Does anybody take Prozac?

Question

I'm going to be taking Prozac soon and I havent had time to ask my psychiatrist the whole 411 about the drug. Can somebody provide some first hand experience please? I'm really nervous. Did you gain weight or lose weight? Any withdrawls? ANything you can say woould be really helpful.

Answer 1

I have been taking Prozac for several years, together with another medication for bipolar disorder. I did not notice any adverse side effects. Weight gain was more from the other medication rather than Prozac.

Don't believe there are any withdrawal symptoms either. Just give your feedback about how you feel to your doctor regularly. When you are feeling sufficiently well and less depressed, the doctor can gradually reduce the dosage and either put you on a low maintenance dose or wean you off the medication completely.

All the best care and take care!

Answer 2

I take a low dosage of Prozac on top of other medications, my experience with it has been very positive. I had no changes in weight, and the side effects were only really troublesome for the first few days when I started the medicine. The two most common side effects I experienced were agitation (restless, can't settle down) and if I took it too late in the day it would keep me up at night. I still take the Prozac today, it's been about a year or so now, I've missed dosages, I've run out for several days at a time, I never had any withdrawl symptoms. I was afraid to try Prozac too, as I had heard plenty of bad things about it and was under the impression that it was an archaic drug, but I it turned out ok. Good luck.

Answer 3

I'm taking Zoloft right now, since it treats many of the same things as Prozac, maybe I can help at least a little.
Zoloft has worked very well for me with only one side effect (that wasn't even mentioned on the bottle) - my weight fluctuated rather dramatically at first. I had a week that I diligently exercised and ate right and gained several pounds, then I'd have a week where I'd pig out and veg and I'd lose weight! Otherwise, it has helped me.

Answer 4

I have taken prozac for some time now. Have had no adverse reactions to it. Hard to say how helpful it has been for me, because I take a low dose, and I take it with a combination of other meds. I know the combination has been helpful, but I wish I could tell you just how much the prozac has helped. I would certainly give it a try if I were you. Good luck.

Answer 5

prozac can be a wonderful medication...may make you sleepy..my friend didn't gain weight but it may happen...withdrawals can be avoided with most of these drugs by reducing the dosage slowly..no cold turkey please..it provided my friend with great relief for his depression and axniety and gave hs life back to him..purchase a copy of the Pill Book..or go on line to the Physicians Desk Reference...google it...both will tell you all you need to know about medications...good luck and feel better soon!

Answer 6

I did not gain or lose weight and there were no side effects but as with all drugs of that class, you should not go off of it cold, when I took it, it really helped. Follow the directions you should do well

Answer 7

Ive never taken it but here is some info:

Prozac is prescribed for the treatment of depression--that is, a continuing depression that interferes with daily functioning. The symptoms of major depression often include changes in appetite, sleep habits, and mind/body coordination; decreased sex drive; increased fatigue; feelings of guilt or worthlessness; difficulty concentrating; slowed thinking; and suicidal thoughts.

Prozac is also prescribed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. An obsession is a thought that won't go away; a compulsion is an action done over and over to relieve anxiety. The drug is also used in the treatment of bulimia (binge-eating followed by deliberate vomiting). It has also been used to treat other eating disorders and obesity.

In addition, Prozac is used to treat panic disorder, including panic associated with agoraphobia (a severe fear of being in crowds or public places). People with panic disorder usually suffer from panic attacks--feelings of intense fear that develop suddenly, often for no reason. Various symptoms occur during the attacks, including a rapid or pounding heartbeat, chest pain, sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath.

In children and adolescents, Prozac is used to treat major depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Under the brand name Sarafem, the active ingredient in Prozac is also prescribed for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), formerly known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms of PMDD include mood problems such as anxiety, depression, irritability or persistent anger, mood swings, and tension. Physical problems that accompany PMDD include bloating, breast tenderness, headache, and joint and muscle pain. Symptoms typically begin 1 to 2 weeks before a woman's menstrual period and are severe enough to interfere with day-to-day activities and relationships.

Prozac is a member of the family of drugs called "selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors." Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers believed to govern moods. Ordinarily, it is quickly reabsorbed after its release at the junctures between nerves. Re-uptake inhibitors such as Prozac slow this process, thereby boosting the levels of serotonin available in the brain.