Fluoxetine and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Sma...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have formally been diagnosed as having treatment-resistant depression. I have suffered with depression since I was 12 and am now 74. Nothing has really worked for me. One psychiatrist estimated I might get 30% improvement, but I don’t think so. The side effects of most antidepressants make the slight improvement not worth much. I have tried, I am using brand names in Canada, Prozac, doxepin, Serzone, Zoloft, Paxil, Parnate, fluvoxamine, citalopram, and mirtazapine. Some many times and in large doses. The longest use was fluvoxamine and citalopram. I have had every possible add-on and three sessions of ECT to no avail. I recently switched from citalopram to fluoxetine because I could not get off the citalopram otherwise. Now I appear to be gaining weight yet again, I have gained over 100 lbs in the last 25 years. I have severe insomnia and fatigue. So how I am going to try no antidepressants. Major sources of stress in my life have died, so I hope this will succeed. I am totally fed up."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I was put on 20 mg Fluoxetine 2 years ago for severe anxiety, and it worked a treat. I had absolutely no side effects and came off it 6 months later after it did the trick and got me back on the right track. After another bout of anxiety earlier this year, I was put back on 20 mg but reacted really badly and had every side effect going. I reduced down to 10 mg, and it seems to have made the anxiety less severe, but I’m angry all the time, extremely thirsty, I’ve gained weight, and have an awful lot of energy constantly but also constantly tired. So, weaning off now, I’m back on track. This time round my anxiety was due to vitamin deficiencies, so perhaps that’s why it didn’t agree with me and maybe I didn’t really need it. What works for some doesn’t work for everyone, and it might be different second time round - just go easy on fluoxetine and see what works for you. I’ve had great success with this medicine in the past."

• Ran...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2020

Fluoxetine for Depression "At first, I feel okay, but after 6 months, I gained 20 kgs!!! And I quit Prozac after 6 months, and it was the best decision, but I cannot get rid of the weight I had gained. It affects my metabolic rate so badly!!! Now I have depression from being fat! Don’t use it."

• Mix...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 4, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I recently have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety with panic disorder and started taking fluoxetine about 4 months ago. It took some time to notice a positive difference, but it has been up and down. I started taking the medication every morning, but it would cause me to feel sleep deprived and make my day-to-day difficult to get through. I was very unproductive at work, sleeping during my lunch instead of eating, and even had a difficult time driving because of how tired I would be. After following my PCP's directions to start taking it at night, I was not nearly as tired anymore. After taking 20 mg a night for about 2 months now, I'm starting to feel as if the medication is no longer effective. I'm having anxiety attacks more frequently, my mood is up and down, and it's very difficult for me to express my emotions. I have also gained weight, having crazy dreams, and I'm in my head a lot. This is the first time taking any medication for anxiety, but I don't want to give up just yet."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2017

For Panic Disorder "10 days I'm feeling a bit out of it-tired then wired, but it has alleviated the tense feeling from Pristiq 100 mg, and 50 mg isn't enough to keep all anxious depression symptoms away. I think I need more of the S than the N in the SNRIs. I've taken Zoloft previously with success, but changed to Effexor then Pristiq for a little more motivation 4 years ago, but it does cause weight gain for me compared to SSRIs. Prozac has killed my appetite and don't even think about food-bonus! I know it will improve in weeks. I started at 5 mg for 10 days, kept taking Pristiq EOD, I'll go to 10 mg and Pristiq every 3rd day, then cut Pristiq. Don't do withdrawals, and why do people have an obsession with trying to get off meds? If they work, stay on them, of course you will crash, you idiots!"

• May...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 27, 2018

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "I have the worst PMDD. Over 15 years of this wackiness. I have been on and off since I was a teen. I'm now 30 and a mom. After my firstborn, I was gone full of rage and depressed more than ever. I went back on Prozac and was told it was safe while I was pregnant. Then my daughter had ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder). I gained over 80 lb. I've always been a small girl growing up, max 130 lb, height 5'11. I was up to 250 lb and decided to stop taking it. My life felt like it was over, so then I took it again. And now I swear it isn't helping me at all. PMDD has been such a burden on my life. I just want to be normal."

• Mca...
• September 24, 2020

Fluoxetine for Depression "Absolute rubbish. Caused uncontrollable massive weight gain just like the atypical antipsychotics do (129 to 185 in 3 months!!! Eating same diet. Robot emotions. Hair loss. And suddenly... good old diabetes 2. I want to sue. Dr. said I would not gain and probably lose weight. This was in 1995. All those rapidly created fat cells created to stuff this poison in are still hanging on in 2020 to this toxic drug. Think twice."

• 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."

• Qtk...
• March 31, 2009

Fluoxetine for Depression "I have been on Prozac for about one month. I feel like I am able to function again. The only issue I have is that I have no interest in sex and I have gained quite a bit of weight."

• jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2020

Fluoxetine for Depression "Terrible medication. I felt worse. Do not recommend. Rubbish. Also put a stone on in 12 weeks."

• Sui...
• May 20, 2016

Fluoxetine for Anxiety and Stress "Been on this for a few weeks now, and I feel no better than I did before I started taking this. Gained weight and getting severe migraines."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2011

Fluoxetine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I took this medicine for OCD. It helped, however, I put on 30 pounds in 2 months, and that's with not changing my diet or exercise. I've been off it for 3 months, and the scale hasn't moved at all."

• jpa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 5, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "It worked great for me, but towards the end put on 10 pounds, but it really kept my mind positive and stable."

• mon...
• March 5, 2009

Fluoxetine for Depression "I have been taking Prozac for 1 week for depression. It seems to be helping me with my attitude. But I am VERY concerned about weight gain."

• Dor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 4, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Put on a lot of weight. Hot flushes - I'm only 36. Confusion. Irritated, really dark thoughts. Anxiety."

• Anonymous
• May 6, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Fluoxetine helped the depression but didn’t touch the anxiety. Also made me gain 15 lbs in three months."