Prozac for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Gabe
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2022

"I took Prozac for Major Depressive Disorder. I would definitely say I was severely depressed and had suicidal ideation. Also some nights could not sleep and the nights I could sleep would only sleep a couple of hours. I went to see a psychiatrist (something I always recommend for mental disorders. I do not recommend a General Practitioner) and he prescribed Prozac for depression and Seroquel for my insomnia. I’m not gonna lie nothing changed much for about 3 1/2 weeks but on day 24 of taking those meds it’s as if there was a complete and total change for the good. I say all of that because you gotta hang in there as it takes a while for meds to “kick in”. I have been on these meds for over 5 months and I will follow my psychiatrist’s instructions. I feel great. I am thankful to God for my psychiatrist and these meds. Oh and I take 40mg of Prozac and 200 mg of seroquel per day."

• Brezie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2017

"My doctor switched me from Cymbalta to Prozac after the Cymbalta didn't seem to be working for me any longer. I started out taking 10mg per day, now I am taking 20mg per day. I had been taking the Prozac at night before going to bed but noticed I was having a lot more trouble getting to sleep. After reading the dosing information, I realized that I needed to be taking this medication in the morning. So I will start that in the morning by holding off my dose tonight. For the time that I've been taking this medication, I have not had depressive episodes that I was unable to handle and taking the depression test, it was not as high as it had been in the past. So for now, I will continue this med but just change to taking it in the morn."

• FedUp
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2019

"I have generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. From 14-22 years old I tried so many different medications and none of them worked so for several years I didn't take anything at all. Prozac is the first medication I've been on in 5 years. I started at 10mg. For the first three weeks I was amazed at how good I felt, not anxious at all and really no obsessive/intrusive thoughts, and then the scales started to tip. I've spent a month feeling like I'm going absolutely out of my mind, the depression and anxiety and obsessive behaviors have been ramped up times 1000%. I can't remember the last time I've been this suicidal. I went to the doctor and she immediately took me off of it. Let's hope the withdrawal isn't too bad. I really wanted this to be the thing that worked for me."

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

"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 SSRI/SNRI/other med on the market just about (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...& 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/suicidal ideation, this may be the one for you too."

• Nadethi
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2019

"I tried Prozac for 5 weeks, it made me feel awful. Shaky, brain felt wired, nauseous, made it difficult to sleep, and the last 4 days on this I was severely depressed and feeling suicidal which is what led me to stop taking it. At that point I felt like I was on it long enough to be getting some benefits, but I felt worse than before. I had success for many years on Paxil (paroxetine), unfortunately it stopped working for me and I was at the highest dose. I also suffer from anxiety. Fluoxetine actually felt like poison to my body, even though it was supposed to be okay according to my Genesight test results. Very dissapointed."

• Tierna
• October 8, 2016

"I know this is a process, but it sucks. I'm now taking 40 mg of Prozac and it literally does nothing for me. I started with Zoloft, and at least that was an appetite suppressant Both Zoloft and Prozac just make me tired, which is the opposite of what I'm looking for. My goal is to gain energy and be able to do...anything...other than sleep."

• Haley...
• January 12, 2016

"I started Prozac as one of my first anti depressants for MDD It made me horribly sick. I was nauseous all day, and wouldn't eat for days at a time. I stayed on it to try and get thorough the side effects but they wouldn't stop, I was throwing up every other day One day I woke up and I started to violently shake, This lasted for over 12 hours until I ended up in the hospital with Tachycardia. This was a horrible experience and months later I still have stomach and heart issues, I'm on new medications now, But because of my bad experience I get very anxious when I take them"

• gibb
• December 6, 2015

"For the first time I've been on Prozac. I talked to my provider and we decided it was the best this is my second week. I didn't realized I suffered from OCD intrusive thoughts Now those are gone, I feel tired and sleepy which is rare on me, I am taking other meds as well so I do not know if I should attribute this to Prozac or not. So far seems like it was a good idea. I am monitoring my behaviours being mindful about what I am doing not in a OCD way though."

• San...
• March 26, 2015

"It's a good antidepressant, for mild depression, and food related issues. Took it long ago, was not enough by itlself, so I needed to combine it with other antidepressants. Sexual effects, sense of nothing really matters, mild happiness, long time, 3 weeks to kick in, and tends to pop out in about 2-3 months."

• taylo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2022

"I’ve suffered from depression for a long time and was taking 20mg generic Lexapro for years which seemed to work and kept my mood even with no side effects. Recently a health scare gave me brand new illness anxiety, panic attacks and worsened depression. Lexapro wasn’t working anymore. I was started on 10mg Prozac 4 days ago by my psych, to go up to 20 after a week. So far side effects have just been some drowsiness and feeling jittery/slightly anxious after taking. I will come back in a couple of weeks with an update. The reviews here give me hope! It’s been a hard 3 months. I will also note I’m seeing a psychiatrist and doing bibliotherapy/CBT. We can do this!"

• Mer...
• June 21, 2017

"Been on this medication for a few years now. I've tried Viibryd, Lexapro, Prozac, and Paxil and Prozac has worked the most efficiently. It doesn't seem to me like I'll ever find an antidepressant that makes me feel like sunshine and rainbows. It just numbs the pain really. I have major depression and while I do wonder if there are any "happy" pills that up your mood significantly, I'm too afraid to try any other antidepressant. especially after switching to Paxil. I became very depressed on Paxil"

• Proza...
• June 19, 2017

"I have struggled with anxiety and depression for about 25 years. After almost dying from meningitis in 1993, post traumatic stress disorder became an issue as well. My general physician recently diagnosed me with major depression disorder as well. She is an amazing Doctor who took extra schooling for psychology and pain management. She suggested I try Prozac. I had heard so many bad and controversial things about Prozac, but decided to ignore the naysayers and try it. I've been on it about 2 weeks. Not noticing too much yet, but I am going to hang in there as I know it can take 6 to 8 weeks for full benefits. I realize I can't expect something to work right when I want it to work. it takes time. Giving it a chance. Will update."

• Nicolas
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2019

"I've been on this fluoxetine for 5 months,I don't think it did a lot for my depression but it definitely gave me more energy and improved my concentration. I am taking 40mg fluoxetine along with 150mg Efexor."

• CatNav
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 25, 2018

"I started on prozac in 1990 and went off just over a year ago. So it was a total of about 28yrs. I was on 80mg a day but at one time they had me on 160mg!!! This is a great life saving medication. When I first started my family called it my "chill pill". It made things not seem so bad sort of like, oh no, you cut your arm off. Let's just pick it up and go to the doctor's so they can sew it back on. You have to work at finding the time of day to take it so that it works best for you. The side effects that affected me the most was the headaches. They triggered my migraines in numbers and strength. At times I would forget and/or put off taking it and I could definitely feel myself hitting below rock bottom. The original doctor prescribed Prozac and Phentermine at the same time. He wouldn't do anything unless I went through therapy too."

• Dd33e...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 17, 2017

"I started taking Prozac January 19th 2016. I ended Prozac April 19th 2017. It did nothing but horrible things for me ! I had major behavioral issues I could not control myself or my actions or thoughts . I was feeling down constantly always had issues. When I was taken off of it my behavior changed! I'm a complete different person . No suicidal thoughts nothing. Yeah I have depression here and there but I just have to get thru this on my own. I suggest you don't take this medication ."

• Livin...
• March 29, 2018

"I have been on this medication almost a year taking 60mg once a day. These are the side effects I have noticed. It seems to cause memory loss (I had a photo graphic memory) and insomnia. This may be what is causing the fatigue. I have gotten so fatigued since starting this medication that it interferes with my ability to function normally. I feel like it has also taken away my ability to truly feel my emotions. NOTHING bothers me anymore and if it does, it is for a very short time then I seem to forget it bothered me at all. This is good in someways and not in others. I now have to take other medications to counteract the side effects of this medication. Not sure what I’m going to do as far as staying on it. It has not caused weight gain for me and the side effects I listed are really the only I have noticed but they are severe and effect me on a daily basis."

• Insom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2017

"I'm 18 and have suffered from major anxiety and depression causing frequent panic attacks for roughly two years. I've been on Prozac for four nights now and whilst it is to early to tell if the drug will help me, I am experiencing some side effects. In the last four nights I've had about eight hours of sleep and constant head aches. On my first day I felt drowsey and unfocused and after that I think it was a combination of depression, Prozac and lack of sleep. I'm hoping these will wear off in time like I've been told but don't know if they will come back again (if they go away at all) if my GP ups my dosage from 1/2 a tablet to 1 a night. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this but I plan to ask my GP at my next appointment."

• Rayqu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 31, 2018

"Similarly to big pharma's lies about drug efficacy these reviews are the same allowing only positive responses almost like white washing... Well after 8 months on prozac 20mg I had some motivation, enough to stay in the house every day and do basic things. I suppose a numbed brain is a positive, & hypersensitivity, hypomania, impulsiveness, depersonalisation. The list is endless.. This medication was not for me I tried 40mg it caused severe gastric reflux."

• Mothe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2018

"Prozac did relieve my symptoms of depression fairly quickly (within 2 weeks) upon beginning administration, and noticeable improvement of my overall mood and wellbeing occurred. However, I experienced a significant decrease in sexual desire, and also was completely unable to achieve sexual climax while taking the medication. I then experienced 3 episodes of "esophagitis" or horrible pains in chest/throat/stomach that felt like a bolus of food trapped in my throat. The pain was so debilitating that I was forced to discontinue use. I would recommend this medication for the treatment of depression, however the side effects are personally too painful for me."

• Jim
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2021

"Was going through nasty divorce...insomnia hit, sleeping 5hrs & slumped into bad depression. I think breakdown followed. Went on Prozac due consensus was easiest drug to come off. Mindful of withdrawal & after bad time w/ Paxil 20 years ago, took 15 mg/day in liquid form. Liquid would allow me to taper when ready. 1st month was tough - severely stressed & offered beta blocker by doctor. Turned it down, which was right thing - in time (2-3 months) & as divorce progressed, started to recover. Was on 15mg 9 months before tapering..very slowly - 1mg at a time I would only take next step when felt ready. Then covid came making it more difficult but 2 years on am off fully. I sleep well & feel pretty good, few tips of my own: 1) try avoid >20 mg/day (tougher to withdraw), 2) take liquid - easier to taper, 3) eat well, exercise & do everything that will help withdrawal (don’t drink more than small amount..stops it working), 4) w/ discipline & will power you can do it! Mood might waver at times tho!"

• Stard...
• February 16, 2017

"This medication was terrible. The warning about "initial" anxiety was concerning , but I figured I would give it a go anyways. This was a horrible mistake. My anxiety was so bad that I had tremors in my arms and legs and lost 2 lbs in only 2 weeks of taking it."

• t1mmy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2021

"Took prozac for MDD, OCD, & anxiety for a few months at about 20 mg (so maybe that’s why I didn’t really notice that much of a difference haha) but the upside is that I didn’t notice any cons either"

• Meech
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2021

"This has been a roller coaster of a year and I’m glad I’m going to stop taking Prozac for multiple reason. Prozac helped with my mood, but I still have bad days. The major reasons are fatigue/low energy, anti-social, and irritability. I can’t believe I’ve been taking it for a year because it has caused major problems in my life. Obviously it works or it doesn’t. This medication was a nightmare for me."

• Rage...
• December 20, 2017

"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 effects benefits from Fluoxetine(Prozac) by: -Going to church( just for socialising) -Get a job that can give you a sense of satisfaction -Having 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 waked 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 mid-night -Regular nightmares -Chaotic mind -Suicidal thoughts"

• enska
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2021

"I've only been taking Prozac for a week, but I'm really cautiously optimistic and today I feel pretty good. I haven't been able to say that for a long time. I took it almost 20 years ago for a time but didn't like it. I decided to try it again because I'm increasingly having treatment-resistant depression. I have tried MANY antidepressants. Some don't affect me at all and some give me extreme muscle spasms. But this doesn't seem to have any bad side effects. Again, cautiously optimistic!"