Fluoxetine for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Chris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2019

"After 3 ER visits in 3 months, I learned I had a severe reaction to a bc pill, the hormonal imbalance essentially giving me PMDD. Before this I was afraid of SSRIs (I had a bad reaction to Zoloft the month before) but I can say that fluoxetine has given me my life back. It took about 6 weeks (and my post pill amenorrhea ending with a heavy period) but the anxiety, depression, and dark thoughts slowly ebbed and then left altogether; I am only slightly anxious maybe 2 times a day and that is slowly but surely decreasing. This was done with a healthy diet, exercise, and supplements to help regulate my hormones. (The pill had caused a 35 lb weight gain, acne, extreme body odor). I am now on week 7 of fluoxetine and the difference is incomparable to where I was before I started. It takes time to build up in your system but stick with it and it will gradually get better! Taking care of yourself will also help give the fluoxetine the best chance to work most effectively!"

• Pmt
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 20, 2016

"Hi, I wonder how others are finding taking prozac for only two weeks in their cycle? I have been taking it in tiny doses; Wednesday 20mg and Saturday 20mg throughout my cycle. It takes the edge off, but last month wasn't enough. I was considering taking it, as stated, everyday for those two weeks prior but was worried about side effects following those two weeks. I don't want to take it every day as I have side effects that my husband doesn't like! My PMT became severe after stopping breastfeeding. It was so odd, it worsened each year following. Six years later (and approaching 40) it gets worse. I have also heard that low carbohydrate diets help, something to do with the effect of insulin on oestrogen...."

• Chook
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2017

"For the last 4 years my PMT has lasted 2 weeks of the month. Common symptoms fatigue, anxiety, no motivation, depression and anger/rage. Screaming at my little boy. (This wasn't the sort of mum I was going to be!!). Took a while to persuade my Dr to let me try this. I take 20mgs from day 15 of my cycle for 14 days and I feel like a different person. Mostly the rage has gone. I feel like me again. It takes about 2 doses to kick in so I usually start taking it on day 13. Only side effects was indigestion so I don't take it before bed. Wish I'd known about it years ago."

• Susanlo
• December 3, 2017

Prozac (fluoxetine) "After years of suffering I decided to try mess again for my PMDD. Zoloft made me feel like a zombie and my body had many side effects to Prozac. I had electric shocks in my brain, paranoia which I don't normally have, feeling out of it/forgetful, anxious, dry eyes, moody, thought people were plotting against me and my depression got worse. On top of all that I went from being 5' 11 and 155 pounds to weighing 195lb in ONE month without changing my eating habits!! My doc convinced me to give it some time for the med to work so stayed on it for 3 months-wish I quit sooner. I have now been off of it since Feb but still feel slight effects of the Prozac. Eventually Wellbutrin ended up helping me tremendously so I have stayed on that."

• Sassy...
• July 1, 2016

"Started out taking 20 mg of prozac for depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder and pre-menopause. First two weeks I had mild side effects after week 3 I feel really good. I have not had a hot flash in 6 months I was very skeptical about prozac working for menopause but as my doctor stated give it sometime before expecting results and he was absolutely correct. Who knew?"

• Ebol
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 19, 2014

"Great for the PMDD but at what cost? My other emotions are blunted. My ability to love is blunted. My libido is gone. My husband is miserable. I have tried stopping and I got so emotional and crazy, I had to resume. I have tried only 10 mg a day, every other day, and still the side effects. I am going to back off further. It is truly a balancing act. I wish I could say something better. It helps."

• Debra
• February 10, 2014

"After having tried everything available - natural/diet/hormonal - fluoxetine is the only thing that combats my severe PMS. Downside is complete lack of sex drive and blunted emotions. Going to try to reduce from 20mg every day to 2 weeks before period. "

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2010

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "I have taken Fluoxetine for PMDD for 3 months and the results have been remarkable. I take 20 mg daily. I still get a bit down around my period but I am able to control myself. I do experience some side effects. I wake up around 3-4am and have difficulty going back to sleep, my legs are restless at night and during the first few weeks only I lost interest in personal grooming and became lethargic. I can live with the side effects. My quality of life has greatly improved since taking Fluoxetine."

• Perim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 8, 2017

"I'm 51 and premenopausal- for a few days each month around ovulation, I'd go from my normal self to an "Eeyore" state....the smallest things could set me off into an increasingly downward spiral of depression. When I finally told my amazing doctor about this, he explained that if it was truly PMDD and menopausal related, a very very small dose of Prozac for just a few days per month would help the problem tremendously. If it was actual depression, it would not work so well or so quickly. He was absolutely right! I am only using 5 mg, which is a dose so small that I have to get a 10 mg pill and break it in half. I take it for approx 3 days. It's critical that I take it at the very first sign of that depression before it is able to take root."

• Jthej...
• August 20, 2017

"I'm 18 and I had horrible PMDD from the first time I got my period. Depression, suicidal, panic attacks, uncontrollable anger. For two weeks my life would stop, I'd take off from school and work and sit in my room for days on end. I went on fluxotene 20mg when I was 17 and it has changed my life! I've suffered from a lot of mood swings and outbursts typical of a teenager, but mine were so out of control. Fluxotine has allowed me to take control of my life and be the best person I can be. No negative side effects besides some sleeplessness when starting the drug."

• Nab
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2022

Prozac (fluoxetine) "I tried 5mg of Prozac for PMDD after reading peer-reviewed data and reviews. I started when my luteal phase started. I felt nauseous and drowsy after about day 3. Weird effect on my sleep, I was sleeping but it wasn’t restful. My mood after about day 6 was noticeably more stable, but nausea and drowsiness still disrupted my day. The 48 hrs before my period starts are usually the worst, as far as my mood and ability to function. The Prozac did not seem to help during the most intense part of my PMDD. After my period I wanted to continue with the Prozac to see if the side effects might ease, but then I realized I had lost my sex drive, sex response, and ability to orgasm completely. I stopped on about day 20. I encountered an entire week of intense migraines, and bouts of long crying. I’m on week 3 of not taking Prozac and am so depressed, I don’t care about anything. I can barely eat or get out of bed. I can orgasm now again, so that’s a plus. Bottom line: not worth it for me."

• Momof...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 18, 2017

"Starting it I had a bad headache for about 8 days. On day 3, I contemplated stopping, I felt unfeeling, like I wasn't myself, but stuck with it. Those feelings passed as well as the headache. I didn't feel any symptoms of PPMD the first 3 months. After that, I would say I feel 80% better during my episodes. I fear it will get worse each month, but it is tolerable. I feel that dark cloud want to return, but it never gets too bad. Will be asking my doctor if I may need a bump up in dose from my starting dose. So glad this medication has evened me out."

• Danika
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2015

Prozac (fluoxetine) "A renowned medication to help PMDD, but barely helped me. Helped with my anxiety and depression quite well (despite lack of emotion), but always got hormonal monthly, which was confusing. It actually made some symptoms worse. On Lexapro now, so hopefully that helps!"

• Meg
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2016

"20mg/day of fluoxetine works wonders for my PMDD. I found it to be so beneficial that I asked for a daily prescription, rather than 2 weeks per month. Only drawback was inability to orgasm, which I felt was detrimental to my physical relationship with my husband. I switched to Wellbutrin as a daily antidepressant. Found it to be very motivating and with no sexual side effects. After 6 months on Wellbutrin, though, I started to notice that my PMDD was creeping back in, and I was more irritable/snappy than before on a daily basis. Now I am experimenting with daily Wellbutrin plus 2 weeks per month of fluoxetine. Last cycle went really well. I think fluoxetine is a miracle mood stabilizer. If only it weren't for the sexual side effects!"

• Sherri
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2013

Sarafem (fluoxetine) "Been on the medicine for a week now. Had partial hysterectomy and have been going through menopause 8 yrs now. Ovary/hormone symptoms been tougher to deal with this past 2-3 months. One positive so far, appetite has decreased (usually increases at this time). Had been taking Viibryd for about 5-6 months now; told to stop taking it while taking this medicine; luckily no withdrawal since stopping Viibryd (knock on wood) depression has not worsened. Hoping that more positive things come of taking this PMDD medicine. "

• Kriss
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2019

"I was diagnosed with PMDDin my mid 20s was on meds back then. I was on 40mg fluoxetine back then. I however got off of it and been off it for many years. I have now been back on 20 mg daily for the last 7 weeks. However I feel as if I need to go up in strength after my husband asked if I was still on my meds. I however now also think I know why I got off of them before. I really do struggle with sex. I however know I need the meds. It really works for me and makes me feel better. If I'm not 100% I think it's really helped me to be back on it. The Pros and Cons of being back on it are both good and bad."

• Dom
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2020

"Fluoxetine is amazing for premenstrual dysphoric disorder! If tried citalopram& felt awful for a year on them so I was reluctant to try antidepressants again but I am so glad I tried fluoxetine, within a day I felt better. I have been taking them for over 3 months now and I think they work well for PMDD. I still have down days and feel tired and unmotivated when due on but I am not hysterical or full of rage like I used to be. I take them every day and I feel a lot better for it. It's not a cure for PMDD but it helps me manage it so much more. My PMDD was much worse after having a baby and fluoxetine has allowed me to feel happy again I sometimes get insomnia so I make sure to take them first thing in the morning to avoid it. If I take them on an empty stomach I can feel a bit gross too but I just take them with breakfast now. If I forget to take them I feel really rubbish pretty quickly so I recommend taking them at the same time every day. Give them time to work but they worked very well for me."

• ricea...
• April 27, 2021

"I was diagnosed with PMDD a few months ago, but it's something I've struggled with for most of my life. I've taken zoloft before and it made me feel so nauseous and like a zombie. I thought prozac was going to do the same thing but it didn't at all. The first few weeks of taking it there were some mild side effects, like headache, fatigue, insomnia. I've been on it for about 7 weeks now and I have no more side effects. I take 20MG of Prozac for my general anxiety every day but need 40mg of Prozac for about 4 or 5 days a month to manage my PMDD symptoms. I feel so great, I never thought I would get here. It feels like a miracle, truly. I do notice the 40mg makes me a bit manic when I'm experiencing PMDD symptoms. I would way rather have mania than this crippling anxiety/depression. But for those 4-5days I'm way less inhibited which is not necessarily the greatest thing for every situation (mainly when I'm at work). But overall I'm very happy since I've started taking it. I feel so free."

• LL_CO
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 28, 2016

"I posted in June 2014 after being on this Rx for about 7 months. It has now been 2 years. I am still on 10mg for first week after ovulating and 20 until my period starts. I have forgotten how "bad" it use to be! I have had months (rare) when I've messed up the timing on my meds and it messed with my head a bit. I try real hard to time at the same time each day. I've also noticed that around days 3 and 4 (after my period started and being off the Rx) that it appears the remaining meds in my system have worn off and I have a day of being "sad". The kinda of sad you'd get when PMS seemed normal and you were just sad, but not depressed and anxious and out of body. But after that feel normal again."

• dg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2016

"I am a 50 year old woman going through Pre-Menopause. Still have it but very little. I was on prozac along time ago and then went off of it because I didnt like taking pills. Just recently had to go back on.. was affecting my work life. ( not that great anyway) But I can deal with it now that I am on it. Waiting to find another Job soon. Anyway, its really making me gain weight. I was working out for a while doing pretty good. Then ( the Job took our Gym benefit away) was a perk at one time for now almost 8 years that I have worked here. Anyway, I don't feel that I over-eat. But everyone is telling me that prozac makes you gain weight. If anyone has any ideas.? I am so tired of yo you dieting. and am thinking of meal replacements now..."

• KatyC
• January 9, 2017

"So I was previously on citalopram and it reduced my depression but made my pmdd more noticable. A psychiatrist recommended prozac as citalopram is not effective for pmdd. The month that they weaned me off citalopram and onto prozac was HELL. Now I'm fully taking prozac at 40mg it is working already, I have more energy and can get up and do things more often. I've not had a period on my full dose of prozac yet so I'm not sure how it will work then, but from what I feel now, I think it will be great. Side effect: I have incredibly vivid and unpleasant dreams (but had that on citalopram at first) and they are so vivid I often confuse them with real life momentarily. I also have bruised and itchy legs."

• Holly
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 17, 2020

Prozac (fluoxetine) "Prozac worked well for me for a number of years. It helped my moods to the point I didn't even think about them anymore. I was functional ! Unfortunately it makes me extremely constipated so I'm not sure I'll be staying on it."

• vsx
• November 23, 2010

"This medicine did a great job in "leveling" off my emotions. I didn't cry nearly as easy when I was going through PMDD. I also handled some serious crisis' in life much easier. The negative part was that I was so very tired all of the time. I had very little energy and I couldn't get enough sleep. Prior to taking the medicine, I had been working out on a very regular basis, however, after taking the medicines, I lost all interest in it. I quickly put back on the 15 lbs that I had worked so hard to get rid of. After speaking with my physician again, I'm going to try Wellbutrin instead. Hopefully the energy will return and I can resume my workout regimen."

• Tano
• February 4, 2021

"I have always had bad PMS, and for the last few years the PMS started earlier and became worse. And I was, angry at EVERYTHING. ALL. THE. TIME. The death of my brother pushed me over the edge and the negative feelings/moods were constant. I could never stop thinking about all the bad things I've ever done in my life, telling myself I deserve to feel like this. My employer said it looked like I have a dark cloud above my head. I finally decided to try Prozac and I literally don't remember the last time I have felt this way, if ever. This freedom from self-created demons seems like a long lost part of myself is finally able to surface again. I have a slight bit of insomnia (lasting maybe an hour in the middle of the night) and a slight tremor in my hands sometimes but I couldn't care less. This pill is amazing. I wish I started sooner. I'm on 20mg now, every day, I might eventually go down to 10mg and then I might eventually use it only for PPMD, but not yet."

• posh
• January 17, 2016

"I have had PMDD since 2007 aged 27. Doc placed me on 10mg citalapram however after 5 years in my symtoms have come back - citalopram seemed to have stopped working & the anxiety came back with a vengance. I tried to increase but the side effects were just to bad. So the doc has prescribed me 10ml of liquid flx. . It's only my 2nd week and I'm 14 days into my cycle. Which is where my anxiety kicks in!! I'm hopping that the flx needs time to kick in? So far though the side effects seem OK"