Fluoxetine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Lucia
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2018

Prozac (fluoxetine) "Prozac is the only medication that has worked for my OCD especially with my intrusive thoughts repetitive behavior and homicidal thoughts; I'm a high functioning sociopath w/manic depressive bipolar disorder and extreme anxiety... unfortunately the prozac doesn't completely take care of my anxiety/panic attacks so I was put back on xanax [PRN] I also take Seroquel/lamactil (i do have seizures) diazepam when seizure activities are present."

• Equil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 14, 2020

"The best SSRI I ever take. Fluoxetine gives me energy, and I am calm at the same time, obsession thinking it hasn't gone but I can control and manage it more. I do not care of I have to take it for life. I take 60-80 mg depending my OCD. Good luck to everyone. I highly recommend it to try it."

• Otter...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2018

"Moderate OCD, GAD and when I was prescribed fluxeotine, severe depression. I’m not going to lie to you, the first 3 weeks were bad - couldn’t eat, crying randomly, unable to sleep normally, going outside made me break out in a sweat for fear/anxiety, intrusive thoughts were worse, and suicidal thoughts started even though they weren’t an issue before - my GP wanted to take me off them. However, I stuck with it and each day got slightly better and after the initial period I feel like I’ve got my life back. What I will say is, get off this forum! ESPECIALLY if you have OCD! Reading and obsessing about whether the drugs will work for you will make it 100 times worse and get you more in your head about it. I’m only 3 months in but I’m back to being able to function again (even went on holiday when Planes made me breakdown before) and am seeing really positive results. It’s a marathon, not a race. You won’t feel better overnight but you will feel better over time."

• anon
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 27, 2019

"27 year old male. I have been taking fluoxetine since July 2015. That's over 3.5 years. It's never lost effectiveness. I have severe obsessive compulsive disorder. It made my life unliveable. Nothing is perfect. But I've tried nearly every class of antidepressant on the market and I have tried all SSRI's. It holds 1st place for the amount of conditions it treats and its efficacy in each. Only reason I give a 9/10 is because 10/10 would be a complete eradication of my disorder. I will add that health-related OCD(some call it health anxiety or hypochondriasis) responds magnificently to this medication."

• Catal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2016

"Fluoxetine changed my life. My postpartum experience after our second child was hell on Earth and I thought I would end up permanently crazy. It took months to feel the full impact -- so PLEASE hang in there. I wanted to quit Prozac so many times but thank goodnes I stuck it out. I cannot say enough good points about this medication."

• Nord
• January 21, 2015

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I have been off Prozac for about 4 weeks now...after starting 2 years ago for a terrible depression/sadness/menopause. Wanted to take a Holiday to see what would happen. When on Prozac side effects like decrease sexual drive and slight weight gain, otherwise it put my menopause symptoms in control Decrease my hot flashes, helped my sadness, and gave relief for some mild OCD that I have had for years. Now when I am off the medicine I notice and increase in my OCD behaviors. Not concentrating as well at work. Sexual appetite is still not that great despite a wonderful patient husband (could still just be the menopause). Hot flashes have not really returned and I do not feel overwhelmingly sad. I will start Prozac tomorrow and see if it help with OCD."

• pikmin
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2022

Prozac (fluoxetine) "The first month on Prozac my anxiety and OCD worsened but was manageable so I pushed through it. I had a similar response on Zoloft, except Zoloft was so activating I felt even worse on it and constantly anxious. So I pushed through on the Prozac because my body reacted to it better than the Zoloft. In the end it was definitely worth it, after the first month on Prozac I started to have an easier time focusing on work and my intrusive thoughts felt less intense. I chose to stay only on 20 milligrams as I am also receiving therapy for my OCD, but would definitely recommend anyone with OCD try to find the right pill for them to help them along. It might not necessarily be Prozac, my advice would be to find the pill that feels like it is the most manageable to get through the initial side effects."

• lin
• July 11, 2018

"I was so hesitant to take any sort of psychoactive drugs for YEARS - I had been diagnosed with severe OCD when I was 11. I was totally crippled by obsessions and compulsions that would render me completely useless for up to 6 hours a day. I'm 20 now, and after a traumatic sexual assault, my symptoms blew up. My doctor put me on Prozac (20 mg). The first month or so I was a bit more on edge than normal and had issues with shakiness, but that passed quickly and wasn't too disruptive. I was worried that it would cause weight gain or kill my libido, but I've actually had a better relationship with my weight and body image since starting and my libido has stayed the same, if not gotten higher! Prozac changed my life; I no longer cloister myself inside to tend to my obsessions and compulsions and they hardly even affect my life at this point in time. Obviously everyone's brain chemistry is different, but I HIGHLY recommend Fluoxetine."

• George
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 17, 2021

Prozac (fluoxetine) "Warning! Just be careful. I’ve used Prozac off and on for maybe 30 years. Be aware of sexual side effects of this drug. Total inability to reach orgasm during sex. And no, it wasn’t caused by anything else. I was checked out. Sometimes the inability to climax persists even after you’ve off the drug. I’m not the only one to experience this; there’s plenty of information on post SSRI sexual dysfunction. Oh, and the percentages of sexual problems listed in the package insert are skewed on the low side."

• Sylvia
• July 26, 2018

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I started on the generic of Prozac in March after trying Zoloft, Celexa, AND Effexor. Good news is that I did not have any initial side effects (I had extreme initial side effects from the other 3), bad news is that it did not help with my OCD or anxiety. It actually gave me more anxiety, because it made me lose tons of hair on the top of my head where my crown is. You could even see bald patches, there was so much lost. :(.......I was only on it for 3 months, and the doctor took me off immediately once he saw what it was doing to my hair:( I am trying Luvox now, which I have never heard of, but truly hope it helps. This will be the 5 SSRI I have tried in the past 10 months. Praying this is the one."

• ilua
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 28, 2022

Prozac (fluoxetine) "It has helped so much. My OCD used to be horrible and awful to manage. Ever since I'’ve been on prozac, it’s been so much more manageable. The only side effects I’ve had is a dry mouth, dizziness, and a low sex drive. I’m on 30mg"

• Equil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2017

"I just feel the need to express how well I've been feeling with this change. Started a month ago with 20 mg. This week I upped the dose to 40 mg, my OCD comes and goes, it just doesn't bother me anymore, feeling free of those useless ruminations. Let me honestly tell you, sertraline was good, then but this medicine is just great, feeling better results and gives me sort of more activating feeling and motivation. I'll stick with it for a while with this dose. There is hope for OCD, please don't give up, there are lot options out there, God bless all of you."

• Miss...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 7, 2021

"It didn't do much for my OCD, made me feel anxious and I went from a healthy 8.5 stone to a nearly morbidly obese zombie in 2 years. Took 3 years to lose the weight, about 4 stone. Just made me eat and sleep all the time, could hardly keep my eyes open most days. Rubbish drug. Did nothing for my mood either, waste of time and just made things a LOT worse for me!"

• Stu
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2021

"I was recently diagnosed with OCD after 20 years of intrusive thoughts and mental compulsions. I had been getting treated for GAD which it wasn't hence why I didn't fully believe CBT worked for me. I can now relate to suffering from Anxiety and intrusive thoughts from an early age. The main point being when I started to have girlfriends and my OCD latched onto their previous relationships - everything from just going out to the usual things that happen. The doubt and anxiety just kept fuelling my thinking which I couldn't control. I was 1st put 20mg dose of fluoxetine which to be fair looking back did nothing, after around 15 years I upped my dose to 40mg which I believe did knock the edge off the anxiety and intrusive thoughts, eventually it just seemed to disappear when my son was born. I had a couple of great years finally being what I'd always dreamed of. i stupidly stopped taking the medication. 5 months later its back. Its been 6 week I'm now on 60mg and it seems to be working."

• Daisy...
• June 9, 2012

"I've been on Prozac since April 2011. Before that I was on Lexapro for 5 years. Lexapro helped with my depression, but did nothing for my anxiety. I have post traumatic stress disorder, and a side effect of PTSD is obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, trichotillomania and binge eating. Prozac has almost eliminated all of that. No more depression, very mild anxiety. My OCD and trichotillomania are under control. I have also lost 50 lbs but I do not know if this is because of the medication. The only side effect I experienced was being trapped in nightmares. This only happened the first month I started."

• anoth...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2022

Prozac (fluoxetine) "Wanted to let anyone who was in my same position (being impatient and suffering a lot) know that it does takes about 4-6 weeks to start working BUT that's when you're at the right dose for you. I've been on Prozac for 8 weeks now, but I've been on 60mg for about 6 weeks. It took about 5 weeks on 60mg for me to finally start noticing an improvement in my OCD. I'd say my OCD at this point is about 10% better. It started as little changes like not bothering to check stuff that I usually check a lot. Letting go of things is a bit easier. I've seen that it might take up to 12 weeks for the full effect, so I hope I will see more improvement over the next few weeks. I do have side effects like minor tremors and constipation but I think it's worth it to deal with that instead of OCD. It's about what you're willing to put up with in order to find relief for OCD."

• jcb
• April 19, 2018

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I was on Paxil over 10 years ago, but ended up gaining a lot of weight on it, even with working out like a mad man, and watching what I eat very meticulously. After being on several meds in the next 10 years, which did not appear to work (although I wasn't on them for a long period to time) I decided to try Prozac from the advice from my psychiatrist, who is a very good doctor. I took a gene test to see what medicine would be best from me, and the tests revealed prozac would be best. I started off on 20mg, increased to 40mg, and eventually went up to 60mg (due to my OCD). At first, I kept the weight off, and in fact was losing a bit of weight. However, after being on 60mg for a long period of time, I decided to weigh myself, and was totally dismayed, and went into a deep depression, on how much weight I gained. I always thought weight gain was one thing under my control, as I work out and watch what I eat. To say it mildly, it was like a punch in the stomach."

• Molly
• January 26, 2022

"I was on Fluoxetine for 9 days. I had to come off I could not cope with the side effects. It made feel horrible. I just lost interest in everything wanted to stay in bed all the time. I lost my appetite and I still not got my appetite back yet. Never again."

• Anonymous
• October 3, 2015

"I've taken a lot of different medications over the years which never really made me feel much better. I've been taking fluoxetine 60 mg for 2 months now and have noticed a big change for the better!! I am so much more relaxed and less stressed at work. "

• Taximan
• August 23, 2015

Prozac (fluoxetine) "Hi ive been on prozac 60mg for 10years the drug is miraculous it got me out of a hole, but as i suffer from ocd i decided to self medicate with drink and drugs also that led me me to a 12 step fellowship! Now 7half years without a drink or drug im self medicating on prozac which is not v good! It got to last friday i had taken probly 4 tablets in 2 weeks and just crashed! Im now back on 60mg a day but having bouts of anxiety again and thinking its not real, im hoping this is just the side affects of the prozac again getting in system, im tired headache and anxiety thinking"

• atifh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2017

"I was diagnosed for OCD mixed type. My psychiatrist prescribed fluoxetine 20mg. The first 7 days were very bad. Extreme fatigue & tiredness, the typical "zombie" feeling associated with AD's. But on my 15th day the fatigue has reduced considerably & my OCD thoughts have become very easy to control. Also I can avoid my rituals now. The medication has worked for me & I think in the coming months will do me more good. I'm grateful for opting for it as I tried all the "natural" ways but with a mental illness when you don't get results you tend to get discouraged & leave the process midway. I wasn't getting better & thus finally overcame the fear of medication. Stop googling as it will only scare you & visit your doctor."

• Nimm
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2015

"I have OCD and I've been on Prozac for a short time, but it is so, so helpful. It's stemmed my obsessions a lot, to the point where I can actually focus in class and get my schoolwork done. I've had a few side effects such as weight gain, irregular appetite, and some weird moods, but it's all worth it."

• Baloch...
• December 3, 2016

"Hi, I have always been ignoring my OCD which I am suffering for two years. Finally my obsessive & compulsive thoughts compelled me to go for psychiatrist. I started taking fluextine 20mg a month ago. The initial few weeks were hard to handle my daily life but after the side effect weeks I started feeling better & better. Now I'm on 40mg and feel much more relaxed just like I got my previous life again. Just don't loose hope of course there is relief after adversity."

• Joshd
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2016

"I'm pretty much the same as the most recent poster. I have severe OCD to the point where I lost my family through it an have been battling with alcohol for a nber of years now. I stopped taking my flu when I 'thought' I felt better. Not realising the flu was the reason my moods where gone and my obsessions limited down to a more handable level. I'm back on 60mg now and feel really good. On top of councilling and then CBT I'm moving forward and will get my life back on track. Stopping my medication was one of the worst things I've done."

• Mano
• June 10, 2019

"I'm really freaking out. I have severe OCD and depression and am on day 12 of Prozac and the anxiety and terror I am experiencing are possibly the worst they've been. Does this pass? I know people say Prozac can initially heighten your anxiety but this is unbearable and I just don't know what to do. I'm hoping and praying the anxiety will settle. I've emailed my psychiatrist and waiting to hear back from them."