Prozac and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Dee...
• July 10, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I'm on day 25 taking this medication. I am taking the generic Prozac for anxiety and severe panic attacks. I started on 20mg. The side effects were horrible. I couldn't stop shaking, my heart was racing, I couldn't eat, sleep, it made my anxiety worse. I went to my doctor by the 10th day and he prescribed me klonopin. I only took klonopin once, it did help but I just didn't like the feeling. I wanted to stop taking fluoxetine because it made me feel worse but I kept taking it. By the third week I was able to eat again. It is now day 25 and I am starting to feel like myself again. My anxiety and panic attacks went from a 10 to a 3. I am planning on upping my dosage by day 30. I highly suggest trying out this medication. Don't be scared."

• GJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I’ve been on Prozac for almost 2 months now, and I am really starting to feel a benefit from it. I read the reviews here before I tried it, and I was beside myself worried about the side effects. I didn’t have any side effects for the first 5 weeks apart from a lack of appetite. Around the 5/6 week mark was when I started to feel happier, less anxious, and lighter! This was also when I felt more side effects, such as dizziness at night, diarrhea, and waking up throughout the night. These side effects, while annoying, are minor compared to the anxiety and panic I have felt for my whole life. I would recommend this medication for anxiety and panic disorder. I feel like I can finally deal with my anxiety instead of it ruling my life. It took me years to give medication a go, and 7 weeks in, and I am still adjusting, but I would recommend to anyone who is uncertain to give it a try!"

• Sid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2019

For Depression "I’ve been on generic Prozac for three weeks. I take it at bedtime. My side effect symptoms are I am nauseous every morning, sweating, feeling very weak, and tiredness seems not to let up. I think I’m going to stop, as I can’t take the nausea every day, and I can’t even drink coffee. I have zero appetite until later in the day. It makes me definitely feel worse than the health anxiety I have. Anyone else? I literally feel miserable."

• Gai...
• April 12, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "5 weeks on Prozac. Have lost ten pounds (and needed to do so). Appetite remains, but I finally know when I'm full. Cannot drink more than an occasional glass of wine, do not feel like drinking any longer. Energy up, anxiety down. I have agitation that I didn't have before, however, sleeping 9 hours per night, but I always did that anyway. But sleeping more soundly. Sex drive is down (am female). Strange, detailed dreams. Feeling benevolent, but oddly detached and very happy. Still laugh a lot, but not interested in being creative very much."

• Cla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2020

For Depression "I'm somewhat new to Prozac. I've been on it for about 4 months, started at a 10 mg dose and it did nothing for me, went to 20 mg and it was exactly the same as 10 mg, did nothing. I was recently moved up to a 40 mg dose and it's made me severely depressed and it's brought back my anxiety but 10 times worse. I've recently started starving myself, which I'm thinking I'm starting to get some sort of eating disorder. I'm also getting very bad self-harm cravings (more than usual). I've acted on those cravings and I'm honestly thinking this is just mucking up my life more."

• She...
• August 14, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I feel fantastic. I feel a massive change in myself. I'm less aggressive, anxious, depressed, and agitated. I'm more patient with things and people. As I suffered with social anxiety, I'm more outgoing and thinking clearer. I feel on top of the world and have lost 13 kg as my appetite has decreased rapidly."

• dep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking Prozac 20 mg now for at least a month and a half, and I am so glad for this medication. On the first day I took this pill, I felt different. I have lost weight, which is a great thing because I am overweight. I don't really have an appetite, not complaining about that at all, but the only downside is NOOOOOO sex drive at all, and I can barely have an orgasm. I'm going to stick with the medicine because I have struggled with depression for years and years and haven't felt this good in I don't know when. My medicine works all day, every day, and sex only lasts a few minutes...not giving up my medicine for sex. Give the medicine time to get in your system, it really works, and it has saved my life! Thank goodness for this pill."

• CLW...
• July 18, 2011

For Depression "I'm hoping my posts will help others who are on the fence about antidepressants. My story - in short - is anxiety has plagued me since my teens, depression joined the parade in my late teens/early 20s. I have tried several medications over the years and because they either made me flat or sick, I didn't stick with them. Recently decided Prozac would be my last attempt. I started taking 20 mg every morning 2 weeks ago. I have had very little in the way of side effects. Some mind shakiness in the morning, a little bit of difficulty falling asleep, mild fatigue, and dampened appetite. The benefits - to this point - are - surprising. I am much calmer, the anxiety is 80% gone, the depression is still present but not like 2 weeks ago and before. It's dissipating for sure. Life doesn't look so 'all or nothing', which is a nice change. My spouse said my 'fidgets' are gone. I was almost constantly moving in some form or another. I know some people think the medication reaction is 'all in one's head', but since my problems ARE all in my head, I don't care if it's the medication, me thinking it is, or a combination. All I can say is, for the first time in a very, very long time, I am able to run errands, be more social, and have actually gotten a full-time job in the past 2 weeks. I am able to better care for myself now, thus able to care better for my spouse. I have no plans to stop the Prozac. With 20 mg/once a day being a low dose and with it helping to this point, I'm going to roll with this as long as I can."

• Anonymous
• July 15, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I previously took Celexa for GAD, but it stopped working. I switched to Paxil. Paxil is great for anxiety, but it gave me constant nausea that wouldn't go away. I switched to Prozac. The first 2 weeks on Prozac, it gave me more anxiety, nausea, and I was unable to eat a lot. After two weeks, my anxiety/panic was reduced, my appetite is good again, and sometimes I will get bouts of nausea. So far, Prozac at 40 is working pretty well. I also take Valium 5 mg as needed once or twice a week. Valium is amazing. When Prozac is not working well on certain days, Valium is used to smooth things out. Valium is a good prescription since it will stay in our system for a longer time. If you use it sparingly, you can use Valium for life. Prozac & Valium: Excellent together."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I am a 58-year-old female with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. I tried a lot of different antidepressants during my bouts. Nothing really worked for the terrible panic attacks I was having. My doctor put me on 20 mg of Prozac. The side effects were bad for about 3 weeks, but by the fourth week, it really started to work well. I am still on it for 2 months now. It works. So don’t stop taking it because of the terrible startup side effects such as anxiety, low appetite, fatigue, yawning, terrible stomach issues, insomnia, and blurred vision, all cleared after 4 weeks. I feel good now, and I will continue to take it."

• Cai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2017

For Panic Disorder "Just wanted to share my experience. I woke up in the middle of the night 2 weeks ago with a massive panic attack that I thought was a heart attack. I went to the ER two nights in a row because they just wouldn't stop. I saw my doctor the next day and was diagnosed with generalized anxiety and panic disorder. I was prescribed 20 mg Prozac (fluoxetine). The first week was horrible, almost all my symptoms increased. I couldn't eat and lost my sex drive. It's now a week in, and I can't even tell you how much better I feel. Everything is back to normal, I'm eating like crazy, my sex drive is back. This drug is a miracle. It will probably worsen your symptoms at first, but think of it as an investment and keep pushing through, and you should feel better. Hope this helps anyone."

• rac...
• November 18, 2014

For Depression "I've battled depression for five years and anxiety since I was a kid. The first two weeks on Prozac, everything got ten times worse. I couldn't function or stop crying or hating myself. But after that, the depression subsided. I'm more confident, calm, and I shy from negative thoughts and sadness rather than welcoming those things like I used to. It has helped my depression an incredible amount, but I have seen a little less improvement in the anxiety (even with cognitive behavioral therapy). Side effects for me are lots of yawning and loss of appetite."

• Wil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "My experience on Prozac has been positive. My doctor started me on 20 mg, and I quickly moved up to 60 mg within about 8 months. I must stress that 60 mg is a very high dose for most people, but my symptoms were severe enough, so the doctor thought. Prozac definitely gave me a calming effect right away. Constant thoughts of suicide, negative intrusive thoughts, past trauma, and social anxiety went down to a minimum. And with 60 mg, they were basically gone completely. But as with all medicines, I did run into some side effects, which included excessive sweating, loss of appetite, and some trouble sleeping. But for once in my life, I feel more logical and less emotional (in a good way). Some of the negative reviews of Prozac can be due to people taking multiple psychiatric medicines that are causing horrible side effects, and the Prozac is negatively interacting with those medications. So don't base all of your fears on that."

• Nur...
• July 30, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I was placed on the generic of Prozac 6 weeks ago. I have social anxiety (always have), and my doctor told me that it was related to OCD/depression and could possibly be PTSD. All of this confused me but made sense at the same time because I have always suspected all of these. She told me Prozac would greatly help with my anxiety problems. Since being on Prozac, the only changes I have really noticed are extreme fatigue during the day, lessened appetite (which is good because I have been overeating for a while), and I feel like it has helped my relationship a bit. I don't seem to get as agitated as fast (but I have bad days sometimes). I do, however, feel like I zone out a lot now and forget what I'm saying sometimes."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2011

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Taking 10 mg for OCD and social phobia with very satisfactory results. Only side effects I've experienced are loss of appetite and mild forgetfulness. I have not experienced a loss of sexual desire, in fact, my libido has increased somewhat."

• Ebb...
• February 6, 2012

For Depression "After 4 years of trying alternatives for my depression/anxiety, such as meditation, yoga, and exercise, I had returned to a very black hole and a very hopeless feeling. I spent Christmas all alone in my house, angry, vulnerable, and lonely. I have returned to medication and have been on Prozac for 2 weeks. It has not fully kicked in yet. I feel a loss of appetite, very tired at times but on the flip side, I am slowly starting to become involved in more activities. Today I completed all my ironing, which laid on my chair for 6 months, cleaned the house and could actually concentrate on reading a book."

• Get...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2019

For Depression "Started this medication on Thursday last week, it is now Tuesday. Have been feeling myself again, really happy, and actually laughing at little things that I hadn’t been weeks ago. Also suffer from anxiety and have felt that I have felt really calm over the past few days and haven’t been worried. Have been finding it a little hard to switch off at night, but the pharmacist said it could interfere with sleep, that will pass. Also, today (day 5) I have been feeling quite nauseous and that I don’t have much of an appetite when usually I eat a lot and always feel hungry. I can only put it down to the tablets. I was warned these could be some symptoms, so I will push through and hopefully, they stay working well for me and the sickness and sleeping improves."

• Lay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2019

For Bulimia "I was very hesitant to start on this medication as I have been really active in a recovery program and do what I can to alleviate depression and anxiety through practicing mindfulness and reaching out for help within my social network. But I also suffer from a severe case of bulimia which has persisted for over a decade. First couple of days, side effects were a little intense, no appetite and trouble sleeping for a night or two. But I have to say that this medication is truly helpful for my obsessive preoccupations with weight and food, as well as social anxiety (definitely see why people who have general anxiety would NOT do well on this need, it makes me a bit more uppity) and mood stability. Side effects subsided, and I still work a program of recovery every day. I highly recommend therapy and healthy living practices in conjunction with this medication, it can work!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I am taking Prozac to treat OCD and the anxiety that results from it. A little background: I took 50 mg Sertraline (Zoloft) five years ago for anxiety. It was a difficult ramp-up period. I had dry heaves, drenching night sweats, and no appetite. After about a month, they subsided, and I went up to 75 mg. Zoloft did fix my anxiety, but it left me 'flat.' I wasn’t anxious or sad, but I also never had any joy. It turned me into Mr. Spock. Oddly though, and contrary to so many reviews, my libido went through the roof. I came off Zoloft after about a year and was fine for about 4 years. Now, I’ve been diagnosed with OCD that the prior doc didn’t recognize. Prozac this time. I was nervous for the side effects, but they’ve been minor. Very mild nausea and some insomnia. And, just like Zoloft, increased libido. My OCD and anxiety are lessening. Don’t let negative reviews dissuade you from trying Prozac. Everyone reacts differently."

• Amb...
• December 11, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I started taking Prozac 9 days ago. I had my first ever panic attack 2 days ago in which I thought I wasn't going to live. Since the panic attack, I haven’t been able to sleep, eat, or drink. I haven't stopped thinking about dying once. So for these 2 days, I have been throwing up, nervous feeling in my tummy, dizziness, feeling scared and panic, and it hasn’t stopped. It’s been here constantly. I’ve spoken to my doctor and my counselors, and they said to ride it out. But I’m not going to do that. I had a suicidal thought last night, which has never happened for me. I’ve had to move in with my mom for the next couple of days so I’m not alone because I’m that scared of dying. I hope that after the tablets leave my system, I’m back to my old ways. I just don’t know what to do or say to anyone anymore. Doctors have even had to give me diazepams so I can stay calm, and half the time, they only work for around 15-20 minutes, all of this is torture. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS."

• Nig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2017

For Depression "I was first put on Wellbutrin at 300 mg, then 450 mg, but that kept me up and I really wasn't feeling much of a difference. The doctor added Prozac 20 mg. For the first 3 days, I could sleep. After that, it feels like I'm coming off a caffeine high as I get very tired, but I never experience a high in energy. I get hot flashes and sweat about 25-30 minutes after taking it, but then it goes away. I yawn all the time. Another thing I've noticed since I've been on it is decreased sexual mood, and ejaculation feels weird, just weird. I'm not emotionless, but sadness, depression, and anger seem to not be present. Decreased appetite and lost a little weight. No other side effects experienced."

• Nel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I had anxiety since I was a child. I remember having my first panic attack when I was playing with my siblings, not knowing what it was. Years later, I got diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. After I couldn't bear my anxiety anymore and it started to affect my profession, I started taking Prozac 20mg in October 2018. The first two months, I experienced a terrible loss of appetite and weight loss, subsequently. Also, very heavy menstruation for months, then it went back to a normal flow. Vivid dreams were frequent, too, not anymore, though. After almost two years of use, I have gained at least 25 lbs, which is frustrating for me. In terms of anxiety, I do think that this drug controlled at least 85% of my anxiety and panic attacks. My anxiety now is very occasional, and when I have it, it either goes away by itself or stays with me the whole day, regardless of my relaxation practices."

• Jo ...
• September 30, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I tried Prozac 10mg for 6 days. I began waking up between 4 am and 5 am every morning with butterflies in my stomach and heart palpitations. Impossible to go back to sleep. Anxiety sensations stayed until mid-afternoon each day. I was unable to eat much and lost 6 pounds in 6 days. I had waves of horrible doom and fear feelings. On the 6th day, I decided to stop because I was going to be unable to keep working in this state. I also developed broken veins under my eyes. It has now been 42 days since I stopped taking it, and I am just starting to feel like myself again. My doctor does not think the Prozac caused the prolonged issues, but I was NOT having these issues until I took it. I know it left my system long ago, but I can only assume it threw my body into this anxious state, and it has been a daily battle to get back to baseline me. I know it works for some people, but it was a truly horrific experience for me. I wanted to write a positive review, but I just can’t be."

• Ano...
• June 26, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "So I have always suffered from anxiety, and I went to therapy for a while, and my therapist suggested seeing a mental health nurse practitioner who can maybe set me up with something. She referred me to the doctor who prescribed me Prozac, and it's been working great! I've been on it for about a month now. The first two weeks were a little rough, I was feeling more depressed and experienced a loss of appetite and even threw up a couple of times (though I'm not sure if that was the medicine or if I caught a stomach bug). However, at about the third week, I started feeling great! I was much happier and more engaged at work. I've been feeling so good, I'm starting to think I may have had depression. My only complaint is my sex drive is totally gone."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2025

For Anxiety and Stress "I take 20 mg, and it has been incredibly helpful. I was having awful anxiety leading to panic attacks and finally talked to my doctor about this. It also has helped with menopause symptoms. I have had a real decrease in appetite, which is my only negative side effect. I am grateful to have had good results. Changed my life for the positive."