Prozac and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• she...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2012

For Depression "Prozac has saved my life. I was unable to function normally and was very irritable. I have been taking it for 5 months and it is amazing. Other than not feeling hungry and feeling numb to things that formerly made me irate, I have had no bad side effects. I am finally living. Only wish I had the nerve to take it 10 years ago. I missed out on so much due to my severe depression."

• Jak...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 30, 2018

For Depression "I started Prozac for depression when I was 16 years old, and I'm now 18 and a half, so I've been on it for around 2 years at this point. Any benefits this drug provided in terms of my mood were minimal. I started on 10 mg, then 20 mg, then 40 mg. When the dose increased to 40 mg, my life became a foggy haze. I felt like a zombie, I had no emotions, I forgot what happiness or sadness actually felt like, and I felt so dark. Suicidal thoughts, and life lost all meaning. I frequently put myself in dangerous situations, began smoking cigarettes, and nearly attempted suicide 2-3 times. Additionally, my sex drive is a thing of the past, and maintaining a full erection during sex isn't possible. I am seeing my psychiatrist tomorrow, and I will discontinue this med."

• Mel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 30, 2015

For Depression "Let's see. When I first started this med was for depression and anxiety. Within a month, I felt good, after two months, great! I stopped taking it, thinking I could manage, and that made me worse after 3-6 months. I had to get back on it, plus Klonopin for the anxiety. Well, I did it again. I started running out and couldn't afford to go to the doctor, so I was taking it every other day... I think it made it less effective. I've been so depressed, tired, anxious, dizzy, etc. I was able to afford to go back a few weeks ago and get my refills... So I'm three weeks in... Still feeling down and out. But I know I've got to give it the full 6-8 weeks. Just never get off! It works well if taken right."

• eis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 19, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "While it did help my depression, it made me gain 30 lbs and made me a walking zombie. I was unable to feel emotion, just a numb feeling. My husband commented after I stopped taking it how much easier it was to talk to me. He said while I was on it I would look at him with a blank stare while he was talking and not really reply or just ignore him altogether. I was in my own little world on this stuff. Libido suffered immensely as well."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 20, 2012

For Depression "I have been taking Prozac for 9 months and have constantly had to experience the tiredness it causes and lack of motivation. I have now supplemented it with 150 mg of Wellbutrin and notice a huge difference. I am more alert, energetic, can concentrate and want to get out of the house instead of lying around. I can still feel the serotonin effects of Prozac, so it's the best of both worlds."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 3, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I started this drug at 5 mg and worked my way up to 10 mg. Immediately, I started having horrendous sinus pain and swelling, blocked ears, and dizziness. It got worse and worse until I finally decided I couldn't take it anymore. I tapered off over 4 months and ended up with chronic fatigue and crippling depression that I never had prior. It is still here 10 months later, with no sign of letting up. I do not recommend this drug unless you want to be in worse physical/mental shape than you were before."

• don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2020

For Depression "Went on Prozac for anxiety. I had horrible side effects, couldn’t eat, I was so nauseous, headachy, tired. It wasn’t doing much for me, so I missed a day or two, then would take one, and that was a big mistake. It completely sent me downhill. Out of absolutely nowhere, I was crying every second of the day, having suicidal thoughts. It took 2 weeks to be somewhat back to normal, but after that, I never got any better. Prozac made me feel suicidal and gave me depression that I didn’t have before. 2 months off of it, I still feel the same. It seriously messed up my head. My brother took it and also became suicidal out of nowhere. DO NOT TAKE."

• Anonymous
• May 25, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been through a lot of medications, and this one was one of the worst ones I’ve ever tried. I was unaware of how horrible and scary the side effects were of this medicine. I started off on the lowest dosage, and it lasted about two weeks before the bad thoughts and depression kicked in. I DO NOT recommend it. It has now given me fear of trying other medications."

• Sat...
• December 18, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I was prescribed Prozac when I was about 12 for severe anxiety and stayed on it for 3 years. During the time that I was on it, I had absolutely zero stress (I took 40 mg a day). I was a whole other person, which is kinda scary when you think about it. However, the withdrawals were absolutely terrible, I was depressed and was having major suicidal thoughts all summer long. That was a while ago, but now my anxiety is back as well as other mental issues. I’m supposed to get back on Prozac in two days... it’s like when I'm on it and when I’m not are two different people."

• Diz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2016

For Depression "Been on Prozac before and worked well. Left it too long before seeking help this time, never felt this bad, extreme anxiety, depression, feelings of doom, and obsessive racing thoughts. First week in and making me worse, but this is to be expected, I guess. Docs upped them to 30 mg, so will see what happens. Cry all morning, wake early sweating and anxious, feel sick, lost a lot of weight. Want my life back."

• lul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2017

For Depression "I used Prozac in the past for 3-9 months twice and had no side effects apart from some headaches for a few weeks. Now I have been on it again for 3 weeks and this time I am suffering SEVERE side effects. Physical ones include heavy fogginess/head pressure, sleeplessness, muscle tension, blurred vision, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Mentally, I have also worsened. Anxiety is really high, especially in the mornings, feelings of hopelessness, an inability to cope with life, suicidal thoughts (that I never really had before), inability to focus/read, and feel motivated. Now at 3 weeks, I have some moments in the afternoon of feeling calmer, but it is rather unpleasant numbness. I hope it improves going forward, but it has been very tough."

• Jo2...
• December 29, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I had a severe panic attack in college and ended up being hospitalized. I was put on venlafaxine by my primary doctor, and that was an absolutely horrible experience. It made me feel super depressed to the point I wouldn’t do anything but sit on the couch and cry. Also, I felt even more out of control when it came to my anxiety, and my brain felt as if it was always malfunctioning. I couldn’t think straight at all. Eventually, I went to a psychiatrist and was put on Prozac (10 mg). I don't remember having any major symptoms when I first started the medication, but after a month, I got bumped up to 15 mg, and that's when I actually started feeling calm and at peace again. Don’t give up, there’s always hope!"

• CJB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I was prescribed 10 mg of this medication for the first month and felt okay, but I still had my bad days. On my 6th week, my doc upped my prescription to 20 mg, and in the week I was on that dosage, my anxiety was through the roof. I went back to my doctor with my symptoms, and he put me back down to 10 mg with the intent of weaning me off of it. Plus, this makes you kind of emotionless, like a zombie. Even on my good days where I wasn't anxious, I just didn't have the motivation to do anything. I really don't recommend this to anyone. But if it helps you, that's good."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I am so sorry you’re going through this, and I hope that you’re doing better. I was on Paxil for 17 years, but I stopped working and I started Prozac about 2 weeks ago. I’ve been depressed and anxious, but the doc told me that I need to be patient and give it time to work. It feels unbearable sometimes, but I get through by taking small amounts of Xanax in the meantime - hopefully, I’ll be able to taper off once the Prozac starts working."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2018

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I’m glad I finally decided to give Prozac a try for my obsessional OCD and GAD. I’m 29 and have been struggling with the disorders my entire life. Only 20 mg of Prozac has lessened my suicidal ideation and obsessive ruminations significantly; of course, I still need therapy. I never increased the dose because I experienced some undesirable sexual side effects (desensitization, lack of desire), and I’m glad I didn’t because 20 mg works just fine. It does take a while, however, to notice the change. My doctor added 150 mg of Wellbutrin to counteract the sexual side effects, which has worked. The combination has me feeling a whole lot better. The only annoying side effect that I have now is excessive yawning, but it’s a small price to pay."

• Mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 11, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am twenty-six years old and have suffered from significant depression since I was a child. For years, I just dealt with it, always going from one crisis to another. I've had a handful of suicide attempts starting from my early teens to young adult years. I would especially have trouble during the two weeks leading up to my period. Crying episodes and just an overall feeling of depression. I was put on Prozac about three years ago, and it has made a world of difference. I'm happy again and able to function to my best ability, I'm focused and driven. Sometimes I forget to take it, and the depression comes back. But as long as I'm taking my daily dose as prescribed, I'm great!"

• dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2015

For Depression "I just couldn't shake it off. Anxiety, depression woke up. Horrid, scared, git feeling. Couldn't cook, dread, fear, worrying constantly about dying. Doc gave me propranolol, went like a zombie. 2nd doc listened to me but said I wasn't depressed. 3rd time lucky, doc gave me fluoxetine. It has immediately taken effect. Been on a bike ride and cooked a meal."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2021

For Depression "Prozac made my depression significantly worse. I had never been suicidal, and it made me have those thoughts, which was terrifying for me. Luckily, I was able to identify that this was unusual and had to stop the medication. I felt so much better after stopping, now I want to try a different medication, but I am worried."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2021

For Depression "Day 2: headache, face sinus pressure, stuffy right nose, diarrhea. These symptoms each passed in about 7 hours. Day 3: runny nose, hot red puffy achy cheeks, racing heart (as in I felt like I had drank an espresso - not scary), headache back head/skull... these each only lasted 4 hours. Day 4: was yawning like crazy... like literally every 3 minutes. It was funny and annoying. Lasted 3 hours. Was super irritable then for about 3 hours. I feel depressed and tired still, but at the same time I got up and did housework and enjoyed it. I NEVER do this. Like I was organizing stuff and being all efficient. It's been YEARS since I was like that. It's too soon for this stuff to work, isn't it? It's not placebo effect because I did not think it would help me. I'm not grasping at straws. I had no expectation of a positive outcome, so it's bizarre... in a good way."

• emj...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 31, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "I took Prozac several years ago, and it worked a little bit for a while. Often, though, it made me feel really lethargic, sleepy, and extremely apathetic to most things. It sort of did its job, but not well enough, as I have now switched to something that works better."

• Haz...
• October 3, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "Started taking Prozac about 6 months ago. I'm taking care of my 82-year-old mother who has dementia, and I found my stress and anxiety going through the roof, many sleepless nights too. The positives are that I sleep much better, my anxiety is pretty much gone, and I'm much calmer, and I'm handling my mother so much better. The negatives are: no motivation at all - photography is my passion, but I have not picked up a camera since I started this medicine. I find myself grinding my teeth all the time. Loss of libido, the worst thing out of it, though, was that I lost weight, I weighed 98 pounds but lost 13 pounds within the first month and can't seem to get it back. I'm now at 89 pounds and look terrible! I'm going back to the doctor next week."

• Nad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I tried Prozac for 5 weeks, it made me feel awful. Shaky, brain felt wired, nauseous, made it difficult to sleep, and the last 4 days on this, I was severely depressed and feeling suicidal, which is what led me to stop taking it. At that point, I felt like I was on it long enough to be getting some benefits, but I felt worse than before. I had success for many years on Paxil (paroxetine), unfortunately, it stopped working for me, and I was at the highest dose. I also suffer from anxiety. Fluoxetine actually felt like poison to my body, even though it was supposed to be okay according to my Genesight test results. Very disappointed."

• Nad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I tried Prozac for 5 weeks, it made me feel awful. Shaky, brain felt wired, nauseous, made it difficult to sleep, and the last 4 days on this, I was severely depressed and feeling suicidal, which is what led me to stop taking it. At that point, I felt like I was on it long enough to be getting some benefits, but I felt worse than before. I had success for many years on Paxil (paroxetine), unfortunately, it stopped working for me, and I was at the highest dose. I also suffer from anxiety. Fluoxetine actually felt like poison to my body, even though it was supposed to be okay according to my Genesight test results. Very disappointed."

• Agi...
• August 16, 2016

For Depression "Disclaimer: this is MY personal experience. Started Prozac at age 19 after issues with Effexor, and after a few months, I felt on top of the world-the happiest I had ever been. This was short-lived. After 6 or so months, something inside me snapped. Sex drive = 0. My conscience turned into someone that wasn't me. Never heard voices before, but they became overwhelming/evil, and I couldn't shake the suicidal thoughts. I ended up quitting cold turkey as I noticed myself double dosing, then triple dosing. My sex drive is still 0, I've gained a ton of weight, and have been dealing with severe depression without meds because I'm scared to take them again."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I've taken Prozac before, and it helps with anxiety as long as I don't drink too much alcohol (which makes anxiety worse afterwards). The problem for me is getting used to the medication, so I start on 10 mg for a week, then slowly increase the dose to 20 mg. For a few weeks, though, I'm more anxious and at times suicidal and depressed, so I take Valium while that's happening. This whole cycle is hard, so to take Prozac is not an easy decision for me, but I'm keen to feel 'good' again, so I'll stick with it."