Luvox and Panic Attacks: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "29-year-old female with Harm OCD. I started taking Celexa when I was 16 years old for around six years and then switched to Lexapro. Celexa and Lexapro both worked for me, with Lexapro being the champion of the two. Eventually, the Lexapro did not work anymore. I experienced panic attacks, aggressive violent thoughts, and high anxiety. I recently switched to Luvox, but not without initial hesitation. I tried many different medications that led up to Lexapro, with many that didn't work. I am glad that I gave Luvox a try! It was slow weaning down from 20 mg of Lexapro while increasing up to 100 mg Luvox. Now the obsessive and compulsive thoughts are more fleeting and less sticky, they do not bother me as much anymore. I do not have the anxiety that I once had. One drawback that I experience after taking Luvox for a couple of months is tiredness. I am very tired throughout the day, sleep more than usual, and take plenty of naps. Overall, this medication works for me, and I hope that it will for you too."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2024

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have had OCD and generalized anxiety disorder ever since I was a kid. I always would ruminate over thoughts every single day, which was basically my life. I thought everyone thought like me. As I’ve gotten older, it has only gotten worse. I never have taken medicine and stayed away from it up until college when I had a horrible OCD episode that lasted 5 weeks straight with just an unwanted thought. I wasn’t able to sleep. I would get 2 hours of sleep, before at the most. I was having anxiety attacks and panic attacks, it was so bad I could barely stay awake. The thoughts consumed my life every minute, I never got a break. It was distressing, and I thought multiple times about suicide, like there was no way out of this mess. I decided to go on medicine, which my doctor recommended Luvox, and I was nervous at first, but could feel like I was able to push through it. After a week and every week and dosage that has gone by, it’s only gotten better. I am now on 250 mg and 2 months in :)"

• Jlr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "Horrible experience! I switched from Paxil to Luvox, and it was a terrible experience. I had a panic attack an hour after taking this medication. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and had tingling in my arms and legs. I called my doctor the next day, and she switched me to Lexapro. I feel much better and have no side effects at all."

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2023

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Initially, at 25 mg, it worked decently well. I went out to eat for the first time in months; I went shopping an hour away, and I wasn’t obsessed with cleaning my apartment 24/7 as bad. I’m a college student, so something I did notice was the little bits of extreme panic that lasted maybe 5 minutes at a time, but resolved quickly. The other thing I noticed at the beginning was that it made me extremely dizzy, and I started developing migraines, which I’ve never had before, so I chopped it up to being dehydrated and not drinking enough water. Then, about 6 1/2 to 7 weeks in, things really went downhill. I started developing an extreme social phobia, and anytime I would do little bits of cleaning, I would start having panic attacks. It turned into full-blown agoraphobia after a week. I have almost committed myself after these past 2 weeks, and I have quit my job as of last week. I almost had to drop out of college. This probably works for some people, but definitely not for me."

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "My daughter started on Prozac in March, and a few days later, her anxiety went so high that she was admitted to the hospital, and the doctor changed her diagnosis and gave her four different meds. She came home with more anxiety and panic and more side effects from the meds. After three weeks, she started taking Luvox, and from seven weeks, her anxiety and panic went a little under control. She has been on several SSRIs, and she gets severe side effects from all of them. She has MDD, GAD, and panic disorder for the last seven years. She is so tired and exhausted from not getting good sleep, and not at ease at all! The first doctor who prescribed Prozac didn’t help her with her anxiety. Now we switched to another doctor, and he wants her to stay on Luvox until esketamine starts. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know."

• Knb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2023

For Anxiety and Stress "I have suffered from panic attacks for 12 years and was recently diagnosed with OCD. My doctor prescribed me Luvox (20 mg). I was very hopeful that this drug would help with all the worrying I do. On day 4 of the medicine, I had panic attacks for HOURS. I’d have one and then 10-15 minutes later have another. I ended up calling 911 because I thought I was dying (it’s been years since I had panic attacks as bad as this). I also ended up at the ER where the panic attacks would not stop. I will not take another pill of this."