Prozac and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Lou...
• January 17, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I was on Prozac for about 3 months. It helped with my mood but did not help at all with anxiety. I tried increasing the dosage from 20 to 40 mg, but after 3 weeks, I had to stop because the side effects were too much (increased anxiety, insomnia)."

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "Was going through a nasty divorce... insomnia hit, sleeping 5 hrs and slumped into bad depression. I think a breakdown followed. Went on Prozac due to the consensus it was the easiest drug to come off. Mindful of withdrawal and after a bad time with Paxil 20 years ago, took 15 mg/day in liquid form. Liquid would allow me to taper when ready. The first month was tough - severely stressed and offered a beta blocker by the doctor. Turned it down, which was the right thing - in time (2-3 months) and as the divorce progressed, started to recover. Was on 15 mg for 9 months before tapering very slowly - 1 mg at a time I would only take the next step when I felt ready. Then COVID came, making it more difficult, but 2 years on, I am off fully. I sleep well and feel pretty good. A few tips of my own: 1) try to avoid >20 mg/day (tougher to withdraw), 2) take liquid - easier to taper, 3) eat well, exercise, and do everything that will help withdrawal (don’t drink more than a small amount... stops it working), 4) with discipline and willpower, you can do it! Mood might waver at times though!"

• LOL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I have Major Depression and Panic Disorder. It seems like every antidepressant and benzo I have tried just does not work. My Dr. has now just prescribed me Fluoxetine (Prozac) 10 mg, to go along with my Klonopin 1 mg that I had been taking for 6 years (I eventually developed a tolerance to my Klonopin, so it stopped working properly). After being on Prozac for nearly 4 months now, I have gone through horrible side effects of nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, and head exploding syndrome. I am in a constant fog. I get confused very easily and 'space out' all the time. The only beneficial thing I have gotten out of taking Prozac is that I have somewhat better control over my emotions."

• JoJ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 3, 2022

For Depression "I was prescribed this first before I started my ADHD meds. I have been on SSRIs before. I don't really respond to them, good or bad. The only positive I noted during my time on this medication was less frequent/repetitive thoughts and more indifference to things. I was only 5 mg for 1 year. I couldn't take 10 mg because I am sensitive to medication, and even 5 mg gave me the side effects I will discuss below. Insomnia: I could not sleep. I had to be prescribed sleep medication while on Prozac. I used to be able to fall asleep fine, even if I was depressed, I would rather sleep than not. I would get maybe 6 hours and then wake up with energy, and I didn't like it. I always felt like my body was secretly tired if my mind would just let it be. Headaches, teeth grinding made worse, and in turn, neck pain, shoulder pain. Less appetite, no weight loss or gain. Vivid dreams, some violent in the beginning. Weird digestion. Felt on edge at times. My nose is no longer stuffy either, so allergies?"

• Kot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I started Prozac for pain disorder, and the first two days were fine. After those two days, my memory got foggy, and I had insomnia and more anxiety attacks than I usually do, and horrible headaches. It also made me really jittery, so within a week, I stopped taking it. I'm currently still going through the side effects since I only stopped taking it three days ago. Hopefully, this anxiety goes back to being tolerable like it was before I got the meds."

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

For Major Depressive Disorder "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."

• Sum...
• August 2, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I took this medicine for 7 days, lost my appetite the 3rd day, worsened my insomnia, it did not help with anxiety. By the 7th day, I felt even worse, finally decided to come off it. This is my second day off Prozac, and I still cannot eat, sleep, still have bad anxiety and feeling sick to my stomach and cannot eat anything. I'm extremely nauseated, haven't eaten much in 4-5 days. I hope my appetite comes back soon! This med did not work for me, it made me feel horrible."

• Col...
• January 20, 2021

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I tried this medication for a week and had a horrible experience. I didn't sleep for two days and completely lost my appetite. I did not eat anything and lost three pounds. I was already skinny to begin with. So, if you want to be malnourished and sleep-deprived and feel like a crack addict, this is the medication for you. It does help with anxiety, however."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I bore the side effects of this medication, 20 mg for 6 1/2 weeks. Nausea, no appetite, no sleep, tired from morning till night, then I couldn’t sleep! It did nothing for my anxiety. I actually felt worse!!! I’m so glad I’m off of this terrible drug. Going to try something more natural, like the naturopathic route or laser for anxiety. Goodbye, Paxil! Don’t let the door hit ya in the 'you know what' on the way out!!!!!"

• Mal...
• November 9, 2014

For Depression "I started on 20 mg of Prozac for GAD. The first two weeks have been hell - insomnia, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and anxiety. The side effects seem to be subsiding. Now more balanced than before."

• blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "Could not take this medicine. Caused heart racing, anxiety, and insomnia. Did not get better as time went on. Tried 1/2 of the lowest possible dose and still had a problem."

• Anonymous
• October 8, 2009

For Depression "Prozac made me feel a lot less depressed at first, but then it started causing really bad insomnia."

• Yel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Awful. Couldn't sit still for a minute on Prozac, couldn't sleep, got kicked out of the cinema for moving too much. Had to get off it after three days, it was too much."