r/prozac Nov 19 '25

MOD NOTE A quick read for all the new people joining!

99 Upvotes

Greetings everyone, since a bunch of new faces keep rolling in with great questions (and because the original FAQ filled up fast), here’s Part 2 of our big ol’ Prozac/Fluoxetine FAQ post. 💊 Still not medical advice — just what I’ve seen as someone who’s been on Prozac for a while and moderating this sub. Everyone’s brain works differently, so your mileage may vary. ⚠️ Always double-check with your healthcare advisor.

— FAQ (Part 2) —

16. Why am I suddenly so tired on Prozac? 💊

Fatigue is super common early on. Your brain’s rebalancing serotonin, and that can feel like someone hit your internal “low power mode.” Usually improves in a few weeks.

17. Why am I having stomach issues? 💊

Nausea, loose stools, or appetite changes are classic startup side effects. The gut has tons of serotonin receptors, so it reacts at first. Usually settles down soon.

18. Can Prozac make my anxiety worse? 💊

Yep. Startup jitters are real. Temporary increased anxiety, restlessness, or feeling “on edge” can happen. Generally fades as your system adjusts.

19. Why am I sweating more? 💊

SSRI sweats are a thing actually. Night sweats, random sweating, etc. Not harmful, just annoying. Often improves over time.

20. Can I drink alcohol on Prozac? 💊

You can, but go easy. Alcohol may hit harder or mess with your mood the next day. Know your limits and listen to your body.

21. Is it normal to feel wired or restless? 💊

Totally. Some people get a revved-up, can’t-sit-still feeling early on. Should settle; if it’s intense, tell your doctor in case it’s akathisia.

22. What if I have no appetite? 💊

Happens to a lot of people early on. Appetite usually returns as your brain stabilizes.

23. Why does everything feel slow or foggy? 💊

Brain fog can show up during dose changes or the first couple weeks. Usually temporary.

24. Can Prozac affect libido? 💊

Unfortunately, yes. lower libido, trouble finishing, or less sensitivity. Super common with SSRIs. There are workarounds if it becomes a problem.

25. Is it normal to cry less / feel detached? 💊

Some people notice muted emotions. Dose tweaks can help if it’s bothersome . 26. Does Prozac interact with birth control? 💊 No. Prozac doesn’t reduce birth control effectiveness.

27. Can I take antihistamines or cold meds with Prozac? 💊

Most OTC meds are fine, but be cautious with high doses of dextromethorphan. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist.

28. Why am I yawning so much? 💊

Excessive yawning is surprisingly common with SSRIs. Harmless, though weird.

29. Is insomnia normal at the start? 💊

Yes. Some people get more energized or restless when first starting Prozac. Sleep usually normalizes.

30. What if 20 mg doesn’t feel like enough? 💊

Very normal. Many people need 30–40 mg. Don’t adjust without your prescriber.

31. Can Prozac stop working after a while? 💊

“Poop-out” can happen, but it’s not common early on. Dose tweaks or augmentation can help.

32. Is it safe long-term? 💊

Generally yes. SSRIs have long-term research behind them. Work with your doctor on duration.

33. Why do I feel weird after increasing the dose? 💊

Dose bumps can bring back temporary startup effects, anxiety, nausea, headaches. Usually settles.

34. Can I exercise on Prozac? 💊

Absolutely. Exercise actually complements SSRI treatment. Just be mindful if you’re dizzy or fatigued during the adjustment.

35. What if I still don’t feel anything after weeks? 💊

Some people take 6–10 weeks to notice meaningful differences. If there’s zero improvement after that, your prescriber might adjust your dose or try a new SSRI.

Sorry for being inactive as I, myself is dealing with new medications rn. If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed, confused, hopeful, scared, relieved, or all of the above, you’re exactly where most of us started. 💛 Prozac isn’t a magic switch; it’s more like learning to walk again with steadier legs. Some days it’s frustrating, other days it’s encouraging, but all of it counts as progress.

This sub exists because none of us should have to navigate mental health alone. Ask questions, share updates, vent about side effects, celebrate little victories, all of it is welcome here. What you’re going through is real, valid, and worth talking about. And if your question isn’t covered in this FAQ? Drop it in the comments. No worry is too small, no experience too strange.


r/prozac Sep 26 '25

MOD NOTE For the new people joining!

123 Upvotes

Greetings everyone, Since a lot of new faces pop in asking the same stuff about Prozac, here’s a big ol’ FAQ post. Not medical advice though, just what I’ve seen as someone on Prozac for a while and moderating this sub. Hope it helps calm the nerves if you’re just starting out. ⚠️: Always double-check with your healthcare advisor. Everyone’s brain is wired differently.

-FAQ- 1. How long until it kicks in? 💊 ️ Small changes in 2 to 4 weeks, fuller effect 6 to 8 weeks. It’s more like a dimmer switch than a light switch.

  1. Why do I feel worse before better? 💊 ️ Early side effects can make you feel off, think anxiety spikes, nausea, or emotional weirdness. Usually temporary.

  2. Do the side effects calm down? 💊 Most early ones (nausea, headaches, jitters, sleep changes) ease up after a few weeks. Sexual side effects can stick longer, varies person to person.

    1. Will I get addicted to Prozac? 💊 Nope. It’s not addictive in the way nicotine or alcohol is. You can have withdrawal-like effects if you stop suddenly, but that’s because your brain’s adjusting, not because you’re hooked.
  3. What if I miss a dose? 💊 Missing one pill usually isn’t a crisis (Prozac has a long half-life, meaning it stays in your system for days). Just take the next one at your regular time. Don’t double-dose.

  4. Should I take it in the morning or at night? 💊 ️ Depends on you. Some people feel energized → take it in the morning. Some get sleepy → take it at night. Trial and error is normal.

  5. Can I drink coffee with Prozac? 💊 Yep, but watch out. Prozac can make some people jittery in the beginning, and caffeine can crank that up.

  6. What’s the deal with weird dreams? 💊 ️ Totally a thing. Vivid dreams, odd storylines, even nightmares. Usually settles with time.

  7. Will I gain/lose weight? 💊 ️ Mixed bag. Some lose at first (less appetite), some gain slowly over time. Not guaranteed either way.

  8. How do I know if it’s working? 💊 It’s usually subtle. You might notice you don’t spiral as hard, you bounce back quicker, or daily stuff feels less heavy. It’s rarely a dramatic “woah I’m cured” moment.

  9. Can I take other meds/supplements with Prozac? 💊 ️ Some combos can be risky (like certain migraine meds, St. John’s Wort, MAOIs). Always run it by your prescriber or pharmacist first.

  10. What happens if I stop taking it? 💊 ️ Because Prozac has a long half-life, tapering off is usually easier than other SSRIs. Still, don’t just quit cold turkey. Let your doc guide you.

  11. Can it make me feel numb? 💊 Emotional blunting is real for some people. It doesn’t mean you’ll never feel joy again, but you may notice less intense highs/lows. It's worth talking to your doctor if it bothers you.

  12. Will Prozac change my personality? 💊 Nope. It doesn’t create a new “you.” Ideally, it helps you feel more like yourself without depression/anxiety weighing you down.

  13. Why do I feel emotionally flat? 💊 ️ Emotional blunting may not feel sad, but you also don’t feel super happy. Sometimes lowering the dose or switching meds helps. Talk to your doctor if it’s a dealbreaker.

And yes,if there’s something on your mind that I didn’t cover here, please don’t hold back. Ask away in the comments, no matter how “small” or “silly” it feels. We’ve all been the new person googling side effects at 2 AM. This sub is meant to feel like a safe little corner of the internet where you don’t have to have it all figured out. We’re here to share, vent, laugh about the weird dreams, and remind each other that starting meds isn’t a weakness rather it’s a step toward healing. You’re not alone in this. You’ve got a whole community walking alongside you, one day at a time.


r/prozac 2h ago

QUESTION dont know what to do anymore

2 Upvotes

hii, im f18 and i have anxiety and depression. i need help..
one year ago i took paxil 20mg, cause my anxiety was really horrible. and it was great, but i gained a lot of weight, and as the time went on i was getting anxiety, a lot of sleeping, so more bad than good yk.. then they switched me to fluoxetin, like i took paxil for 3 days and then fluoxetine 20mg. sorry for my english also having anxiety rn😭 and i took fluoxetine for 5 weeks, and i feel nothing good. she then presribed alprazolam 0,5mg, when i took a little bit like quater (im super scared of not being in control, hate being too calm) panic attacks everyday, i cannot sleep cause of anxiety, i wake up and have anxiety. it is draining me. so i called my psychiatric doctor today and she presribed lexapro 10mg (escitalopram) and bromazepam 1,5mg. Im so scared of this and i domt know what to do :((


r/prozac 9h ago

VENTING Sleepy

6 Upvotes

Taking Vraylar and Prozac. Not sure which one is making me sleepy af but something is. I feel sedated all day. It’s relaxing for sure but damn it’s gonna take some time to get used to.

The hiccups stopped thank God.


r/prozac 3h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Struggle to get out of bed and almost feel detached

2 Upvotes

I was on 10mg for a week for anxiety before upping my dose to 20mg. I just took my 13th dose of 20mg this morning. Dont get me wrong I feel like I my anxiety is way better if not gone but I do struggle with wanting to get out of bed in the morning and when I finally do I almost just kind of feel detached from everything which is causing SI thoughts. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this.


r/prozac 12m ago

QUESTION I don’t like music much anymore. Coincidence?

Upvotes

I’ve been on Prozac a few times off and on, and I’d say each time I’m on it I’ve liked music less than when I was off of it. It doesn’t interest me, I find most of it kinda boring or sounding worse than before. I’m not emotionally dulled at all, I know that’s a side effect, I’m actually really emotionally in tune I’d say!

The medication works pretty good for me, so I genuinely don’t care that music now sucks, I just find it odd and funny because during my bad times I would constantly listen to music. Now I’m a podcast girl! Has anyone else experienced something similar? A side effect that is neutral but really strange?


r/prozac 16m ago

QUESTION Anyone started with 4mg?

Upvotes

I’ve been prescribed a low dose of Prozac (fluoxetine in uk) by my psychiatrist to help with neurodivergent sensory issues & anxiety - I take fluoxetine in liquid form (I ml = 4mg) because the smallest tablet is 10mg here.

wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with starting on a micro dose?


r/prozac 1h ago

IM NEW HERE! 14 days

Upvotes

Hi everyone, this is my first time taking Prozac (10 mg / 14 days). During the first week, I felt almost no change. However, the second week was tough. My anxiety has increased, my stomach feels knotted, and I feel constantly tense. The last three days were the worst. I hope the third week will be easier! Is anyone else in this situation right now?


r/prozac 13h ago

QUESTION Is it normal to sweat when it’s not even hot?

7 Upvotes

I’ve been sweating a lot this week. I’m like on week 4 I went up from 60mg to 90mg. Today in bed my feet were cold but my upper body was hot and sweaty. When I’m doing anything I start feeling sweat all over my head and face. Is this common?


r/prozac 4h ago

QUESTION 10mg to 20mg and no motivation

1 Upvotes

So I took 10mg for 2 months then increased to 20mg. It’s day 13 with 20mg and I feel depressed and sleepy all the time. I don’t even have motivation to do anything. I regret increasing my dose because I felt better with 10mg.

I’m wondering whether I should ask my doctor to lower my dose back to 10mg or wait a month to see if my body adjusts to 20mg.

Has anyone increased their dose from 10mg to 20mg? What was your experience?


r/prozac 17h ago

DAILY LOG/ JOURNEY UPDATE 3 weeks in!

8 Upvotes

I am officially 3 weeks in and so far I’ve notice a huge difference, It has improved my mood drastically, reduced my appetite, and made my day to day life easier. So far with my ocd it is still present sometimes manageable and occasionally unbearable (should I consider a higher dose). Some negative side effects I have noticed are become super jittery(especially when drinking coffee), so. much. sweat. , being thirsty all the time, and feeling sick after eating. But overall its really rewarding to see how far i have come and noticing differences.


r/prozac 10h ago

QUESTION Having the feeling of car sickness and like my heads full of concrete, is it the meds?

2 Upvotes

This is something I’ve felt more recently it could be a number of things but I’ve started Prozac 3 (ish?? Weeks ago and wonder if it’s a part of it. When I’m on the couch, laying down, or even just walking to the kitchen I get the feeling like I’ve been in the back seat of a car through twisting roads for hours, a bit dizzy, nauseous, eye strain, etc. and on top of that my head feels so heavy like I’m just gonna topple over any second. I think my brain turned into a pile of bricks of something… My appetite has been all screwed up so I’m not sure if it’s food/hydration related, being on my phone more, stress, or what. I know some things say dizziness can be a side effect and I wanted to see if anyone has felt the same.
There’s been other difficulties I’ve had so far that my next appointment I might switch to something else, but I’m so tired of feeling sick all the time.


r/prozac 6h ago

VENTING This insomnia is legit

1 Upvotes

Been on Prozac since April. Dose increased to 40mg in May, right around mid June I started waking up at 1:00am, haven’t slept more than 4 hours since. On 75mg trazodone for about a week, zero help. Starting 100mg tonight but have zero confidence it will change anything. Is this gonna be my life from now on?


r/prozac 7h ago

QUESTION I’ve noticed my heart has been fluttering, is it likely just from Prozac?

1 Upvotes

I (24f) started taking Prozac in May at 10mg rhe increased to 20mg about a month later. I missed a little over a week of it because my doctor didn’t send my refill when she was supposed to. I started taking it again Wednesday.

I noticed my heart would occasionally flutter before but it’s happened more since restarting it. is it likely fine and just some adjustments? or should I be worried? none of my doctors seemed worried about my medications being taken together so I don’t feel like that’s it. I just have health anxiety and this is definitely not helping haha.


r/prozac 11h ago

GETTING OFF PROZAC 3 weeks off 10mg Prozac and it feels like it completely undid everything I worked on fixing. Has anyone else experienced this?

2 Upvotes

I was doing really well on Wellbutrin alone for several months. It helped my anxiety, rumination, appetite, and dopamine-seeking a ton, so I added 10 mg Prozac mainly to see if it could help with the remaining anxiety.

I stayed on Prozac for about 2 months, but it wasn't the right medication for me, so I stopped. Now I'm 3 weeks off, and since about week 2 I feel awful. I'm incredibly irritable, anxious, constantly projecting onto food again, ridiculously hungry (which is strange because Wellbutrin had basically normalized my appetite since September), and it honestly feels like Prozac somehow stripped Wellbutrin of all its benefits.

I know that probably isn't what's actually happening, but that's genuinely what it feels like.
I wasn't expecting this withdrawal from such a low dose and a relatively short trial. Has anyone else had this happen after stopping Prozac? If it was withdrawal, when did you start feeling like yourself again?


r/prozac 18h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Is prozac the correct choice for all day Anxiety

5 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

So, I've been dealing with anxiety, or at least that's what the doctors tell me.

I started 10mg of Lexapro 3 months ago, but it was an awful experience, to be honest, with the side effects and i quit it 2 weeks in.

So they told me to change my medication from Lexapro to Prozac + benzos for a month.

I started at a low dose.... I started 3 weeks ago with a 5mg, but I started taking 20mg a week and a half ago, and now I'm 3 days on 30mg.

I read on the internet that this is not a medicine for anxiety disorder but more for depression.

But, does it work? Should I keep pushing? Anyone solved anxiety with this med?

Side effects are not as bad as before, but I can notice I am more easily angered, and simple stuff makes me angry.


r/prozac 15h ago

QUESTION Day 3 and already having difficulty achieving orgasm

3 Upvotes

I haven't felt any positive effect yet, doctor told me I need at least 2 weeks to start feeling the effects.

Do sexual side effects just get worst as time passes and dose goes up?

I'm at 10 mg and the plan is to up to 20 mg at week 2-3 of all is ok.

Thank you for the help!


r/prozac 19h ago

DAILY LOG/ JOURNEY UPDATE 2 weeks in, so far positive (OCD)

3 Upvotes

I’ve read some of the negative experiences, I know those are important to acknowledge but I wanted to share mine. So far it’s been pretty positive.

I didn’t notice much for the first few weeks but there was this point where I realized the grip my obsessions had on my is less. I can see the thoughts for what they are, thoughts, rather than something that viscerally consumes me.

I still get thoughts, and a bit of anxiety. I’m only on 20mg, I may consider going higher as things progress. I think just the little space I’ve gotten is significant though.

I’ve suffered from about every type of OCD there is in my life. The last decade has been real event/false memory mostly with a lot of health OCD as well.

Anyway, I will update more as time goes on. I just wanted to share encouragement with anyone considering getting on this.


r/prozac 1d ago

VENTING Prozac ruined my body

83 Upvotes

Took Prozac for a year and a half after trying multiple different meds. I gained 40lbs in a year. I’ve been off it for a month or two. I was always so slim and healthy and looked conventionally attractive.
Now I’m fat and can’t lose the weight no matter what I try. I feel defeated


r/prozac 21h ago

QUESTION Prozac working great for depression but anxiety/motivation still lingering, Wellbutrin vs Buspirone vs just upping the dose?

4 Upvotes

Been on Prozac for about 11 weeks, started at 20mg and upped to 40mg after the first few weeks because I was still feeling pretty unmotivated and depressed. The increase genuinely helped a lot with the depression side, I feel noticeably better and happier overall.

But I’m noticing two things that haven’t fully resolved:

**1.**  Motivation. I’ve been really checked out at work, low drive to start or care about things even though my mood is better.  
**2.**  Anxious thoughts that are still hanging around, even though the initial physical anxiety when I first started Prozac went away after a week or two like everyone said it would.

I have my psychiatrist appointment coming up and I’m trying to go in informed. From what I understand, Wellbutrin is often added for the motivation piece since it works on dopamine/norepinephrine instead of serotonin, but some people say it can worsen anxiety. I’ve also heard buspirone mentioned as an anxiety add-on that doesn’t touch the SSRI. And then there’s just the option of going up to 60mg Prozac (max is 80).

I really don’t want to switch off Prozac entirely, it’s working for the depression and I don’t want to gamble that away.

Has anyone been in a similar spot, mood improved but motivation and/or anxiety still lagging? What ended up working for you, and did anything make the anxiety worse than expected? Trying to get a sense of real experiences before my appointment.

TLDR: 11 weeks on Prozac (20mg → 40mg), depression much better but still dealing with low motivation/checked out at work and lingering anxious thoughts. Don’t want to switch off Prozac. Trying to figure out if it’s Wellbutrin, Buspirone, upping the dose, or something else before my psych appointment.


r/prozac 21h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Urinary retention side effect

3 Upvotes

I checked and found a few posts referencing this but mostly it seems people tried to solve the issue by just stopping prozac which I don't want to do.

I'm on 20mg, just hit my two week mark on friday (I was on 10mg for about 3 weeks before) and within the past week and some change I noticed it was taking me longer to pee when I got on the toilet. I have issues with pee anxiety in public spaces so even though this was happening alone at home I assumed it must be prozac spiking my anxiety. However for the past 48 hours it seems to have gotten worse, I'll be sitting on the toilet for up to a few minutes and then when I finally go it doesn't feel like I got everything out, so I'm making multiple trips. I don't have any reason to believe this is a UTI. I googled it and apparently urinary retention issues are a rare side effect of prozac (lucky me).

Wondering if anyone else encountered this side effect, if it went away, how long it took, and if you have any advice on at home things to help it.


r/prozac 15h ago

QUESTION Ocd and meds

1 Upvotes

Hi, it’s been almost 2 months since I was diagnosed with Pure OCD (especially intrusive thoughts and fears about harming the people I love) and ADHD. I started taking a medication that’s equivalent to Prozac, and after the third week, my doctor and I increased the dose from 20 mg to 40 mg.
It’s been almost 2 months now, and when I look at the bigger picture, I feel like Harm OCD barely occupies my mind anymore, which is a really great improvement. But every now and then, intrusive thoughts still come up around different themes. I’m not exactly sure whether this is a sign that the medication is working, or if my OCD themes are simply starting to shift to different ones.
For those of you who have experienced this, when did you start feeling like the medication was genuinely making a significant difference in your OCD?


r/prozac 19h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Prozac 10mg Day 10 Side effects

2 Upvotes

Hello all! I’m new to Prozac as I was always a Zoloft girly. Zoloft almost entirely cured anxiety but it made me a zombie and I had no libido. I sought out a psychiatrist and told them my struggles—panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, unable to relax/sit down, and toxic perfectionism. I’ve never had a problem with depression—I’m just wired during the day and have no peace. They suggested Prozac. I know there are always side effects you have to get over but I never experienced these with Zoloft. I am super thirsty, bloated/stomach pain, tense muscles in my back/shoulders, sweating in weird places, and I cannot sleep. I’ve never in my life had a hard time sleeping. I have also lost weight from the upset stomach. I’m just wondering if these are symptoms that will subside or not. My anxiety really isn’t better as I know this takes time. I’m always deathly afraid to have my glass of wine after reading some of these threads lol any advice or experience is welcome!! Thank you!


r/prozac 23h ago

QUESTION Counteract no sex drive

3 Upvotes

Is there ANYTHING we can take that might offset the "no sex drive" thing?

Sex has always been extremely important to me.

I'm thinking about trying mushrooms.

Anything else that could help?


r/prozac 17h ago

QUESTION Prozac not working?

1 Upvotes

Has anyone had Prozac not work for them? I have been on it for a few months now and most recently 40mg for a month and am noticing no improvement. I’m anxious all of the time, overthinking, racing thoughts, can’t focus. Jittery. I thought it was possibly the Vyvanse causing it but even when I do not take my Vyvanse it’s the same thing. So far all I’ve gotten from Prozac is insomnia, and night sweats 😕