Fluoxetine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Sam...
• August 1, 2013

Fluoxetine for Panic Disorder "One of the few antidepressants I can tolerate. Most cause major sleep disorders, but with Prozac I don't have a problem. Not really sure if it helps much with panic attacks, I've tried 20 mg and 40 mg, sometimes 40 mg seems to be a bit much."

• a...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2015

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I wouldn't give Prozac anything greater than a 1. Mainly for the fact that I have been on this now for 1 month, 20 mg daily; increased my terrible moods followed by anxiety attacks. I have become an insomniac, my pulse has increased terribly, and my appetite is zero. Without the backup 'Xanax,' I would still be at square 1. I occasionally drink to get drunk, but have been recently informed that this drug mixed with alcohol has a severe risk of suicide. I was not depressed before I was referred to this medicine, but now I feel that it is becoming worse. Am I misdiagnosed?"

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2010

Fluoxetine for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "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 3-4 am 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."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 1, 2023

Fluoxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "As far as depression and suicidal ideation goes, Prozac, along with therapy, community, and setting boundaries, have helped to change my life. I've been on just about every SSRI, SNRI, or other medication on the market (give or take a few), and I just have a different, more positive outlook on life since I started taking it. The only drawbacks are it does seem to mess with my sleep (more so in the beginning), not that I can't sleep on it, it just makes me feel like I require less of it, whereas my body knows otherwise... and it gave me some tics when I first started on it and still, every now and then (worth it), and it doesn't always work for major anxiety (however, I have panic attacks, and despite what doctors tell people because of the benzo stigma in the US, these meds are for anxiety, they are NOT for panic disorder), but if you're looking for a medication to ease your depression or suicidal ideation, this may be the one for you too."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2019

Fluoxetine for Panic Disorder "I took Prozac in my 30s for what was thought to be panic disorder. Years later, I was diagnosed with Asperger's and weaned off the Prozac. Now, 10 years after that, I am in perimenopause, and my GP prescribed the Prozac again to help with mood swings, IBS, and insomnia. And it does, but for the last couple of periods, and only during the period week, I have had several panic attacks every night, even when 'Aunt Flow' did not show up. They are worse than when I was younger. I have been to the ER by ambulance several times with heart attack-like symptoms. The panic attacks wake me up every couple of hours, and on my Sleep Cycle app, it looks like it happens on the upswing of the REM cycle. But one day I did not drink coffee, that night I did still wake up a couple of times with a racing heartbeat, but it subsided quickly with deep breathing, and there were no other symptoms. If quitting coffee doesn't help, then I will have to get back with my psychiatrist on what to try next."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2019

Fluoxetine for Panic Disorder "I struggle with severe anxiety and panic attacks, as well as depression. I was on Zoloft (sertraline) for about two years and found myself feeling pretty good, so I decided to stop taking it. After starting university, however, I found that my anxiety was getting to an unbearable state, and so I went to my doctor, and she prescribed me Prozac. At first, I had very, very adverse side effects. I had tremors and super bad anxiety. After a while, I noticed less frequency in my panic attacks, but unfortunately, my mood was absolutely brutal. I was constantly depressed, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, thought really dark thoughts very often, felt agitated and irritated constantly. I literally felt like I wanted to die, like I literally had no choice because the pain was so unbearable. I am now off the medication, and I feel as though a bag of bricks has been lifted from my shoulders. I wouldn’t recommend this medication if you are prone to depressive thoughts or if you are young like me (I’m 19)."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2024

"Been taking fluoxetine for 2 months now, and I feel so much better. At first, my symptoms got worse and I couldn’t sleep at night, but I pushed through. Now I’m able to live anxiety-free, and I’m slowly getting my life back as much as possible. My dose is 30 mg daily. I actually feel happy and stable, and I’m not afraid, scared, or anxious for the first time in my 40-year-old life :)"

• Var...
• July 13, 2021

Fluoxetine for Postpartum Depression "After labor, I suffered from a rare condition of postpartum psychosis, cured with Abilify. Then it was followed by horrible insomnia and anxiety. I tried every sleeping pill and benzo, and tricyclics, didn’t work. So my doctors decided to prescribe Prozac 20 mg per day (morning) for 6 months. The first weeks, I had little cramps in my ankles and not much change in my mood, but immediately less anxious, and by week 3-4 it finally kicked in, didn’t feel so sad anymore. Gradually, my sleep came back, from 4-5 hours with early awakenings to a solid 8-9. I had a rare side effect-pigmentation around my eyes became slightly orange, but it was gone after I started to wean off. When I started Prozac, my depression was 60 out of 63 according to Beck’s depression inventory (“severely depressed”). Now, after treatment, it’s only 9! (“not depressed”). The worst side effect is that despite dieting, I gained 30 lbs!"

• Kat...
• February 2, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "Started with an awful upset stomach, but that's now passed, and we've progressed to a constant nagging headache that painkillers won't touch. Also feeling shaky with it, physically jittery - but these are all common symptoms, so I'm sticking with it as in the long run these symptoms will fade. I'm on 20 mg daily, my appetite has vanished, so forcing myself to eat. Sleep is disturbed by weird dreams and general restlessness. So overall, feeling exhausted. Sticking with it, feeling positive that once my body adapts, I will feel the effects!"

• Ind...
• October 23, 2016

Fluoxetine for Depression "This medication was awful. Despite only being 17 at the time, the doctor decided that I would be put on this medication for my depression. I knew that there was a chance that this may cause my condition to deteriorate. I saw no improvements with the 10 mg, so my doctor increased this to 20 mg. This is where it all went downhill. I developed full-blown panic disorder as I was having several panic attacks a day, so I was unable to go to school. The medication increased my suicidal thoughts to the point where I was not sleeping at night due to constantly thinking of ways to kill myself. One day I nearly did attempt suicide, so I had to be assessed by a psychiatrist who put me on tranquilizers for a week, then admitted me to a psychiatric unit."

• Nel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2018

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I started on Prozac 6 days ago. I am constantly tired and have no get-up-and-go. Exercising feels like a chore. I am very foggy in the head as well. Anxiety has decreased a little, but sleep is very disturbed. Going to stick with it for another week, and hopefully these horrible side effects will go, and I will get my energy back."

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

Fluoxetine 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."

• A2D...
• November 26, 2019

For Depression "Currently weaning off of fluoxetine. Taking forever and is unpleasant, which is too bad considering I have only been taking it for about 9 months, and all it did was make me agoraphobic and exacerbated my insomnia. It didn't work right for me."

• Kle...
• November 7, 2017

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I started this drug for depression and anxiety. The first 2 weeks at 10 mg, I actually felt fine, but when my psychiatrist upped the dose to 20 mg and then later to 30 mg, I noticed it had intensified my anxiety, gave me suicidal thoughts, worsened my insomnia, and made my anger and moods unpredictable. I also felt like I was hallucinating all the time, I could focus on a wall and start seeing weird acid-like visuals. I never had that with any other med until I started Prozac. The doc has me trying Lexapro now, and because I stopped taking Prozac, the withdrawal has been awful. I am hoping Lexapro changes things. I took this med for 3-4 months overall."

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2011

Fluoxetine for Depression "I have been on Prozac since I had postpartum depression in 1994. It has saved my life and my marriage. I take 20 mg, but my only son left home recently to go overseas and join the army, so my doctor increased the dose to 30 mg as I have been feeling anxious and not sleeping as well."

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2023

Fluoxetine for Depression "I took St. John's Wort for 15+ years for what I felt was very mild depression (or just normal living blues) and felt it worked great. I started getting excessive migraines and a sleep disorder after COVID (or environmental factors - still working this out), so the doctors advised me to get off of St. John's so I could take medication to treat the other conditions. After settling on medications that treated the other two conditions (a migraine rescue and Nuvigil), we addressed the mild depression with 20 mg of Prozac. Within 3 months, I had hypomania and it really started to take a toll. I stopped after 3 weeks of overdrive and went back to normal. I've never had bipolar II symptoms before, but this triggered it. I'm on a mood stabilizer now for mild lows that don't trigger mania and feel fantastic. Just a caution to others if they have this experience. I never would have dreamed I'd have any level of bipolar symptoms present, but this triggered it when I was on even a low dose."

• dex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been on fluoxetine 20 mg for 3 months now. The side effects (daytime sleepiness, insomnia, anxiety) weren't severe and lasted about 2 weeks. I lost about 10 pounds. I get vivid, strange dreams, but other than that, no side effects stayed. I'm taking it for social anxiety and have noticed I can talk to people more openly and am also less irritable and in a good mood most of the time. I started to feel more talkative within the first few days, but I didn't feel less socially anxious until after a few weeks. I would recommend this drug because it is known to have fewer side effects and fewer dependency issues. It's not a personality changer, but I feel more comfortable in social situations."

• Cad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I am 59 y/o male with anxiety on and off since I remember. I work on the computer as a full-time job. Last year I had a severe tension headache for a month from work-related stress. Couldn't drive the car at night, panic attacks, dizziness, vertigo issue, body shaking, etc. My GP provider listened to my story. She put me on 10 mg fluoxetine for 1 month. First 4 days okay. Then headache started so bad, I was ready to give up after a week, then 4 sleepless nights in a row. Insane. I had panic attacks, tremors, missing workdays. Then I started to get my sleep back more and more. One month later all side effects were gone. Felt good but not fully. She put me on 20 mg fluoxetine. After 1 week on it, constant ringing in my ears during the day, but sleeping at night was good. She/GP put me on 10 mg and 20 mg on alternate days. It took 1 month to settle it down. Now on 20 mg for 2 months, I can tell you now all: LIFE IS GOOD for me, after 4 MONTHS. PLEASE be patient. Love it now, thanks."

• Eno...
• September 26, 2015

Fluoxetine for Depression "Horrible experience with Prozac! Started taking it on a Thursday, and by Saturday had a buzzing in my ears, a full feeling in my head, and couldn't sleep. On Sunday, I completely lost my appetite and became very jittery. I was barely able to work on Monday and called off Tuesday because of generalized anxiety, not sleeping or eating. I ended up taking three total days off of work due to side effects. I literally had to force myself to eat a single slice of toast for breakfast... and barely got it down! I finally went off of it on Wednesday and went back on Paxil. By Friday, I am feeling like my old self again. Plus, I had startling dreams. I won't ever take this drug again!"

• Eno...
• September 26, 2015

Fluoxetine for Depression "Horrible experience with Prozac! Started taking it on a Thursday, and by Saturday had a buzzing in my ears, a full feeling in my head, and couldn't sleep. On Sunday, I completely lost my appetite and became very jittery. I was barely able to work on Monday and called off Tuesday because of generalized anxiety, not sleeping or eating. I ended up taking three total days off of work due to side effects. I literally had to force myself to eat a single slice of toast for breakfast... and barely got it down! I finally went off of it on Wednesday and went back on Paxil. By Friday, I am feeling like my old self again. Plus, I had startling dreams. I won't ever take this drug again!"

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I had almost given up hope in life. The only thing keeping me from completely giving up was the anxiety of knowing if I was gone, my husband would have to figure things out on his own with our baby girl. I felt numb to the world and couldn't feel any type of emotion. My marriage was falling apart because I was so irritable and distant. My job was suffering because I had such little self-esteem that I couldn't speak without stumbling over my own tongue. The first month on fluoxetine was rough. A lot of sleepless nights with anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Reverted back to some old self-harm habits. But now I am so glad that I stuck it through because I have never felt as good as I do now, not even as a kid. Looking back, I'm mad at myself for living life up till now as a zombie, not knowing that the solution was a simple pill. My marriage is the best it's ever been, my boss has noticed my performance improving, and I have so much energy I feel like I can accomplish anything."

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

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "Fluoxetine is amazing for premenstrual dysphoric disorder! I tried citalopram and 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."

• Pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2016

For Panic Disorder "This medication, coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy, has helped me so much in dealing with my social anxiety/panic disorder, which I have had to deal with for over 10 years. By lifting my mood and clearing my head, this medication has allowed me to think more clearly and rationally about what I'm panicking about. Then, using my cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, I am then able to calm myself down and talk myself out of that horrible feeling (hyperventilating/pounding heart/lightheadedness). I had previously used propranolol to calm me down when I felt stressed, but as this is no longer working, I had to try something else. I was put on 20 mg. The first two weeks, I had a bit of sickness and trouble sleeping, but that passed."

• Kia...
• May 20, 2019

Fluoxetine for Panic Disorder "I started taking Prozac mostly for my panic attacks but a little bit for my anxiety and depression as well. I can't say my experience was all bad because I was going through a rough time, and it seemed to make my panic attacks a bit more manageable and less intense, but I think for me the cons outweighed the pros. The first time I started it, I stopped eating for nearly two weeks, which caused me to lose weight. Then the dose was upped from 10 mg to 20 mg, and I stopped eating for another two weeks. The anxiety was pretty bad for the first two weeks as well. After the first couple of weeks, the side effects calmed down to an extent. I still had pretty bad sexual problems, a lot of heartburn, night sweats, and problems sleeping. So while the side effects weren't major, I tried getting off it due to my anxiety seemingly doing better and the side effects. I was nervous to get off, but it seems like I haven't had any odd effects from stopping, so that's good. My anxiety is still low, so for now, I'll stay off."

• Tee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2015

For Depression "I was prescribed Prozac for depression about 3 months ago. I began feeling normal-happy, even-about a month and a half ago. Before, I was suicidal and rarely left my bed. I was unable to do anything; maintaining basic hygiene became difficult. Starting out on Prozac, I was skeptical, simply because I didn't believe that anyone or anything could help me. However, I'm so glad that I waited the suggested 6 weeks! I feel great now and don't overthink things or pressure myself unnecessarily. The only negative side effect is insomnia; I'll fall asleep fine but wake up around 3 AM. All in all, I recommend it."