I have just started Prozac 20mg. Can anyone tell me about this antidepressant? I am getting anxiety. I can’t stay in bed and I feel restless. I don’t know if this is a side effect of Prozac or not? How long does Prozac take to work?
Prozac - first time taking this antidepressant?
Question posted by Saro24 on 10 Aug 2021
Last updated on 23 December 2022 by DrDawnLancaster
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3 Answers
DrDawnLancaster
23 Dec 2022
About a third of patients ultimately have improvement with Prozac after two weeks, but it tends to cause a lot of weight gain and, like most antidepressants, is difficult to discontinue without significant withdrawal effects, meaning that it requires a prolonged time of tapering.
For anxiety, I have found that 200 mg of L-theanine taken once or twice a day provides relief from anxiety and improvement in mood without having to wait--usually within a half-hour.
L-theanine also increases focus due to its ability to increase alpha waves in the brain. One becomes relaxed and calm, without feeling tired... great for staying on task or for studying. No side effects, drug interactions, concerns of addiction (such as is the case with Xanax), and there are no withdrawal symptoms.
It also has sleep benefits. While it doesn't make one sleepy, it helps one feel calm and ready for sleep when taken an hour before desired bedtime.
Bchaban
12 Aug 2021
Dr Andrew Saul of Food matters states 2 handfuls of cashews is the same as taking Prozac without side effects. I do this everyday for I am so scared of side effects. It is bad enough I am taking carvedilol for my heart after my heart attack 7/11/21
WildcatVet
12 Aug 2021
I'd be more afraid of dying than of side effects which I've never had anything worse than a mild headache from any of my medications. I also don't wish to live in daily misery because of my depression and anxiety disorders.
Saro24
12 Aug 2021
I don’t know Prozac working for me or no I can’t do anything just my sleeping better my mood day by day getting very bad I can’t do anything I waiting for Prozac work now 8 days I take I didn’t have any benefits my Dr he put my in this terrible. I wish soon I die I can’t carrying this life I don’t have any hope getting better
WildcatVet
12 Aug 2021
There's every hope in the world that you'll get better. Most people begin to feel improvements in the first few weeks but you must want them and watch for them.
Prozac will help with your sleep disorder and also control your thoughts of death and dying... those thoughts are very typical of severe depression.
Try to adjust your attitude because if you think the medication isn't helping it won't. That's the power of your mind and you need to take control of it and let the medication do it's job.
Take care, be patient, and try to be positive.
Saro24
12 Aug 2021
Look I try to many antidepressant before I know must of them side effects. 7 times I get back to normal but this time I hade very bad life day by day I get bad I wish I can send you private massages explain to you what happened to me. In wich word they give anti depression for 28 days as trial after Dr ignored make appointment after 3 months and not answer phone . And also I was 3 years on sleeping pills I asked my Dr please advise me how I get off sleeping pills he give me another sleeping pills . Anyway I lost my life because of mental health hospital.
WildcatVet
13 Aug 2021
Are you being treated for depression or anxiety or both? You said you had neither but you've been on many medications and that they got you back to "normal". Why did you stop them?
Antidepressants can take 4-8 weeks to become fully effective and you might consider taking the Prozac for what's called a "fair trial".
Also, if you're unhappy with your doctor you might want to consider getting a 2nd opinion.
WildcatVet
11 Aug 2021
Hi, Saro!
Yes, these are side effects which generally resolve within just days to a week or so.
This is a link to the Drugs.com literature on Prozac... read through it thoroughly and I think it'll answer all your questions:
https://www.drugs.com/prozac.html
I'll warn you though that the list of possible side effects looks pretty scary but you will NOT experience all or even many of them.
Saro24
11 Aug 2021
I dident have depression or anxiety just I hade sleeping problems I was taking amitriptyline for sleeping and amitriptyline running out 3 day’s I didn’t sleep I call my Dr he didn’t answer to give me amitriptyline after I take zipclone 7.5 next day I feel bad I call ambulance I told them they say to me your Dr he wail call you tomorrow I take agin zopclone I feel very bad anyway 37 people email my Dr to call he didn’t I went hospital asking to see manger I talking to manger I say please tell my Dr to call me before I lose life he say your Dr he will call you anyway I sent 10 pharmacy ask them advice how I get of zopclone say to me asking Dr to stop give you zopclone I asked them please I need help any replace mid they say to me asking your Dr I told them my Dr not answer any day by day my mood go down after bad thinking coming after anxiety I was very upset no one help me I take overdose zipclone.
And my Dr call me I told him 37 people emailed to you why you don’t answer I lost my life he give me Prozac and olanzapine Now day buy I getting bad I can’t saty with friends I can’t go shop no energy not any hope I don’t care about anything I don’t know what mental illness I get please help me what I do ?
Saro24
11 Aug 2021
I dident have depression or anxiety just I hade sleeping problems I was taking amitriptyline for sleeping and amitriptyline running out 3 day’s I didn’t sleep I call my Dr he didn’t answer to give me amitriptyline after I take zipclone 7.5 next day I feel bad I call ambulance I told them they say to me your Dr he wail call you tomorrow I take agin zopclone I feel very bad anyway 37 people email my Dr to call he didn’t I went hospital asking to see manger I talking to manger I say please tell my Dr to call me before I lose life he say your Dr he will call you anyway I went 10 pharmacy ask them advice how I get of zopclone say to me asking Dr to stop give you zopclone I asked them please I need help any replace mid they say to me asking your Dr I told them my Dr not answer any day by day my mood go down after bad thinking coming after anxiety I was very upset no one help me I take overdose zipclone.
And my Dr call me I told him 37 people emailed to you why you don’t answer I lost my life he give me Prozac and olanzapine Now day buy I getting bad I can’t saty with friends I can’t go shop no energy not any hope I don’t care about anything I don’t know what mental illness I get please help me what I do ?
Saro24
11 Aug 2021
I dident have depression or anxiety just I hade sleeping problems I was taking amitriptyline for sleeping and amitriptyline running out 3 day’s I didn’t sleep I call my Dr he didn’t answer to give me amitriptyline after I take zipclone 7.5 next day I feel bad I call ambulance I told them they say to me your Dr he wail call you tomorrow I take agin zopclone I feel very bad anyway 37 people email my Dr to call he didn’t I went hospital asking to see manger I talking to manger I say please tell my Dr to call me before I lose my life he say your Dr he will call you anyway I went 10 pharmacy ask them advice how I get of zopclone say to me asking Dr to stop give you zopclone I asked them please I need help any replace mid they say to me asking your Dr I told them my Dr not answer any day by day my mood go down after bad thinking coming after anxiety I was very upset no one help me I take overdose zipclone.
And my Dr call me I told him 37 people emailed to you why you don’t answer I lost my life he give me Prozac and olanzapine Now day buy I getting bad I can’t saty with friends I can’t go shop no energy not any hope I don’t care about anything I don’t know what mental illness I get please help me what I do ?
WildcatVet
11 Aug 2021
All the feelings you have that you describe do point to an underlying depression. Coupled with the fact that you took an overdose it seems that your doctor prescribed appropriate medications for you to try.
One of the first benefits of starting Prozac is better quality of sleep which may be very helpful for you.
I'd think you'd be wise to "follow doctor's orders"
Take care my friend, and I hope you're feeling better quickly!
Related topics
prozac, depression, anxiety, binge eating disorder, anxiety and stress, antidepressant, antidepressants
Further information
- Prozac uses and safety info
- Prozac prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prozac (detailed)
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