Fluoxetine for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2022

Fluoxetine "SIGH. Yet another antidepressant that made me worse than ever before. I sleep all day and have no motivation or pleasure (anhedonia), so thought after 9 years I'd finally try Prozac. 20 mg. Nope. It made me extra irritable from the beginning, made me hyper and hugely socially anxious and with a huge excess of nervous energy. My OCD motor tics worsened due to the extra nerves, as did my 'self-soothing' behavior of skin picking and biting the inside of my mouth. My stutter also returned after being much improved over the last few years. I endured all this for almost 8 weeks, to give it time to really work. Finally, it stopped me from sleeping. I've always had insomnia but take an antihistamine to sleep, which has worked for 5 years. This stopped it from working, and I had to stop taking the Prozac. It took a month to be able to sleep okay again. It did give me more energy, but nowhere to channel it as I still had no interest in anything."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2018

"My 13-year-old daughter started taking this med 4 weeks ago. Her depression is gone, but she is feeling emotional numbness and suicidal thoughts. Both are considered side effects until the drug takes effect. I'm on the fence on what to do."

• yog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2022

"I want to share my experience because I know someone’s probably going through those rough beginning stages scrolling these reviews like I did. I want to be honest and say I almost gave up three times on this. I have given up before, but I ended up having to restart the start process. Not fun! Don’t do that to yourself like I did, lol. Anyway, I have PMDD, depression, anxiety, and I suspect CPTSD from an abusive relationship. This medicine has helped me finally be able to sleep without sleeping pills or melatonin. It honestly took a little over two weeks to feel the positive effects of this. One day I was able to just drive, go to the store, and call people without overthinking it. Whereas before, it was a struggle to do any of that. I can say I’m back to my normal self finally. I was way more anxious in the beginning. I almost gave up because it made my anxiety so bad, but I kept going because I knew it would help eventually, and it did. I hope whoever is starting up keeps going."

• Ala...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 19, 2017

Fluoxetine "I'm still trying to find a medication that works for me. But this is one that the doctor prescribed to me about two years ago, and I took it for very close to a year. It did not help. They kept adding more dosage until finally, I quit seeing my psychiatrist altogether and stopped taking the medication."

• Bea...
• May 25, 2019

"I started to be depressed at 18. I had a lot of trauma in my life, but I used to be really happy. I had severe hypochondria. I would cry every single day for hours straight. I hate medication, but after ruling out all the possible diseases I could find, I decided to try. I had nothing to lose because I was already lost. In the course of 2 years, I’ve tried about 5 antidepressants, and all of them gave me terrible side effects. I started Prozac with no hope, I was just sleepwalking. Slowly, I started feeling better, it was really smooth, like no dramatic changes, just getting better day by day. The only side effect that really bothers me is that I don’t always feel in touch with my emotions. It helped me a lot, but it’s a lot of hard work. No drug can help when you don’t believe it can. I’m definitely coming off of it because I find that it blunted my emotions. Something that really helped me too was mindfulness, when you’re ready, give it a try."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 5, 2019

"I found the longer I was on them, the more forgetful I became, with slurred speech, always biting my tongue. I'm still on them at 60 mg, and I don't know what I'm supposed to feel like or who I have become, it's strange."

• Ido...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 1, 2023

"I’ve been on Zoloft, Paxil, Citalopram, and Trazodone with no relief. Once I started Prozac, the feeling of intense depression has completely gone away. It is the only one that has worked for me. It has caused trouble sleeping in higher doses, and I still struggle with motivation, but the feeling of deep, deep sadness is gone. It has literally saved my life."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 31, 2022

"So how to start, I really don't know. This medication has been a godsend for me. It takes 4-6 weeks to kick in. Please have faith in your doctor. I suffer from both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I consulted many doctors, my condition did not get better. So I consulted my doctor, he gave me medication. It took 3 years to completely recover from the diseases. I have scored a 7 rank in UPSC CDS. I'm a decorated Air Force officer. Please never lose hope."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2021

"It gave me hope after dealing with MDD for a decade. But the cost was it made me numb to life. If you ask me, I would recommend you to use tricyclic antidepressants like clomipramine before giving up on life. Now I'm a happy, fresh high school graduate thanks to my curiosity."

• Sma...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2021

"I have formally been diagnosed as having treatment-resistant depression. I have suffered with depression since I was 12 and am now 74. Nothing has really worked for me. One psychiatrist estimated I might get 30% improvement, but I don’t think so. The side effects of most antidepressants make the slight improvement not worth much. I have tried, I am using brand names in Canada, Prozac, doxepin, Serzone, Zoloft, Paxil, Parnate, fluvoxamine, citalopram, and mirtazapine. Some many times and in large doses. The longest use was fluvoxamine and citalopram. I have had every possible add-on and three sessions of ECT to no avail. I recently switched from citalopram to fluoxetine because I could not get off the citalopram otherwise. Now I appear to be gaining weight yet again, I have gained over 100 lbs in the last 25 years. I have severe insomnia and fatigue. So how I am going to try no antidepressants. Major sources of stress in my life have died, so I hope this will succeed. I am totally fed up."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 22, 2021

"I was on fluoxetine 40 mg for 3 months, 20 mg for a year. Don’t recommend this drug for anyone under 18 as there are so many better ones for adolescents. This medication made my panic attacks worse, restlessness, nightmares, and horrible muscle cramping and twitching. Looked like I was having a focal seizure."

• Hor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2015

"I was diagnosed with parasuicide and major depressive disorder. I also suffer from obsessions, rather than compulsions, and have anxiety. This was supposed to be a cure-all for me until I started having vivid nightmares that I thought only happened because I was maybe sleeping better. Turns out, Prozac made me lose sleep, and I would wake up crying with my heart pounding. My brother had died, so having vivid nightmares related to him dying and other people dying was absolutely intolerable. I would lay in bed and cry because I was afraid to go to sleep. I would force myself to stay up so I didn't have to dream. It was a living nightmare. I had no idea that that was a possible side effect, and the medicine was put on my allergy list."

• Dec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2022

Fluoxetine "I started with 10 mg of Prozac 3 weeks ago. I also suffer from fibromyalgia, as well as neck and back issues for several years. I have been on hydrocodone for the last 4 years. For some reason, my pain medication is no longer working since I started Prozac. From what I have read, this is common and should be taking oxycodone. Anyone with chronic pain and taking pain medication knows that taking oxycodone is taboo. I really want to stick with the Prozac after starting 20 mg next week. I am hoping it will work after the increase in the next month. It probably has a lot to do with the fibromyalgia that the Prozac is taking longer to work for me. I'm just hoping that it will work in another month. I do believe my doctor will write me a prescription for the oxycodone and give it a month to see if the Prozac kicks in. If it does not, I will have to go back to the Celexa and hydrocodone I've been on that no longer works. Not sure how I can't get a response. I have not noticed any on this site."

• all...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2019

"I wasn’t sure how to rate it, and here’s why. I have major depression, panic disorder, and OCD, which this should help all these things. Well, I’ve been on it for 6 years now, and there have been two instances where I tried to stop this cold turkey, and it was the worst decision I’ve ever made. Withdrawal symptoms didn’t occur until 17 days in because this drug has such a long half-life. However, my body was so sick and weak. I was vomiting and nauseous and could barely eat anything. I couldn’t sleep at night, and it was like I had restless leg syndrome. The worst thing I EVER had to deal with; good thing I was out of work both times this happened. I was so incredibly ill that it scares me so bad that I will be dependent on this drug for the rest of my life. I’m 25, don’t have any children yet. I don’t actually know if this is helping me, but all I know is that every time I try to withdraw, my doctor doesn’t recommend it, and both times have been an actual hell."

• cal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2021

"Fluoxetine cured my anxiety and stopped my panic attacks in 2 months! Didn't do much for the depression, though. Maybe if I had stayed on longer than 2 months, I would've seen improvements in the depression. But per my experience, I would rate it 10/10 for anxiety. A major side effect I experienced was nausea. Really terrible nausea. That was why I had to switch to a different antidepressant."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 3, 2023

"3 hrs after taking the first dose, I noticed a small sensation in my chest, which felt like a slightly elevated (positive) feeling, as well as some sort of sensation in the center of my brain (the part Fluoxetine works with), which suggested it was doing something. After taking for a few weeks, I upped the dosage with advice from treating medical professionals to two tablets a day, I continued on this dose for around 5.5 months. I weaned off the medication after 7 months, as it had lost its noticeable benefits and had left me completely unable to handle any heat!!! It's been 2 years since I stopped taking Fluoxetine, and my body temperature regulation is STILL STUFFED! Be very careful when weighing up taking Fluoxetine, as it seems if you're unlucky like me, you'll lose your ability to regulate your body temperature, leaving you unable to do anything without feeling like you're going to pass out from heat exhaustion on any day over 22°C. Fluoxetine has ruined my body!"

• Que...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2021

Fluoxetine "I have been on Prozac for 3 days. Last night I started having chest pains and I couldn’t breathe. I try to eat, but I get nauseous and am not hungry. I called my doctor to find out if it’s normal. I have been feeling anxious. Hope he calls me back."

• Rag...
• December 20, 2017

Fluoxetine "I had been on fluoxetine intermittently across 7 years since aged 18. I have quit this sugar-coated poison for 2 years, enjoying the same benefits from fluoxetine (Prozac) by: -Going to church (just for socializing) -Getting a job that can give you a sense of satisfaction -Having an intermediate degree of exercise (90-min walk a day) -Simple jokes My best advice would be: 1. Never stay on it over 2 months, normal side effects: -Extremely thirsty (I got woken up regularly for a can of Coke...) -Larger appetite (eating every 3 hrs) -Extremely hyper, talkative -Worsened memory/learning Upon quitting, you'll expect the following: -Sweaty palms -Panic attack after midnight -Regular nightmares -Chaotic mind -Suicidal thoughts"

• wer...
• October 24, 2014

Fluoxetine "The best SSRI, beats depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder."

• Sie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 19, 2020

Fluoxetine "It made me numb. It never helped with depression, just made me never happy or smile genuinely."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 12, 2020

Fluoxetine "A life-saving medication for many years."

• min...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 15, 2014

Fluoxetine "Excellent for Major Depressive Disorder, as well as some mixed anxiety disorders."

• JFK...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 8, 2019

Fluoxetine "I take 80 mg of Prozac with Lamictal, and it helps a lot. But be warned, it will ruin your sex life."

• Tom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2019

Fluoxetine "Prozac is wonderful, but because of some sexual side effects, I can't give 10."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2020

Fluoxetine "This drug made me so much worse. It gave me bad side effects and made me even more suicidal. Not for me!"