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

• mg1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2022

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I read every single review on this drug because I was terrified to start it. I suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD. I knew there was a possibility of worsening anxiety before taking it, and the thought of that was unbearable, so I put it off as long as I could. I ultimately decided I not only wanted, but also needed my quality of life back. I started low at 10 mg and slowly worked my way up to 40 mg over the course of 2 months. The startup effects included slight nausea and lack of appetite, night sweats, and insomnia. All of these symptoms got much better over time. I felt the biggest change when I made the jump from 30 mg to 40 mg. It was like night and day. My anxiety and intrusive thoughts have decreased significantly. I have not had a panic attack in over a month. I feel so much more positive, lighter, and like myself again. Everyone around me can notice the difference, and I've been such a better friend, family member, and spouse. I'm very happy with this decision."

• Ris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2020

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I started a 10 mg dose of Prozac, then was increased to a 20 mg dose. I was on it for irritability for two months before it started inducing severe panic attacks, racing heart, and the inability to think. I had constant headaches and no feelings, I couldn’t even feel pain. I’ve been off it for two months now, and the withdrawal has just started. It has been horrendous: racing heart, anxious feelings, severe anxiety, loss of appetite, memory loss, foggy brain, feeling off, panic attacks every night. So far, two weeks of this. I don’t recommend this, it’s been the worst five months of my life."

• DDa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 13, 2020

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "I stopped my Prozac about 3 years ago on a doctor's advice as I have Bipolar 2. I have felt I was slipping back recently into anxiety and depression with poor appetite, poor sleep, etc. I restarted them yesterday and I have felt a different person today and enjoyed my lunch. I am also taking Sodium Valproate regularly as a mood stabilizer. Anybody else had such a quick response? I live in the UK."

• Dee...
• July 10, 2015

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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."

• Wor...
• May 19, 2015

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I was prescribed Fluoxetine 20mg for 2 weeks of the month and it has changed my life. The first week I had some nasty side effects - kept waking at night, nightmares, nausea, generally spaced out and tired - but also some more welcome ones - loss of appetite and really wanted to exercise. I barely noticed my period coming that first month. For the first time in as long as I could remember I didn't hate everyone or want to cry, and I was able to have normal social encounters without complete paranoia setting in! It was like I had got my old self back. 9 months in now, I am quite happily still taking them. Definitely worth trying if you do get really bad PMS."

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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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."

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I've been on 20 mg for two weeks now, and I finally feel like I have my life back. I suffer from pure obsessive-compulsive disorder, intrusive thoughts, and it got to the point where there was nothing else I could think about. At one point, I thought the only way to stop this was suicide. The only side effect I've been dealing with is a bit of hyperactivity (tapping my foot or fingers), and sometimes I don't have an appetite. This drug is a miracle for those with pure O."

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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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

Fluoxetine 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."

• Emm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 22, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Ever since I was a teenager, I struggled with rollercoaster relationships, extreme reactions, self-harm, impulsivity, and low moods. I took 20 mg of Prozac for a year, noticed an improvement in my quality of life, and then decided I didn’t need it anymore. Two years off, and the negative moods and patterns of behavior returned. I re-started Prozac with a 10 mg dosage for six weeks, and I noticed an improvement, but then reached a plateau. A psychiatrist increased my dosage to 20 mg again two weeks ago, and I’ve been feeling much better-excited about life again and not so hung up on whether my boyfriend is cheating or if everyone hates me. My appetite is actually a little decreased, and I have not gained weight like some others. My sex drive is regular (mentally at least-the physical arousal is less), but that’s a good thing for me. My experience with Prozac has been nothing but great."

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

Fluoxetine 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!"

• Lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "So I’ve been on fluoxetine 10 mg for 13 days now. Week 2 has been my worst anxiety/panic days. I wake up feeling so bad: anxiety, no appetite, headache in the evening, and some diarrhea. It’s so scary, I’m so close to stopping the med, but what gives me hope is seeing the reviews here... so I’ll keep pushing and come back for another review. Fingers crossed for a better tomorrow..."