Fluoxetine for Hot Flashes User Reviews

• Lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2019

"Was prescribed Fluoxetine 20mg by my doctor for my erratic mood swings and hot flushes which then cause bouts of anxiety... Yes, welcome to the menopause! When my doctor suggested these antidepressants, I was like, but I'm not depressed! I'm just menopausal! These are used for so much more than that, muscle relaxant and also to treat the symptoms of menopause. Yeah right, I thought, but had nothing to lose and wanted my life back. And well, hello! After 6 days, my hot flushes have almost gone, my brain fog has lessened, and I actually had a full night's sleep the last 2 nights. I'm now almost 2 weeks in - Ladies, we don't have to suffer and throw away the stigma of antidepressants. They're not just for depression. X"

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2019

"This is my first time ever writing on a forum but feel compelled since these tablets have been a mini miracle. I can sleep! I’m not shouting at my children! I like my husband again! I’m being nice to my work colleagues! I’m looking forward to my 50th birthday! My holiday to Mexico! OK, I’m yawning a lot which is rather odd but otherwise I’m thrilled and also grateful to all of the lovely ladies who have taken the time to post on this forum. For anybody reading this, my doctor wanted to see me on week three and I was feeling a little odd and unsettled. But great, now I’m week four. Long may this positive feeling continue."

• Jok...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2019

"Was really feeling down and always in pain with osteoarthritis/fibromyalgia? Not sleeping, hot flushes, hating my life! Saw 3 different drs who all recommend 20mg of fluoxetine, I was not convinced of using an antidepressant for perimenopause and arthritis but on 3rd Dr. recommendation thought I would give it a try. Results have been amazing, 6 weeks later I am happier, have lost weight, have loads more energy, and feel like the old me again, hot flushes not completely stopped yet but hopefully they will get better!"

• Joo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2016

"It absolutely worked for me! I was really suffering with hot flushes - really badly - had to get up in the middle of the night and lie next to a fan and a cold hairdryer - didn't really want to go on HRT but my doctor wouldn't do that anyway because I was trying to get my high blood pressure under control - anyway she suggested I try taking fluoxetine 20mg a day as she had had good results with some other patients really suffering with hot flushes - IT WORKS IT WORKS! After about 2 weeks I was a different person and 6 months later I am totally clear of the awful hot flushes! Very happy lady!"

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2017

"I've been using fluoxetine now for 2 and a half months, and it didn't work immediately. The first week, it definitely reduced the flashes by about 66%. The next few weeks, it gradually reduced more and more. This is where I am now... hot flushes, about 2 very slight, I can hardly classify it as a hot flush anymore. I've had about 2 night sweats in the past month. My angry moods have gone, and I will not be persuaded to stop taking this medication. It's a little miracle that has changed my life for the better... yaaaaaaaayy"

• alr...
• September 20, 2009

Fluoxetine "Prozac (fluoxetine). I have been taking 10mg every 3 days for hot flashes for 2 years now. It has worked very well for me. I also don't have the mood swings. When I was taking 20mg every day, it was too much. So, I talked with my doctor and changed it around. If you are having problems, you may be taking too much. Talk to your doctor. I did, and I feel great."

• Men...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 23, 2016

"Dr. gave me 20mg, lost weight, hot flashes totally disappeared, no depression or anger or sadness, still a little tired but B12 injection helps. I don't want to stop the medication, for me it's all positive. I'm happy and easier to get along with."

• Itw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2020

"I tried everything herbal to alleviate my hot flushes and night sweats, but nothing worked. I finally gave in and tried fluoxetine. I'm pleased to say I have been flush-free for months! I feel like I've got my life back. Would definitely recommend anyone to give it a try."

• Swi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

"Put on fluoxetine 7 days ago for hot sweats in the morning and evening. It has been absolutely brilliant. Stopped after day 4. I feel great, no side effects and no hot sweats. I'm in the UK and have an underactive thyroid, so I don't pay for prescriptions."

• lav...
• September 28, 2011

Fluoxetine "I was told for years Prozac would be great for me. When my doctor told me about Prozac for my hot flashes, I signed on ASAP. I was hoping for a double whammy. Yes, they took care of the hot flashes rather quickly and the happiness side a bit later. I am on 10mg and would like to get a larger dosage. Next conversation with the doctor. TRY IT."

• hap...
• May 7, 2016

"At 27, my ovaries were removed, which sent me into abrupt and severe menopause. For 9 years, I suffered debilitating hot flashes, and not even the hormones seemed to work. Few doctors were comfortable prescribing them anyway, I often had to beg for my medication. About two weeks ago, I began taking Prozac and noticed almost immediately that my flashes were less frequent, less intense, and of shorter duration. Last night, I covered up in bed and waited purposefully for the flash. All I felt was a warming and never even broke a sweat. Usually, I get so hot my skin feels like it's being pricked because my capillaries are bursting. The flashes are gone. After a decade of suffering, I'm finally free. I wish a doctor would have told me this information before."

• Dox...
• July 10, 2018

"Perimenopause symptoms set in within weeks of my hysterectomy, and the hot flashes were keeping me awake and as frequent as three per hour. I cannot take estrogen due to breast cancer in my family history, so I decided to try Prozac after one other trial with paroxetine. The hot flashes stopped immediately! I forgot I was even going through this stage in life! Irritability has lessened as well!"

• Ale...
• December 12, 2020

"I wanted to post as I've been taking fluoxetine for approx. 10-11 months now, but I'd say it took at least 6 months for me to feel better on these, and I nearly gave up on them thinking they don't work. It's possible these take longer to work with some people, so if it has only been a few months for some people, I'd say give it a bit longer for them to kick in. I feel so much better now and have suffered for years with PMT and now peri-menopause. I thought I'd never feel normal! I'm 45, glad I took the plunge!"

• Mis...
• July 26, 2017

"I totally agree with using this drug. I am going through menopause and have had blood taken to make sure I am. After talking to the doctor, she upped my dose from 20 to 40 mg, as every third week I was very anxious and totally forgetting things, not sleeping, overthinking, and just feeling down and less confident-a horrible feeling. I had sweats, but not too bad, as I was already on fluoxetine, but once a month, things got worse. It's saved me and my relationship and leveled things out for me. Don't leave it, us women shouldn't suffer from menopause... go ask for help."

• Wee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2016

"I had been having night sweats for about 2 years. All the other symptoms: hot flushes, nightmares. Life was getting unbearable. I can't go on HRT as my mum died very young with breast cancer. My GP had spoken to me about fluoxetine, I thought I would try. I did think no way will this work!! Found this site and thought what's there to lose. OMG I'm 10 days into taking the drug, and what a turnaround. I clean doctors' houses for a living: my own little business. I had told one of the doctors I work for about getting put onto the drug. She couldn't believe that this would work as she does prescribe medication to her patients. She knows what these drugs are used for, obviously. One of her colleagues is menopausal, she is passing on the information!!"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2018

"I have been taking fluoxetine for 6 months now, 20 mg per day. Worked fantastic and no side effects to speak of. However, now I find the night sweats and flashes coming back. Not sure why. I take it in the mornings, sometimes at 6 am, but recently sometimes at 8 am, so I'm not sure if that's it or should I up the dose. Just wondered if anyone else had found this situation."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2019

"I'm in menopause, so was having hot flushes, low mood, etc. I've tried four lots of HRT, all made me have heavy prolonged bleeding, so Prozac was my last hope. It works. Hot flushes not nearly as bad, low mood gone. The other symptoms of menopause are still there but a lot easier to cope with now. I do have nausea in the morning after taking the pill, and it makes my IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) worse, but I can cope with that. Feel so, so much better."

• kiw...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 1, 2016

"I knew years ago when I started on fluoxetine for depression and anxiety how it helped my hot flushes (as we in NZ call them), not only that, but it helped my fibromyalgia. So it killed not two birds with one stone, but three. I tried to come off the drug last year by weaning myself for eight months. Wasn't successful, so I went back on them. More so, just recently, I was given Lovan at the chemist and never thought much of it being another generic of Prozac. But, I started to go downhill, with anxiety, sore bones, headaches, and worse of all, hot flushes. Finally, I put two and two together and realized it was the Lovan. So now I'm back on fluoxetine. So being generic doesn't mean the same for everybody! This should be published more for all."

• rad...
• February 12, 2016

"I didn't want to take hormones for hot flashes, but the hot flashes were bad enough that I was going to try hormone therapy anyway. My family doctor suggested fluoxetine or Prozac for hot flashes. I had never heard of taking an antidepressant for hot flashes before, so I studied before saying yes. It started working after just a few days. I have occasional hot flashes that are milder than before and way, way less frequent. 20 mg is the dose that works for me. I tried reducing to 10 mg for a few months, but it didn't work as well as the 20 mg. I have been on this for 16 months now. On the flip side, it has also helped with some anxiety issues I didn't realize I was experiencing. :)"

• Jan...
• April 12, 2016

"I started taking Fluoxetine for depression and realized a week or so later my hot flashes decreased in intensity and frequency. I thought I was imagining it until I found this site and read the comments. 20 mg has made me a happier, more comfortable person!"

• LJS...
• November 11, 2015

"I have been having severe hot flashes for about a year, mild ones for a year before that. I can't take the normal meds due to high risk of breast cancer, so my PCP put me on Prozac. I thought to myself there was no way it would help, but after 2 days, I noticed a big difference, and after 5 days, they are nearly gone. I'm on 10 mg D. I take it in the morning."

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2016

"I was having hot flashes every night from being perimenopause, and I recently started on 20 mg of Prozac. It took approximately 3 weeks for it to start working, and I swear by it, by the 4th week, not one hot flash. I am feeling so much relief from Prozac. Not only have my hot flashes gone away, but my moods are stable, and I feel great!"

• Kez...
• September 11, 2017

"I have suffered 25 to 35 hot flashes day and night, heavily for around 2 years, it has affected my quality of life in every way. My work uniform saturated. Then in winter, I get chills after the flashes that last up to four to five minutes, sometimes just over. Anyway, I asked the doc a few days ago for a small dose of Prozac. I feel odd for sure, but not too bad. My triggers that I know of are smoking, tea, coffee, soda, ice cream, chocolate, spices, etc. Everything I love. Anyway, I cut back on smokes and soda. Cut out heaps of spices. This is day 2 of 10 mg of Prozac. Will keep updating this thread. Now day 6. Flashes have become shorter and less intense. I'm having maybe 4 at night compared to 12 to 15. Through the day, maybe 6."

• Sto...
• July 29, 2017

"8 days in and I feel gross. I'm nauseous, feel blah, runny nose (read that was a side effect for 'mature' women), light-headed and sweating bullets. This is supposed to help with the hot flashes? I'm trying to be patient. Ready to quit."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2020

"I've had 20/30 severe hot flushes a day for 23 years. It was all too much, so I got fluoxetine and tried it. Up to now, my flushes are less severe, and I'm getting fewer. I hope they keep working, I'm depressed with these flushes, my quality of life was zero."