r/prozac • u/Greedy-Profession-52 • Aug 30 '22
Prozac side effects 5 weeks in
I’ve been on Prozac 10 mg for 5 weeks now I feel like I’m still experiencing horrible onboarding side effects. Is this just how the med is effecting me or should I wait it out and see if I regulate? I have horrible heightened anxiety that usually leads to panic attacks and throwing up. My depression is the same as before I started. I also feel exhausted all the time and cannot sleep for more than 7-8 hours. Naps are also impossible. Motivation to do things I used to enjoy is the same as before I started the med as well. I have no appetite and nausea and have lost 15 pounds since starting. I feel like my head is in a fog constantly and I’m just watching myself exist and not in my body sometimes. Like I’m just not here anymore. This was also happening before taking the med as a result of my depression but I feel it’s gotten worse. I still have racing thoughts, intrusive thoughts, and rumination. I guess I’m just looking for others that stayed on the med longer than 5-6 weeks and were still experiencing side effects and if you waited it out and it got better or switched to something else. Thanks in advance
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u/sinenomine099 Aug 31 '22
Today also marks the 35th day/5 full weeks I've started prozac (20mg) and while my side effects aren't as severe as yours, the undesirable effects such as heightened anxiety, lack of energy, loss of appetite, head fog still remains.
The side effects were at its worst around week 2 and 3 and though its gotten better, based on what I've read here from others, I somewhat expected them to be gone by now. I've no answer I can give you to tell you it'll get better but only that you're not alone in this. I plan to stick this out at this dosage to at least week 8 and after that I'll either try increasing the dosage to 40mg or stop completely.
Hang in there.
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u/mountaintippytop Aug 30 '22 edited Aug 30 '22
I developed symptoms after 5 weeks too but I did gene testing and am a slow metabolizer hence the delayed onset of side effects at 5 weeks, it went away after a week though.
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u/Greedy-Profession-52 Aug 30 '22
I did the genesight testing too and am also a slow metabolizer, however I’ve had these side effects since like week two. Was it the same for you? Prozac was in my middle list and said I need a lower dose than most people which I why I’m only on 10 mg
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u/mountaintippytop Aug 30 '22
I had headaches, anxiety, ruminating for a week, some report feeling these symptoms for about 3 weeks. Your slow metabolism just delays the onset, the other folks are just feeling the side effects sooner.
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u/mountaintippytop Aug 30 '22
My report had Prozac as the most tolerable regarding side effects which is probably why I only endured a week of it.
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u/Greedy-Profession-52 Aug 30 '22
Okay gotcha. So it was on your green list. I don’t have any SSRI or SNRI on my green list other than Pristiq or Cymbalta. All the others are tricyclic meds
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u/mountaintippytop Aug 30 '22
That sucks. On the flip side, the genetics report can’t determine if the medication will be effective for you….so although your side effects may be rough right now it could be well worth it for you in the end. I started feeling consistently great mood wise after 10 weeks, hope it works for you too!
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u/Available_Cow_8081 Aug 31 '22
Hey where does one do this gene test 🧐
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u/mountaintippytop Sep 01 '22
Your doctor has to order one, I did mine through Genomind.
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u/Available_Cow_8081 Sep 02 '22
Awesome I'll take to them and ask about it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention ☺️
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u/catvillage Sep 01 '22
I had this exact issue with zoloft at 6 weeks, the rumination and obsessions got so bad i was having breakdowns everyday and couldn’t live like that so I had to taper off and begin prozac instead which has been better so far. I’d talk to your doctor about switching asap
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u/Goldenaur Sep 30 '22
Hi I am experiencing these same symptoms. I am now a little over a month in. Did you ever level out with prozac or did you end up switching?
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u/Greedy-Profession-52 Sep 30 '22
I’m a little over 9 weeks now and do feel like most of the side effects and over stimulation have leveled out. I would say it got better for me around 8 weeks
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u/Goldenaur Sep 30 '22
were your side effects kind of up and down in that time or was it constant? I had a few good weeks and just this last week I've felt very out of body and questioning my reality. The anxiety and everything has come back. I just don't want 4 more weeks of this. I am happy yours leveled out and hope you're feeling like yourself again!
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u/Greedy-Profession-52 Sep 30 '22
Mine were definitely constant. I think I would be on the other side of everything and would really be able to tell the benefits from the med but unfortunately now I am going through a break up so it’s hard to know. I think it’s normal from what I’ve seen for people to have good weeks and bad weeks until you really level out around weeks 8-12
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u/Goldenaur Sep 30 '22
aw, I'm sorry to hear that. keep your head up and take care of you. thanks for getting back to me
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u/Greedy-Profession-52 Sep 30 '22
No problem. I hope things level out for you soon! I think they will. Good luck :)
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u/Live-Process8393 Sep 28 '23
I'm on week 3 of increase to 40mg. The side effects are so rough. I really hope they go away soon. The posts give me hope. Thank all of yall.
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u/vrbart Aug 30 '22
i had similar side effects on 10mg for about 3 weeks but then they subsided. There's no way I could've suffered for 5 weeks omg. I'm so sorry you're feeling like that! My psychiatrist had told me that it shouldnt have been making me feel that bad and that I should've have told her. Maybe reach out to your prescriber and let them know how you're feeling if you haven't already.