guess cause I have been taking it for so long. if your taking Prozac stay with it, it works you just have to give it time to be in your system regularly.

I was having panic attacks and given Prozac.wk 1 I had no appetite.i felt sick and found it hard to sleep.still had anxiety.wk 2 dizzy spells.vacant.slept better.woke up groggy and yawned constantly. Still had anxiety.wk 3 appetite returned.slept well.still yawning but not as much anxiety.no sex drive.wk 4.all the above and really bad panic attacks brought on by thinking the tablets aren't working and I'm going to feel like this for ever.scared of everything??? Do I hang in a few more weeks or so I give up on these and try something else? I feel worse than before!!

I have been on Cymbalta for almost 9 years I am wanting to get off.Alll I ever hear about is about people getting off Cymbalta is the only way out, is being on Prozac??? I am so scared to get off of it... how r things with you?

Hi there, I'm not sure why the physician took you off the Cymbalta which was working for you! Prozac is FDA approved for panic attacks and depression but is generally a terrible choice for acute anxiety problems. Prozac has been out since 1987 and I have heard thousands of stories since then that say how bad Prozac made different individuals' anxiety. Prozac takes about 3 to 4 weeks to start working depending on the individual. As a result, many physicians will put patients on a short course of a benzodiazepine ( Xanax, Valium, Klonopin etc) until the Prozac kicks in. Best of luck to you! Take care!

Chris

I am in the same boat here, Day 3 on Fluoxetine (Prozac) 20mg. Headaches for the last two days and dizzy spells when I attempted to exercise this morning. Also feeling very fuzzy headed, but then that's depression for you. I don't think that's a side effect.

4 years ago I came off Citalopram 20mg after taking it for about 18months, now my depression has relapsed but my Doc decided to prescribe a different SSRI, despite the Citalopram working for me at that time, without really explaining why. Could this be another monetary thing? The Doc who originally prescribed me the Citalopram was at a different practice to the one I am at now, different NHS Trust. Could it be something else? Any ideas?

I have been on prozac, the generic brand for 10 days now. Day 7 and 8 were better days then 9 and 10 had difficulty falling asleep and waking up nervous. I do take .25 Xanax if need be, which helps but is this going to end?? Just when I think k i. Getting through the hump I feel a bad day. My doctor wants me to stick with it, but how long do I have to endure these horrible side effects?

Prozac is an antidepressant and takes a few weeks to start doing anything. I know that Cymbalta is one as well. I had very horrible reactions to both of these. It could be that your symptoms of anxiety are effects of stopping the Cymbalta. Unfortunately with meds like these they stop working with long time use. You should talk to your dr or pharmacist because w/o knowing why you're taking it, most of these types of drugs can be used for a number of different ailments but if you can't get an RX for Ativan or something try Vistaril or Buspar. If you can't get to a dr, try taking Benadryl it will help the anxiety.

My nephew started taking Prozac recently. How long does it take to have effect?

There has been a lot of reference to the price of Cymbalta. It's ridiculously expensive! I went straight to patient assistance program. I believe that one is Lilly. They come to me every 3 months at no cost.
As far as the change in medications go. I would never let that happen. I have a feeling that part of the problem was withdrawal! I know. I have been there.

Cymbalta is the worst drug I have ever taken. I have been on a lot of different meds but coming off cymbalta was extremely distressing. Crying, rages, brain zaps, anxiety. Never again. I am in Prozac 20 mg and I am doing so much better. It may be an old drug but it works well.