Fluoxetine and Panic Attacks: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Mol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "Well, where do I start? I went from sertraline to fluoxetine, as I went through an episode of depression and felt that my body may have become immune to sertraline after being on it for 5 years. I started on 20 mg. My anxiety went through the roof. But my depression improved slightly after a few months. However, I became emotionally numb. (I am normally a very sensitive, caring person.) I found it even hard to cry or have empathy in my relationship. My depression increased, so I was put on 40 mg, and although my mood lifted, my anxiety increased and I suffered panic attacks. Since withdrawing, I find I have a lot of social phobia. However, it is so good to be really able to feel emotions again that have been trapped for a year and a half."

• SN1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2023

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "This drug did nothing for me. It gave me more anxiety, gut issues, and the worst panic attacks I’ve ever experienced. I’ve been on Zoloft and Trintellix before, and this one has been by far the WORST drug out of the three. Now completely off of it, and the withdrawal symptoms are horrendous."

• SBa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 21, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been taking this for just under a year now, it does work. The first few weeks of taking this, I felt so ill, I nearly gave up on it because I'd never felt so bad in my life. After reading reviews saying it takes a few weeks to start working, I stuck with it. I'm so glad I did. I was suffering from severe anxiety and panic attacks constantly. The first few weeks is definitely the worst, but once you get through that, it gets so much better. I've not had a panic attack in months. I've only really felt a bit anxious once or twice, and nowhere near as bad as I was. For anyone just starting out on this, please, please, please give it a chance. You probably will feel worse to start, but it's definitely worth it in the long term. I originally had every side effect going. One by one, they died out slowly. I started off taking this in the morning, but I was finding it hard to stay awake and was napping through the day as well. I changed over to taking it in the evening and was fine."

• Far...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2021

For Depression "Just two days into taking Flozan, I woke up from my sleep in a high mood, and slowly this severe panic attack crawled in like electricity and hit me to turn me upside down, hot and cold flashes, my leg muscle won’t stop twitching because of the shock, shivers, extreme stomach acids and discomfort, ear pain, itching, nonstop chills and goosebumps. Couldn’t go back to sleep. Haven’t been myself in these two days, and at night I’d get depressed before I sleep. I tried many antidepressants from different doctors, and none of them were friendly to my body. I’ll never take any again, I’d rather live with my anxiety and ups and downs since it’s not constant. It was not worth trying at all, my doctors insisted that I should go on meds, and they think I’m imagining all that stuff when I nearly felt so awful. But obviously, I’m allergic to something in those drugs, and they do not work on me at all. Never again."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Switched from Lexapro 20 mg right to 40 mg Prozac. First 3 weeks extreme nausea and exhaustion. Went to see my doctor, was dropped down to 20 mg to help with side effects. I have experienced minor panic episodes, ones I am able to control, but still feel uneasy, nauseous, and feel like I just want to give up. I know sometimes it can get worse and then can get better. I really hope this works for me. I will keep taking it and hope for the best."

• tur...
• August 17, 2009

For Anxiety and Stress "I am 25 and have been put on fluoxetine for the 3rd time this year for an anxiety disorder. I like this medication, but I have experienced some weird side effects. In the beginning of each new time prescribed, I get really nervous, sweaty, panic attacks, and sometimes feel dizzy. All side effects eventually go away, but it is very tough to get through the first 2-3 weeks. I am on the 3rd week now, but the side effects don't seem to be getting better. I don't want to give up though because it has been so helpful in the past for me."

• Kib...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2016

For Depression "18 y/o with anxiety/depression. I was given medication for the anxiety originally, and then the doctor gave me fluoxetine 20 mg. This was fine the first week, no side effects. Second week, I was living in a constant state of panic, beta blockers weren't helping, and I always had chest pains and severe panic attacks. I couldn't stand to be in a classroom full of my peers, they made me feel paranoid about everyone. I absolutely hate these."

• Ano...
• August 6, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "This medication has helped me. I didn't want to take medication for a very long time, and I refused to take it, but my anxiety got so bad. Having panic attacks, etc. I also started feeling depressed, so I decided I needed to consider taking medication. I would recommend this medication for anxiety and depression."

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

For Anxiety and Stress "Even though my suicidal thoughts have decreased, I find I actually have panic attacks more than I did before I was on fluoxetine. I suffer with headaches worse than before, and I’ve lost a lot of motivation to do things from time to time. I am also a binge eater, and being on the fluoxetine has helped me lose 3 stone from not having much of an appetite. Guess my experience is a bit confusing, but when I weigh out the pros and cons. This is just a short list of my side effects, some good, some bad. I’m better on them compared to being off of them."

• mor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2021

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I was switched to fluoxetine after citalopram made me extremely suicidal to the point of needing to be Baker Acted. At first, this was great, it seemed to manage my suicidal tendencies well. It did bring back my panic attacks, but I’d rather that than suicidal thoughts. The reason I'm writing this is because after about 4 weeks I started developing restless leg syndrome from this medication. Every night my left leg only (which is bizarre) was tense and almost pins and needles, like it was an uncomfortable and uncontrollable urge to just move my leg. It was absolutely torturous. I stopped taking it as of yesterday, and I will talk to my doctor when I see her. But this was a scary experience, I'm hoping it’s not permanent."

• Aka...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2021

For Depression "Horrible experience. Managed to take them for 6 days. Within an hour of taking them in the morning, I would get panic attacks, heart palpitations, shivering, and felt like I was suffocating. These would last until 6-7 pm. Was spending my days in bed shaking until they settled. Reading the reviews of people saying their lives changed on this drug and trying to ride it out. On the 6th day, they did not settle anymore, and I ended up in the A&E. Maybe it was because I was put on 20 mg right from the start. But if you are thinking of taking fluoxetine, make sure you have fast-acting benzodiazepines, cause the side effects can be horrible."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2019

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "Do not take this if you have anxiety. I only took it for 3 days, and it made me have panic attacks (which I never experienced before) and made me feel 10x more anxious than before. I’d rather live with my anxiety than have to deal with the ugly side effects."

• LbU...
• March 22, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been taking 90 mg once a week for 6 weeks now. It has helped my depression and quality of life so much. Until this last week, I have been having back-to-back anxiety/panic attacks, and I'm not sure what to do about it yet because of the benefits... Does this go away? My chest hurts, and I'm basically vibrating now every time it happens..."

• GAD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 24, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I looked on this site a lot before I went on fluoxetine, and it really helped me. So I have had anxiety all my life, it got bad as a teenager, and I started on fluoxetine in my 20s. I have good years and bad years, so I come off and go back on them. In my honest opinion, fluoxetine has helped me a lot. I use it daily, 20 mg, it helps keep my anxiety under control. Now it’s not magic, so I do still have tough times when I struggle, but overall I have less of those times than before. My panic attacks, headaches, crying, and physical symptoms almost disappeared after maybe 6 months. It did take a long time to kick in, but it was worth it when it did. Don’t be afraid to try it, and most importantly, find out what works for you and give it time."

• Jou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on fluoxetine for 16 days, and I feel very bad. My anxiety and my panic are getting worse than before. It is a horrible feeling. I don't know what to do. Should I carry on the fluoxetine, or should I speak to my BP to stop it?"

• Pha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I started this for anxiety. I had been (still have) Ativan as needed, but due to a bunch of life factors hitting at once and not wanting to get addicted to Ativan, I talked to the doc who suggested 20 mg daily. This stuff works. Now, my journey to getting to where it works was not easy, though. Days 4-7 on it, I was having panic attacks, days 5-18, I had mild nausea and some minor body aches. By day 21, side effects went away. I could feel it working anxiety-wise at 14 days. The one caution I have for folks is that it does interact with other drugs, so make sure you are clear with docs and nurses (like if you go to urgent care and not your own doc) that you are on it. As a bonus side effect, I have type 2 diabetes and control it with metformin. My numbers have been running an average of 20-25 points lower since week 3."

• Bri...
• November 24, 2020

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I have been taking this medication for 33 days, after having the worst meltdown ever right before my period. I have had PMDD since I was 13 (21 now, so 8 years) and had tried fluoxetine in the past. I suffer from depression and anxiety, but I had never been depressed before menarche. This time around, I insisted I began with a low dosage of 5 mg, and took that for two weeks until my luteal phase, where I upped it to 10. I took the 10 mg for another two weeks and I'm planning to go back down to 5, then up to 10, etc. I have felt a lot less depressed, but have had headaches and panic attack onsets, which sucks! I exercise and meditate daily so I can tell some others would really struggle with the increased anxiety. I hope the anxiety is an initial side effect that will go away, so I'll be monitoring it closely. I consider fluoxetine to be somewhat effective for treating my PMDD so far. I still get grumpy and sad, but not crying-myself-to-sleep-until-my-tearducts-are-bruised level sad."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2017

For Depression "Being on Prozac was a nightmare experience. I have something called adjustment disorder with depressive episodes and anxiety attacks. My psychiatrist put me on 10 mg to start with in conjunction with my Wellbutrin. The first week was fine, and then I went up to 20 mg. I started feeling restless and anxious all the time, and my appetite was completely gone - I didn't want to eat at all. I had to literally force-feed myself, and I was losing weight rapidly. Then, over a month later, I had increasingly bad rage episodes where I would scream at people for no reason whatsoever. I yelled at a total stranger while driving and then had a panic attack. I stopped the drug, and it went away."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 22, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was on fluoxetine 40 mg for 3 months, 20 mg for a year. Don’t recommend this drug for anyone under 18 as there are so many better ones for adolescents. This medication made my panic attacks worse, restlessness, nightmares, and horrible muscle cramping and twitching. Looked like I was having a focal seizure."

• Lau...
• December 16, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "Before reading, please remember everyone is different, and this is my personal experience. I started 20 mg fluoxetine, and by day 3, I ended up at A&E thinking really dark thoughts. I was sick to my stomach, awake all night for all 3 nights, and having panic attacks every few hours. The doctor prescribed me 2 mg diazepam, which worked for the panic attacks, I decided to give it more time. Fast forward to day 24, I cut my arm on purpose, constant sickness and nausea, the doctor told me to stop the medication. Coming off was fine, just stopped taking them, and now on day 4 after stopping, I feel back to my normal anxious self, but the sickness and nausea have stopped. I was taking 10 mg x2 daily of propranolol but had to stop due to an allergic reaction, now just taking 5 mg diazepam when it gets bad. I have to go back to the doctor next week to try different medication. I've already tried amitriptyline, imipramine, sertraline, and now fluoxetine."

• LMC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Been taking fluoxetine for 4 days now and can already feel it working. I’m still anxious, but I have noticed I've been more relaxed. I was suffering from really bad panic attacks, working myself up so much I’d nearly pass out! Had symptoms of having a stroke, funny feeling in my face, etc. Dreading waking in the morning because I knew what the day would be like! I was in them before and worked brilliantly! My symptoms haven’t completely gone, but I’m able to take my mind off it, whereas before I would just keep getting worse. Going on public transport would start it off, as I was scared that it would happen while I was on the bus or train, then, of course, that would start my panic attacks off."

• Ana...
• March 6, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I was prescribed this drug for anxiety. I had a really bad reaction. From the first pill, I felt nauseous and had a terrible headache. On the third day, I had a panic attack, dizziness, I didn’t feel like myself. It was really scary. I stopped this medication, and I experienced the side effects for a few more days."

• Rag...
• December 20, 2017

Fluoxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I had been on fluoxetine intermittently across 7 years since aged 18. I have quit this sugar-coated poison for 2 years, enjoying the same benefits from fluoxetine (Prozac) by: -Going to church (just for socializing) -Getting a job that can give you a sense of satisfaction -Having an intermediate degree of exercise (90-min walk a day) -Simple jokes My best advice would be: 1. Never stay on it over 2 months, normal side effects: -Extremely thirsty (I got woken up regularly for a can of Coke...) -Larger appetite (eating every 3 hrs) -Extremely hyper, talkative -Worsened memory/learning Upon quitting, you'll expect the following: -Sweaty palms -Panic attack after midnight -Regular nightmares -Chaotic mind -Suicidal thoughts"

• Rab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2023

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "An absolute poison. No help at all and gave me severe panic attacks and fear. I was on it for a few weeks and could not tolerate how it made me feel. Taking this poison will bring you closer to death. Stay away from this nonsense medication. You are not serotonin deficient. Your brain just works differently, and accepting it is the way to recovery. The internet wrongly advertises these medications. If you ever go down the road of medication, you will never be able to come back from it. The bitter truth that the internet won’t tell you. Side effects like sexual dysfunction are permanent. What is life without sex? Weight gain is permanent. You will become an elephant from a stallion. Do not Google your problems because it is a slave of the drug companies, including this poison that made my life miserable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2021

Fluoxetine for Panic Disorder "Horrible! I took a 20 mg dosage and had the worst panic attack of my whole life, and it took days to recover. Never had a panic attack so overwhelming and horrible!"