I have been on Prozac 20 mgs. daily for 3 months. It has helped with insomnia and excessive worrying. However, I have not had improved motivation. If anything, decreased motivation. Could anyone tell me their experience with prozac and motivation? Pros and Cons. Thank You.
Prozac Weekly - Prozac and motivation?
Question posted by 1986justine on 7 Sep 2014
Last updated on 12 June 2017
3 Answers
I started taking Fluoxetine (generic Prozac) 20mg daily a little over a year ago. I thought it was the best thing ever for about 6-9 months. It helped with my depression and especially my anxiety and constant worrisome behavior. I really felt happy and motivated. Lately all I want to do is sleep! I don't feel depressed, anxious or worried at all anymore, it's just like I don't care about doing anything. Total lack of motivation. I have to make myself try to care that the house is a mess and I need to do laundry, go to the grocery store, the simple things... but I really just don't care. I promise I do not feel depressed like I did before I started the med. My family says I seem much more calm and happy since starting on Prozac but they agree I am almost too relaxed and nothing gets done.
I feel like I am just being really lazy and don't care, but I want to care! Sorry to ramble on but I'm not sure what to do. I am so afraid to wean off of Prozac because I really do feel happy on it and I am scared to go back to that dark place if I get off of it. I just need some motivation.
I am kind of worried about a friend on Prozac. She's on Prozac and doesnt' have motivation to do much of anything. When I visit... I notice things that should be done but are rarely done... dishes, laundry, etc. Just basic household tasks don't get done. I like to be helpful, but isn't there a problem with the medication that destroys motivation to that level that even basic household chores can't seem to be done ... this goes on for days at a time until someone either prompts or does it for her. Any ideas on this?
I experienced everything you are saying in regard to not caring and wanting to sleep all the time. I'm already not a motivated person so if any of my drive is affected then I literally will do nothing. To me it was noticeable enough to know it wasn't because of who I was. It was the Prozac. I went to the dr and he prescribed me cymbalta. I haven't started taking it yet. I stopped the Prozac 5 days ago and lo and behold my motivation returned. I actually cleaned the kitchen today on my own will. I will say the Prozac helped with obsessive thoughts and took my irritability away but that wasn't worth it for me. The depression was still there and I was literally sleeping the day away and not doing anything. I had no drive to see people or do anything. I am hoping cymbalta will have a different result. I wanted to respond to your comment so you wouldn't feel alone and be affirmed that your symptoms were real.
Coming off of Prozac made me realize that it wasn't in my head and there were physical effects of the drug that made me extremely unmotivated and tired all the time.
For me this was a standard feature of this medication, part of what makes it effective is it's affect on "drive."
Thanks for responding balbanese. I'v read many reviews on Prozac. It seems it has all sorts of different effects on different people. It helps me with insomnia, so I guess that I'll just have to deal with lack of drive by forcing myself to be more productive. Thanks again and I hope all goes well with you.
Or a slightly lower dose may be in order.
I have a problem With motivation also. My doc told me that she can't give me a pill for that! So I've done my best to force myself to get up. Sometimes it works most times it does not. I take Prozac as well, along with Effexor, and Adderal. I tHink the adderal helps wiTh my motivation the most, it is a stimulant.
Thank You Kaw06 for responding. I had been prescribed Wellbutrin 150 mg. sr daily when I reported to him that the Prozac was helpful, but I was tired. I stuck it out for 8 weeks, but decided to stop taking because it made my hands tremble so badly. So Adderal is helpful? But I believe it's physically addictive. And I'd be afraid to take it. I'm already dealing with weaning off Klonopin at bedtime for sleep (for over 20 years) and I would never want to get physically addicted to a medication again. The Prozac helps me with my lifelong chronic insomnia. I guess that I'll just have to work on making myself more productive. Thank again and I hope that all goes well with you.
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prozac, prozac weekly, depression, insomnia, anxiety and stress
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