Prozac and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Hop...
• November 7, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I was on Paxil 40mg for 13 years and gained 100 lbs! Thought I was better, so got off the Paxil. Three months later, had bad panic and anxiety. Dr. put me on Effexor 75mg...not good! Felt spacey, couldn't eat, lost 40 lbs in 3 months, went back to the Dr., and he had me switch right over to Fluoxetine 20mg. I am on my 5th day and already feel clear-headed! A little nausea throughout the day, but doing great! Really hope this med works."

• 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."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I have been on 20 mg of Prozac for about 3 months now. It has really worked for me. I don't have suicidal thoughts anymore and overall feel more functional. I was very anti-psychiatric drugs before taking them myself, but it has really worked in a way that nothing else has. I took 5-HTP, GABA, and tryptophan before the Prozac, and these all helped a lot, but I still felt extremely depressed around my menstrual cycle. Prozac has stopped that. Side effects are that I get hot more easily, sometimes have nausea, and trouble staying asleep through the whole night, but they are completely worth it to me."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Been on Prozac for nearly a month now. Anxiety is worse, nausea, and I generally feel like rubbish. We will see, I suppose, in a few weeks if there is a difference in my anxiety. But you better be prepared for side effects when starting this drug."

• Pai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "This medicine really seems to help me a bit, I don't much have an appetite (but I never did anyway). It calmed me down enough to think. I've been on it for almost a week, and for a few days, my terrible nightmares stopped, but now my dreams are back, but they're just weird now. I had nausea for the first 4 days, now that's gone. This medicine has some good qualities, but for me, 4 days after starting to take it, I developed a rash on my neck in reaction to the medicine. Don't let that scare you, though. Only 7% of people will have this effect, according to a couple of articles I've read about it. Anti-itch cream keeps it from bothering me, but I'm planning to switch to Celexa soon."

• Ros...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have anxious depression, this came on suddenly earlier this year following a surgery. No one was sure why it hit me so badly. I was having very intense intrusive thoughts and feeling so low and hopeless. The first week, I took 10 mg and had mild nausea and a bad tummy. I then went up to 20 mg, and the nausea increased a lot, and I became very agitated and restless. My thoughts became worse for 3-4 days, and I didn’t feel safe to be on my own. I decided to power through, knowing that I needed to keep trying to feel better for my family. I am now on my 3rd week of taking the Prozac. I’m not better, but the side effects are easing off, and my thoughts have been a lot clearer the last 2-3 days. Yesterday, I even felt quite happy! I’m not sure what the future holds, and I can come back and report more, but for now, I’m pleased I’ve stuck on them and am hopeful they are already starting to help me."

• Gwe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I took 10 mg of Prozac for 12 days. Days 1-9 were pretty good. I was nauseous and threw up a few times, but I expected that. Day 10, the first of the panic attacks hit. It lasted for 6 hours. 6 hours of uncontrollable crying, shaking, and vomiting. My doctor took me off the Prozac 2 days later. Today is 1 week without the Prozac, and I am still having intense panic attacks and vomiting almost all day, every day. I have no idea how long this will last, but it's ruining my life. I can't drive or take care of my children. My husband has had to take time off of work, and I've lost almost 10 pounds. Worst thing I ever did."

• Eli...
• July 1, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "My daughter took 5 mg of Prozac for four days before deciding to stop using it due to horrific side effects. Day 1 was wonderful, no anxiety with just a slight headache. Day 2 brought on severe nausea so bad it was painful and the dark feelings of depression and crying uncontrollably (she previously had zero depression), along with a “static” feeling in her brain. The morning of Day 3, she woke feeling as if she was on fire, nausea, and nightmares (again, she had never previously had nightmares). Day 4 included all of the above topped with a panic attack. She stopped taking it. The last 5 mg dose she took was a Saturday night at 6 pm. We ended up in the ER on Monday due to waking up Monday morning with such an extreme panic attack that she was inconsolable and almost passing out. After 5 hours straight of this, we ended in the ER where they gave her a shot of Ativan to calm her. We were told the half-life is 1-3 days since she had only taken 4, so praying tomorrow is better."

• cue...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2016

For Depression "I've tried a few antidepressants. Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Remeron... I've been on Prozac for nearly three months. I was prescribed 20 mg a day for the first month and told the doctor I didn't notice anything. She still kept me on 20 mg a day for the second month. Still nothing, but drowsiness was a problem (gone now). I've been on 30 mg a day for the past three weeks, and in the past week or so, I think something about me is different. I rarely have the suicidal thoughts I did before (I still do, though). I'm also normally really awkward, but now I feel natural when I say something, no shaky voice. I don't know how to explain what I'm feeling. The past week, I've been pretty nauseous, though. I usually eat a LOT, though, so I don't mind it."

• Mis...
• October 29, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been on Prozac 20 mg for 3 months now and feel agitated, like a knot in my stomach. I did have dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea, but I found a way to cope till they went away. Overall, I'd rather have a knot in my stomach than the anxiety."

• Sho...
• October 19, 2009

For Depression "Prozac has changed my life. I had postpartum depression after having a baby and went for months thinking I could fix everything on my own, but nothing alleviated the unrealistic hopelessness. My midwife said that one antidepressant doesn't work for everyone, it is like putting your hand in a mixed candy jar and pulling one out, the effects are that unpredictable. Prozac has been amazing for me. It has taken the OCD, hopelessness edge off, so now I feel like I have a choice about how I feel. Side effects included feeling nauseous and having diarrhea on the first day, my husband says I sometimes tremor at night, it doesn't work as well when I am on my period, and I often feel really low after having sex. Overall, Prozac has saved my sanity."

• CeC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I was on Prozac for a whole month after switching from another anti-anxiety med. From day one, starting to feel more energy. Then I got really hyper and could not sleep. My skin felt on fire, I had severe nausea, really scary, worst anxiety. I felt like my mind was fast-forwarding. I am fine now after it being discontinued for a week."

• Sam...
• April 16, 2016

For Depression "I have been on fluoxetine for less than a month, and it's going okay. During the first two weeks, I felt surprisingly amazing. I had a new love of life. The week after, I felt suicidal, I felt worse, and I just wanted to stay in bed and never leave. I feel constantly nauseous, which isn't good. This week, I have felt a little calmer. I feel 'normal.' I hope I stay like this and just level out..."

• 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."

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

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I tried 5 mg 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 hours 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."

• sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2018

For Depression "I was prescribed Prozac for my PTSD. I have social phobias, panic disorder, anxiety, agoraphobia, and depressive disorder. When I started on Prozac, my symptoms weren't nearly as bad as they have come to be now. It made me incredibly depressed, I was nauseous all the time on it, I was losing weight, and I was already underweight as is-5'7" and 115 lbs. The first time I ate a full meal on it was Thanksgiving at a relative's house. The whole next day, I spent violently vomiting and had terrible diarrhea at the same time. Prozac wouldn't allow me to keep anything down, and the constant nausea throughout the days was terrible. Wouldn't suggest it for someone with a sensitive stomach. Also, my psychiatrist said there shouldn't be any effects coming off, I could just stop it. I crashed majorly! Depression got terribly worse, and panic attacks were coming on pretty bad for a short period after."

• Anonymous
• February 28, 2012

For Depression "I LOVE Prozac. I have major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder. I was on Lexapro for half a year, and despite not being a teen or young adult, I had my first ever suicidal thoughts. On the Lexapro, I felt sedated, I gained weight, and I was still depressed. It did help with anxiety, but instead, I was often nauseated. Now, after 2 weeks of Prozac, a world of difference. I'm smiling, motivated, looking forward to the near and distant future. I still have some mild nausea, and it's not as good with the anxiety or insomnia. Still, it's great for me because I'm motivated and energetic enough throughout the day to make myself tired enough to sleep, and I'm better at dealing with stressful things."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I am currently on my second week of Prozac/Fluoxetine, and honestly, I can already start seeing the changes. The first 4 or 5 days were very emotionally draining, I had heightened anxiety and trouble staying asleep, along with the common side effects such as headaches, nausea, and lack of appetite. But now I feel like my body is getting used to it. The headaches are slowly disappearing, the nausea is subsiding, and the heightened anxiety isn’t such a problem anymore, and I can successfully say I haven’t had a panic attack since I started taking it. It’s hard in the beginning to stick to, trust me, I thought of quitting many times! But it’s worth powering through!"

• Anonymous
• May 26, 2010

For Depression "I have been on Fluoxetine for about 3 months after being diagnosed with Dysthymia (40-year-old male) and can positively say that it has improved my quality of life. In retrospect, I have felt 'dysthymic' probably since early adulthood, and it took me so long to find out why I felt this way. It was only after doing my own internet searches that I found a condition which was exactly how I had been feeling for so long (...and this is the important point to note about Dysthymia - many people have it for so long that they just accept that the depressive feelings, etc. are part of their personality). I had a few side effects early on - mainly nausea, but that subsided after a couple of weeks. After a very long time in my life, I feel positive!"

• Bre...
• June 17, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "Took this as I was having bad anxiety and insomnia, waking up early constantly with that uncomfortable tight chest feeling and just having no energy. Seemed to work for the first 3 days, then I got really depressed. I started at 5 mg and went up 5 mg a week 'til I hit 20 mg. I have been super depressed, more anxious, was extremely nauseous and could barely eat for almost 2 weeks, and my sleep hasn't improved at all. After almost 4 weeks on this stuff, I am a mess and don't feel like myself at all. Weaning off and trying something else. I got up to 15 mg. Tried to get to 20 but just felt too horrible."

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I have OCD, depression, anxiety, and BPD. I started 10 mg Prozac about a week and a half ago, and so far I am completely unable to eat anything, and I'm extremely nauseous all the time. I now have insomnia, and I'm pretty much panic-hyperventilating all day. My moods are improved, and my OCD is almost gone, but my anxiety is through the roof, and the nausea has caused me to lose 10 pounds in 9 days. I would not say it's worth it."

• Try...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2021

"This medication did not work for my CPTSD. 20 mg in the morning, and by day three, I was a complete zombie, hysterically crying in a heap on my floor, unable to drive, had a very difficult time walking. Was told to stop taking it immediately and was able to resume my normal activities the following day. Also made me consistently nauseous. I have to add that I think I'm an outlier. I have a very strong reaction to most medications, so please take my reaction with a grain of salt."

• Hal...
• January 12, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started Prozac as one of my first antidepressants for MDD. It made me horribly sick. I was nauseous all day and wouldn't eat for days at a time. I stayed on it to try and get through the side effects, but they wouldn't stop. I was throwing up every other day. One day I woke up and I started to violently shake. This lasted for over 12 hours until I ended up in the hospital with tachycardia. This was a horrible experience, and months later I still have stomach and heart issues. I'm on new medications now, but because of my bad experience, I get very anxious when I take them."

• ret...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 1, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Prozac worked great for me for about 2 years, and then it quit being effective. Apparently, this experience is so common it's even called 'Prozac poop-out.' At age 41, I started taking 10 mg daily, then increased to 20. For the first week or two, I felt slightly nauseated and had trouble getting an erection. Then those side effects vanished, and I felt not only happier but more functional (at the time, I was a university professor). I wrote 2 published novels during those two years. A wonderful side effect is that I gained total ejaculatory control. Suddenly, I was the lover I'd always wanted to be! But after the Prozac honeymoon, I found myself feeling anxious and depressed again, and the Prozac was just making me sleepy. So I quit. C'est la vie."