Depression Blog.com

I have been taking Prozac for four years now, and usually find they are helping my depression. I take on every day, and when I feel one is not enough, I take two, but that is not often. But today I am depressed and I am trying to analyse why. It will pass and I will continue my Prozac as my quality of life has changed so much since I took them, and usually I feel good. I do recommend that anyone who is depressed take something as it is very hard to cope with.

Susanna

Mostly positive for prozac: Have been on it off and on for 4 years. I go off it because over time it has made me gain weight. I go back on it because without it I plunge back into depression that other meds and natural things do not help.

Both times I was on Prozac for my depression I found it caused me feelings of great anxiety! Also after the initial 6 month period or so of use I gained well over 30 pounds! It is very depressing to myself recovering from bulimia and working on living a "positive" life to have to fight a weight problem not of my own making!

Both times I was on Prozac for my depression I found it caused me feelings of great anxiety! Also after the initial 6 month period or so of use I gained well over 30 pounds! It is very depressing to myself recovering from bulimia and working on living a "positive" life to have to fight a weight problem not of my own making!

I started out on like 3 20 pills a day, but am now down to 1 a day. It seems to work, although its hard to tell because it takes so long to kick in. I have found this site useful in finding information about drug and alcohol rehab as well, [SPAM REMOVED]

Glad to find this blog,

John

I have been taking 20mg of prozac daily for about three years now, at first I was on Zoloft for 1yr but thought I could do without, but after a few months, I called my Doctor and told her that I needed something for depression. I could'nt stand myself, I became misserable to my love ones, dwelled on simple things, and cryed for no reason. Now I realize that this is an effect of my female hormones ( I have been tracking). At this point I feel good, I'm able to cope with my feelings month to month.

Prozac. I have been taking this for 4 years and have now developed a rash on my face so I have temporarily stopped and am taking something herbal. I am ok and if necessary I will return to it. The rash has cleared up since I stopped

I was given prozac to help my manic depression more then a year ago. Since then I have had more suicide attempts then before and have become in more ways bi-polar because of the medication. At 40mg my doctor felt that because I was eighteen that I should not increase my medication. However, he would not change my meds even though I was certian that the prozac was not helping me one bit. I have (against my doctors permission) stopped taking my medication. It has been only a month, and even thougth there some frustrating areas in my life right now, I am handling them much better with my prescription.

To prozac I say NOOO! Well that is in my case.

I've been on Prozac for about two (2) years now. Before that, I lost my job because I couldn't handle being around people at work...or anywhere else for that matter! I went from being a very successful person, to one that couldn't even go into the store. My wife did everything...shopping,stores and anything that required coming into contact with people. The doctors went thru the usual ssri's, all without any success. After a short period of adjustment to the Prozac (about three months) I found I could start to deal with people. Now, two years later, I find I am in a position to go back to school and deal with the pressures of people. It's never as good as it was before, but at least now I can carry my share of the load in life. So far, I can only say good things about Prozc.

I started antidepressants more than a year ago, and learned one thing and one thing only.....anti-depressants will not give you a "high" so that you can better enjoy your life and feel good about yourself.

Antidepressants merely attempt to keep you out of dispair (attemtping suicide, etc.)

I took Prozac for depression for several months and experienced a number of side-effects. These includes, horrific nightmares, dizziness, high blood pressure, horrible feelings of fear. These are just a few things that I can remember off the top of my head.

I know it doesn't sound like much, but it was a very frightening experience. DON'T start a drug without doing some serious research, talking to a therapist and considering the complications that could result from the side-effects of the drug itself.

I have taken prozac for the last 10 years--it, along with therapy, literally saved my life.

I have used the Mallinckrodt generic for the last few years with no ill effects. My psychiatrist always checks with me to see if it still works for me, stating that often generics do not work as well as the original.

After spending 1 1/2 weeks as an emotional wreck, crying for no reason, unable to sleep and eating like there was no tomorrow, I remembered that the pharmacy had given me a blue-colored generic--which turned out to be the IVX brand. I contacted my psychiatrist, asked her if this was what could be happening and she told me I should immediately get back on the green/white generic.

I did, and am feeling infinitely better already. However, when I went to pick it up, the pharmacist said something along the lines of, "Wow, you're not the first one this has happened to. Maybe we shouldn't dispense this any more..."

People taking IVX brand Prozac should be aware of this--I came completely unhinged.

Thank you.

i take a generic called magrilan which is available herein cyprus. I tried to stop prozac but cannot. It is wonderful I take just one every morning. Been doing this for 6 years and life takes on a beautiful color susana

I have just started on prozac. I mean as in I started it about four weeks ago and I can't say I see much of a change. I actually feel pretty much worse. I have had nausea loss of appetite and a few other small things. NOt sure if it is the prozac or the depression though. I guess I'll give it some more time and see how things go.

I just started prozac a few weeks ago and noticed loss of appetite and nausea I am asking if anyone has had diarrhea with it I would like to hear some feedback and if so when did it go away.

I think I'v been depressed my whole life...i just didn't know it.. i thougt that it just was a way of life. when i started taking prozac, i felt nothing for the first month or two....also, i felt like I didn't want to sleep with my husband...then the dr. prescribed wellbutrin to help the sexual side-affects, which, by the way, really helped and still does. However, when i am pmsing or ovulating, i'm a total mess...i go back to feeling like the old days (b4 prozac and wellbutrin) I don't know what to do. Dr. wants me to increase the dosage, but when i do, i feel like i' just took some uppers. Anyone have this experience? going to

My son is 11 years old and diagnosed with depression. He was prescribed prozac today and I am very nervous about putting him on it. I have been on many antidepressants and very familiar with them but with children I am very cautious. Does anyone out there have any input?

Thanks

My son is 11 years old and diagnosed with depression. He was prescribed prozac today and I am very nervous about putting him on it. I have been on many antidepressants and very familiar with them but with children I am very cautious. Does anyone out there have any input?

Thanks

This year makes 5 years I have been on Prozac.
Prozac has worked better for me than any other anti-depressant the doctor has tried.

I have suffered with depression my entire life, and so I speak from real experience.

There are times when my dosage needs to be adjusted, as I still have times when the depression is worse than other occaisions. For the most part, I am able to do the things I enjoy even though I move a bit slower and have to watch how much I take on at once.

The bad thing in my experience is that every attack of depression slows me down more than the last one. I bounce back quickly, but more energy is sapped from me with every occurrence.

I have only been on prozac for a few weeks, I'm coming up to a month now, and I've never felt so bad. For me, it's exactly the same as the symptoms of depression at the moment, except I'm more prepared to commit suicide. I know though that it's just the first month and I'm trying to be positive, but I don't want to go out, or do anything, see anyone, eat, or live a life. I just sit in my room most of the time, and I can't sleep at all. So far it has been hell and I'm trying to think positive about the future, as it's only been the initial month and takes a lot longer to work, but I want to go back to my doctor and tell him that I hate it and it's making me more suicidal. I think perhaps patients on prozac or any anti depressants need therapy at least to get through the initial period when it doesn't really work. Hopefully it'll get better.

Ive been on prozac for 8 days and I stay tired and have a headache, not sure I am going to keep taking it. I felt depressed before but atleast it didnt take me an hour to take a bath. Not sure what I am going to do... My doctor want change my medicine now. Any suggestions?

I have been taking between 20-60mg of Prozac per day for the past 6 years (usually 60). I'm seriously starting to wonder about the long-term effects. They HAS to be some kind of negative effect on my body after all this time. Is there anything I should know? I can't seem to find any info online.

I just started taking 40mg per day last week. Right now I feel pretty disoriented and light-headed. I haven't eaten much today, but I'm really not hungry right now. I had two cups of coffee already, but that's normal for me.

Have been taking prozac for about 4 weeks now, not feeling much different either, still extremeley depressed gonna stick it out though because i think if your at rock bottom the only way is up!!!!

I've been on Prozac for 4 years. 20Mg per day and sometimes 40Mg when I'm worse. Most of the 4 years have been OK but I am having a lot of trouble right now as I tried to cut down six weeks ago.

hi i am so afrade of meds after taking paxil it really scared the life out of me and now i don't want to take any meds but i thank i may have to i just can't funktion well i do daily activities but i still feel vary bad please someone help tell me what worked for u email me at sonyahdoor@yahoo.com

ive had manic depression for about 2 years now, dont know why it started and dont really care, just want it gone. my doctor did nothing about it when i first was diagnosed,yeah that dick, and after a suicide attempt a different doctor put me on prozac. i dont really see a change in myself, except for fighting with my boyfriend constantly about nothing which is lame because i love him with all my heart, and crying over useless stuff all the time, etc...honestly it makes me feel worse off about myself because everytime i lash out and hate the world i hurt the ones around me who i love most. this brings me to the conclusion of going off my meds. good luck to you all...and may god be with me.

I have been on Prozac for 20 days now, and I feel like my mind is wired, I can't sleep, increased anxiety, which in turn I have to take a Xaxan to controll that. I can focus more, but my mind races. At times I have muscle tighness, especially at night. Please help, should I have my dose increased to 40mg (I take 20mg now.), I would think the 40mg would conteract the 20mg and hel me feel normal again. PLEASE HELP!

my boyfriend is on prozac, and has been for the past year, ever since he's been having trouble with being honest with me, he's lost his appetite, constantly lacking memory, and just a wide change in his behavior......is this due to him being on prozac?

i have been taking prozac since mid march 07 started out with 10 mg for two weeks now taking 20mg and cant seem too kick this nervous feeling anybody know if this will subside or should i see the doctor

The prozac has put weight onme that I can't seem to loose. Any suggestions? what can I do starve?

I was depressed for almost 7 years when I went on prozac. I was bulimic for 3 and 1/2 of those years. It took 3 months to work, but when it did I felt like what I presume a normal person feels like. The first few weeks I was on it, my brain felt like it was melting, but that stopped after awhile. When it started working it made me really spacey, I was on 40 mg a day, but after a couple months this went away and I felt 200% better. No more depression, no more suicidal thoughts, and no more worrying obsessively over my weight. I've been on it for almost 2 years now and it has changed my life for the better. The only complaint I have is that I am less focused and can't concentrate as well, but I think these side effects actually help control the depression because I just don't think about the sad things that happen. I think prozac can be a life saver for some people, as it was for me.

I have taken Prozac for some years. Unfortunately it did not seem to help. Instead I just seemed to get the side effects. In the end, I was taking a high dose but it still did not seem to help. After a very serious bout of depression, my doctor prescribed a different drug - Mirtazapin. This was a couple of months ago and I think it may be working. I have starting detailing my experiences at www.strayblackdog.co.uk . These are thoughts, despairs and treatments of an experienced depressive. This blog is not intended to give advice, but to explain the everyday experiences, medical treatments, medication side effects, emotions and thoughts of a middle aged man who has been a depressive for 25 years.

when i started taking prozac why do i feel worst?

It's been 8 months since I stopped taking Prozac (fluoxetine). I had been taking 80 mg/day and tapered down to 20 mg/day just before I discontinued it all together. Pre-Prozac, I slept too much and was pretty much wiped out all the time. After taking such a high dose of Prozac for 6 years, does it make sense that I've been experiencing significant insomnia and anxiety since I stopped taking it?

I know fluoxetine or other nerve medications have been considered for reynaud's disease. Well, can discontinuing taking fluoxetine cause (or worsen) this condition?

I've been on antidepressants for l5 yrs. I just had surgery and now I'm in the midst of depression. My doctor increased my prozac from 60 to 80mg. I feel worse. Should the increase cause that?

i take prozac and i fell GREAT. I think more people should take it.

My grandmother shot herself straight through the heart after being on this for years. If you are on it get the hell off of it immeditely. Try going to your local churh. Or get on your knees and pray to God to help you. Jesus loves you and will never for sake you. Go to him. I know that you might feel as though that is to easy but please try it.

I am 17 and have suffered fromsevere OCD, extreme anxiety, and depression for my whole life. I began taking prozac around 9 months ago,and it completely changed my life! I'm not shy any more - I can focus! I feel like my true self. I take 70 mg a day right now, and it is perfect for me. (80 made me sleepy)

The only problem is that I am pretty sure it made me gain weight... like 20 pounds. I am very tall, and was a size two before I started on prozac,but now I am an 8! I do not want to stop taking prozac though. The peace of mind it gives me is worth any side affect!

I need feedback! My 14 yr old son started on Prozac after his father passed away. It's been 2 months now and we have increased it to 40mg. He started slowly.
He has stomach and headaches and still has incredible anxiety. Will this pass? He can barely make it to school and he has lost all his friends.
Anyone out there who might offer some kind words as to when we might see some light?
Thanks.

I have experienced depression for as long as I can remember, and it is the type of depression with deep valleys and few if any peaks (more like plateaus of relative normalcy). I am in my 6th day taking the generic version of Prozac 20 mg and hopeful this will help clear my thinking and allow my to experience optimizm again (or at least alleviate the constant thoughts I experience that life is all about waiting for something bad to happen). It takes every bit of reason I have to get myself out of bed in the morning. Having to go to work gets me moving during the week, but on weekends, it is a struggle. I often get up to make coffe at noon and then quickly head back to bed for a nap after. It is as if I don't see a point to geting up and doing the things others do on weekends. They bring me down even further. I will repost after a few weeks for those who are interested or feel the same way. Best of luck to all of you!

I read alot of people just starting or stopping Anti Depresants are having side effects, I have been on every anti depressant known to man for the past 15 years and most have side effects in the begging but fade, One BIG lesson I learned about ten years ago, I was on a combination of 3 Anti Depressants and ran out, and I figured I could go a week without until I got my paycheck. Bad Idea, I got bad headaches for a week but the BIG problem came when I filled those scripts and took my full dose pills that day. I didn't sleep for 4 days and thought I was going to have a heart attack. the lesson for me was taper off when stopping and go slow starting.

It makes me feel like I wanna die. It's scary. I've never felt more like committing suicide. It prepares you for death. Takes the fight to live out of you.

I started prozac about 10 days ago. I was started on 10mg for 7 days ao the 8 day went up to 20 mg. At first I felt ok on the 10 mg.I still had a little break through depression, when I went up to 20mg the depression has got so much worse. I'm so tired of being depressed all the time

Hi just started taking 10mg of prozac for about 6 weeks,and yes I have diarrhea with it.Will it ever stop.Feeling pretty good besides that. Dr. want me to up to 20mg daily. Not so sure about that.Any help. thanks.
eviltwinmel

I started the lowest dose 10mg of prozac 3 1/2 weeks ago.I was very resistant to taking any meds, however my therapist really thought I needed it because I was depressed.The first week was rough however almost immediately I have seen a change.I feel like it has savaed my life!I walk around smiling and happy!I guess i didnt realize how depressed I was!Iam dealing with my 3 young children so much better, Iam not as aggitated as i was and it helped with my PMS.Sometimes my hands seem a little jittery & I do feel like my heart is racing but not all the time.Iam going to follow up with my doctor regarding this.

Prozac has changed my life in so many ways. I have suffered from depression, OCD, and anxiety since I was a child and I am almost 30. I do not know how I ever made it this far without this wonder drug!!! I have more energy, less anxiety, and my OCD is barely noticeable!!!!

I think it's amazing that they put us on DRUGS, to help with everything. But they don't look at the full problems. I was getting sicker not better with all the drugs they had me on. I wanted to have my life back I started researching other options and came across the Physicians Institute in Dallas TX, it's is amazing treatment they work on you at a cellular level. I am off all drugs and doing great, and my body is healthier to. They are still doing Clinical Research, I highly recommend it. Vital Frequency.com

I'd like to know if it's still OK to take prozac 80 mg. a day X 25 yrs. now ??? I'd like to get off this drug, but hear it'll be hard to do.
Thanks,

I have been on Prozac since 1990, it helped some but I stay depressed alot

I have been on Proac for over a year I have lost over 100lbs.

these are the strongest but now they dont work