Experiences of Fluoxetine (Prozac) ?

My doctor has given me a course of Fluoxetine 20mg for depression.

It's the first time I've been prescribed anti-depressants and just wanted to hear about any good/bad experiences people have had, just so I know what I should expect.

Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

kiwigirl

12

Heya I've been on it for a few months, 60 mg. I duno if it's comparable since my dose is higher. But when you first take it you might experience some mild side effects, you get used to it though. The main change for me I noticed was a dry mouth, I got waay more thirsty in the gym than usual when I first took it. So keep hydrated :smile:

Any other things that could be side effects that I've experienced I don't know are directly because of the fluoxetine.

Also, never take aspirin with it!! (It will make you sick) Only paracetamol if you're in pain. It can make you more susceptible when drinking alcohol, so watch that. If you miss a dose don't worry, one day doesn't affect anything. They also advise you to take it in the morning, or at least with food.

Reply 2

ciarasimpson

OP

1

Thanks ! I wasn't too sure when I should take it actually, so that helps a lot. My Doctor did say about the dry mouth too, wouldn't have expected that kind of side effect ! The leaflet with the meds is full of scary side effects, hopefully they are only apparent in few cases though.
Would you say you're happy with it then, overall ?

Reply 3

NoAccidents

4

fluoxetine 20mg is a pretty light dose, just to start you off im assuming
dont worry too much about the side effects, like the leaflet says theyr quiet rare.
its prescribed quiet readily as its not very strong, dont over think it too much when taking, just take the stated dose and dont make it a big part of your everyday life? make ti routine and just another little thing you do everyday..

(i get asked these type of questions at work all the time from new patients)

Reply 4

ciarasimpson

OP

1

Oh, good ! I know the info on the leaflets probably have to include all possibilities just in case, but reading it struck the fear of god into me !

Thank you :smile:

Reply 5

beccah

ciarasimpson

Oh, good ! I know the info on the leaflets probably have to include all possibilities just in case, but reading it struck the fear of god into me !

Thank you :smile:

Hey, I'm supposed to be still taking fluoxetine, but I'm slowly phasing it out taking one every other day.

The side effects I found was this horrible itchy/crawling sensation all over my body, it wasn't nice, especially when trying to sleep :s-smilie:

and a really really bad dry mouth at times, which didn't seem to be remedied even after drinking lots.

I advise not taking it on an empty stomach either!

Stick it out though and you'll see improvements in about 2 weeks, bad stuff doesn't seem so...bad anymore, which I know is the whole point.

Just don't do what I did, take it for 3 months, decide you don't need it, stop, then fall back into a worse depression :/

Good luck x

Reply 6

kiwigirl

12

Yeah you're not really supposed to stop unless under the GP's supervision. I did that, suddenly stopped, and yeah it was bad. Don't do that lol.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

I was on it when I was about 14... I found it really helpful. The only negative thing I found with it was that the morning after I'd been out drinking (I should add I was on it for a couple of years, I wasn't a big drinker at 14 :p:

) I had a ridiculously MEGA hangover, completely disproportional to what I'd actually had to drink... I thought I was going to die. I avoided alcohol after that until I'd come off the tablets, then I was fine. Also, don't dry swallow them, it gives you heatburn.

Reply 8

PointeShoes-x

14

I'm on fluoxetine. When I was first put on 20mg I didn't notice any difference, I felt a bit better when it was put up to 40mg, I think it's faded a bit but I'm still doing better than I was before I went on it. I haven't noticed any side effects.

Reply 9

~ Purple Rose ~

19

I was on it a few years ago. I didn't really notice a change in my depression but I didn't have any side effects either.

Reply 10

Sabertooth

20

that stuff was hell for me.

Reply 11

mikkyh

Well, after being on it for 3 years it's finally started to work...and it's working brilliantly. I'm 16 and am on 40mg of Fluoxetine in the morning; Risperidone 2mg and Melatonin 6mg at night. Was on Olanzapine and they wanted to put me onto a mood stabilizer but I told them to, well, put it somewhere not very nice.

Though I've been in a psychiatric hospital the past 6 weeks so that could have helped as well.

Feeling much better now though. I haven't self harmed for like 6 weeks. And don't want to either.

It's really good. Keep taking it like the doctor says and you should begin to feel better in 2-4 weeks.

Reply 12

ciarasimpson

OP

1

Sabertooth

that stuff was hell for me.

Why ??

Reply 13

Sabertooth

20

ciarasimpson

Why ??

I reacted badly to it. Huge headaches, earaches, my whole body hurt even my eyeballs and chest when I breathed, dry mouth leading to very sore throat, dizzy, nausea, was freezing cold, couldn't think at all, ergh worst experience I've ever had. I only took it for 4 days!

Reply 14

kiwigirl

12

Sabertooth

I reacted badly to it. Huge headaches, earaches, my whole body hurt even my eyeballs and chest when I breathed, dry mouth leading to very sore throat, dizzy, nausea, was freezing cold, couldn't think at all, ergh worst experience I've ever had. I only took it for 4 days!

Geez, that sounds horrible! Extreme bad reaction. :frown:

What have you found that works for you now?

Reply 15

Sabertooth

20

kiwigirl

Geez, that sounds horrible! Extreme bad reaction. :frown:

What have you found that works for you now?

It was awful. Everytime I took another antidepressant afterwards I was so worried it would happen again, taken loads and it hasn't however so I guess it was just the prozac. I wouldn't take the **** if you paid me a million pounds. :p:

I still haven't found anything that helps. Ah well.

Reply 16

Anonymous #2

Original post by ciarasimpson

My doctor has given me a course of Fluoxetine 20mg for depression.

It's the first time I've been prescribed anti-depressants and just wanted to hear about any good/bad experiences people have had, just so I know what I should expect.

Thanks :smile:

It is not working for me

Reply 17

Napp

22

Horrible stuff, doesnt even work very well, in my experience. Plus, if you dont swallow iot properly with a butt load of water and it gets stuck in your throat youre in for a world of pain.
Other than hat, i found it utterly kills your sex drive among other unpleasant side effects. Asfar as anti depressants go it wasnt the best.

Experiences of Fluoxetine (Prozac) ?

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