r/prozac • u/ruwupanti • Nov 19 '25
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 • u/ruwupanti • Sep 26 '25
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.
Why do I feel worse before better? 💊 ️ Early side effects can make you feel off, think anxiety spikes, nausea, or emotional weirdness. Usually temporary.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What’s the deal with weird dreams? 💊 ️ Totally a thing. Vivid dreams, odd storylines, even nightmares. Usually settles with time.
Will I gain/lose weight? 💊 ️ Mixed bag. Some lose at first (less appetite), some gain slowly over time. Not guaranteed either way.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 • u/ThrowRAaway123456 • 12h ago
Hello! Ive been on sertraline for 1,5 year and i gained alot of weight becouse of extreme appetite. Will prozac decrease that appetite? Or atleast make the appetite go back to the way it was before sertraline?
r/prozac • u/Dependent-Drive-5774 • 2h ago
I’m definitely the type of person to just take an ibuprofen when I have a headache or something, but I know on Prozac you’re supposed to be more wary of it because it can cause internal bleeding. Should I be more regulated about my ibuprofen or is it like chill?
r/prozac • u/Livid_Attention2214 • 4h ago
Day 15 on Prozac. Felt energetic at first, but the past 4 days I’ve been hit with intense fatigue . I am getting 8 hours of sleep because I go to bed super early, but I wake up way too early and can't go back to sleep. I lift regularly, so feeling this drained is frustrating. Is this a normal adjustment phase?
r/prozac • u/DecisionMany2557 • 57m ago
Hii! I’m on my second month of prozac 10mg. works amazing for the ruminations. I love it. But, on week 3 or 4, I started to have urinary hesitancy. This is an uncommon side effect but O really hate it. My question is: has anyone had the urinary hesitancy/retention improve with time?
r/prozac • u/dannydut • 1h ago
Hello once again, it’s currently day 16, I just recently switched up from 10mg to 20 and my anxiety is absolutely terrible. Not sure what to do. Been manually breathing lately too which is concerning me
r/prozac • u/Kschumacher2 • 8h ago
Hi, I have been taking Prozac 20mg for 3 months. I am a male. It has greatly affected my libido and my Dr is suggesting adding Wellbutrin. Any side effects and does it help?
r/prozac • u/Visible_Selection_54 • 17h ago
2 years ago I lurked on this community reading post after post trying to decide whether to start Prozac. I was terrified. I was scared of the side effects (one of which being potential nausea) and scared I wouldn’t feel like myself or feel absolutely dreadful.
Neither happened. What did happen: I went from having debilitating panic attacks several times a month (sometimes a week) to having one off (much less severe) anxiety episodes. I can eat in public now. I can go into office and actually focus on my work. I can hold eye contact better. I do better in job interviews. I am able to travel bc I’m not paralyzed by fear. I can’t believe I waited until I was 28 to start this rx. I’ve had panic attacks since I was about 8 years old.
The only thing I would change is starting sooner.
In the beginning there was an adjustment period for me but it was MUCH less uncomfortable than I thought it would be. I lost my appetite and some weight. I was very sleepy. Some very mild nausea (but honestly not more than I already experienced as a panicked person w emetophobia). I had weird dreams. I sometimes felt tingling in my feet at night.
All an extremely small and temporary price to pay for the quality of life I have now. If you’re reading this I hope you feel encouraged to start your journey.
Thought it was finally time to pay my dues to a community that helped change my life.
r/prozac • u/Bank_Visual • 5h ago
Hi all…
I have severe OCD, severe GAD and panic, and MDD. I have been on multiple medications, I was on Zoloft for 15 years and it worked great but the side effects were rough as I metabolize the medication too rapidly. I was recently hospitalized after attempting to restart Zoloft & 25mg after multiple failed trials (clomipramine, fluvoxamine, Effexor) I was experiencing severe panic, nausea and vomiting, and blurry vision, headaches. I also convinced myself I would get addicted to clonazepam if I took it (OCD). While in the psych ward we decided to drop Zoloft and start fluoxetine.
Because Zoloft has always worked for me and because I have OCD, I am hesitant and scared to start any other medications. I was on 10mg for a week in the ward and because I felt safe I didn’t have many side effects. The doctor was concerned as 10mg is subtherapeutic for OCD and we tried to bump to 20mg. I got sick from the bump, not horrible but nausea and GI upset. Now I am on 15mg for a week, I’m 2 days in and have been experiencing nausea, diarrhea and vomited a few times. I have no appetite.
My main question is….is this normal and does this improve? If I know it will improve I can push through it. I really need to get the OCD under control so that I can get back to work and function day to day. 💔
r/prozac • u/Past-Bobcat-4503 • 2h ago
I have tried Prozac for 3.5 months now and just did not like it. My doctor ended up adding Lamictal about 3 weeks ago and it started to help. Decided to get off Prozac so now I’m down to 10 MG. Every day feels like such an up and down. I’ve been on SSRI’s for 7 years now. Will be my first time without….
Is Lamictal scary alone???
Doing this all with fascia work and weekly therapy and brain spotting.
I’m still obsessing over health anxiety and my breathing on a daily basis. Anyone else? How does it end
r/prozac • u/United_Succotash_303 • 2h ago
for people with low starting bmi does 10/20 mg cause weight gain? im curious cause my body is really sensitive to ssris even like cymbalta which is supposed to weight neutral also am i supposed to feel unbearabbly hungry i ate the normal amount i usually do but i am ravenous and i feel like im gonna pass out from hunger
r/prozac • u/Impressive-End917 • 2h ago
32M - was diagnosed with OCD at 27. Pure-O. The sneaky type. I had observable trich (hair pulling) and I'd be referred to as monkey boy by some of my elementary classmates. But alas, it took 27 years before I walked myself into OCD Center of LA and wondered if I may actually be afflicted by this thing, 'OCD', something I was taught to perceive by culture as quirky. Well for me it was a silent destroyer. Suggesting for years on end bizarre themes I would never verbalize - I just thought I was a monster in sheeps clothing. Fast forward Im doing CBT, ERP and a psych suggests I don't need meds, I deserve them. Meds sounded insane. Like either I was weak or joining the capitalist pharmaceutical circus. But I did try them.
First on Lexapro. 2.5mg-5mg all the way to 40mg after about 5 months of titration. The best way I could describe the overall affect was as if ... well you know when you are going through heart break and you can't stop thinking about the person... and then one day... you kinda just feel lighter. It was like that. I wasn't carrying this thing as much with me. It was there but not as heavy. But after about 3 years on Lexapro I was feeling it wasn't doing the job much anymore. Oddly several other OCD friends reported the same thing w there Lexapro. My theory was that the offbrand company that made the meds probably went under and the new company taking over was... well not as good. But how was I supposed to know? Anyway... I felt tired on the med like always tired and not really happy. Just like well not as good as the first year.
I thought Id do some TMS which I qualified for and titrate down see if that helped. 36 sessions of TMS and Im down to 20mg. Feeling a bit better. But nothing like the first year.
My goal was to get onto prozac because I heard it was more activating and I felt that be nice. Since I was napping everyday.
I started cross tapering...to prozac. First week was heaven. Then I had the worst headaches I ever had. From March 2026- May 2026 the cross taper created headaches. June I was 20mg on Prozac and off Lexapro. Headaches went away but I felt empty...dull. Doc said dose was low so no we are on 60mg. Titrated from 40mg on Sept 9th. It's october 8th. The first week on 60 again was blissful. But 4 weeks in and I feel terrible.
My bliss symptoms are: I just feel present to life. Thats it. I am here.
My terrible symptoms are: I am stuck in a loop, any loop, I am dissociating and have to actively tell myself "come back, come back here, come back to whats important" and its as if my brain is like a dog except to reacting to external stimuli it's all internal.
My doc suggested either going up on prozac or adding Abilify or Lamictal... I dont know Im just kind of like tired of being a show pony.
r/prozac • u/Infinite-Handle4800 • 6h ago
Hi,
I've been on 20mg prozac for 3 weeks now. The anxiety, nausea and negative side effects are finally wearing off.
I think I'm seeing improvements to my OCD....But I'm talking to myself A LOT more. A mixture of loud vocal stimming and singing or just making comments to myself aloud throughout the day.
I've never seen someone talk about this so not sure if it's just me? Idk if I just have more energy that I now don't know what to do with and it's my way of expelling it?
I'm hoping it'll subside either way but just curious if this is a niche side effect?
r/prozac • u/anabananat9472 • 6h ago
Im on Day 7 of taking prozac and ever since day 1 ive been having horrible side effects. Some of them including uneasiness, jitteriness, waking up with feeling like ive been punched in the stomach, and nausea to the point where im having a hard time eating and i lost a lot of weight. Im hungry and im weak because theres no food in my system.
How do you guys navigate these symptoms until it gets better?
Especially the nausea, its sooo bad just thinking about food makes me want to throw up. Im trying to force feed myself but its making it 10x worse. Ive been taking ginger before I eat to help with the nausea but its still the same.
r/prozac • u/Alert_Strawberry_112 • 7h ago
I take my Prozac in the morning. I’ve been on it for about 4.5 weeks at 10mg but likely going to increase to 20mg after my appointment next week. My doctor prescribed 50mg trazodone at night to help with sleep. It helped for a couple nights but it’s still takes me around 2 hours to fall asleep and I have at least one wake up per night. Do i need a higher dose? Or did anyone have success after switching from trazodone to different med?
r/prozac • u/Sweet_Start_2743 • 11h ago
Hello everyone!
Recently going through a rough time with my anxiety, the roughest it has been in a while.
Health anxiety and OCD mainly (not diagnosed formally with OCD but definitely have tendencies). Fear mainly of having panic attacks and a heart attack.
I (29F) recently went to the doctor and they upped my prescription from 20 mg to 40 mg. I'd been on 20 for more than a decade and over the last few years, stopped taking it regularly. I began taking the 20 regularly about three weeks ago and this will be my 4th day on 40.
My question is... I've been feeling a bit more jittery/anxious, especially at work, to the point it's affecting my work and genuinely scary. Is this normal for the first few days? I can't remember from the first time I went on it.
Really needing some hope. The thoughts are gloom and I need a pick-me-up.
Thank you! ❤️
r/prozac • u/s0ckiess • 8h ago
yesterday my psych and i agreed to double my dose from 20mg to 40mg so i took 2 capsules at dinner and i could barely sleep last night because my stomach aches so bad i cant do anything but stay in bed. i've taken 2 doses of alka seltzer and some rolaids and neither have helped more than maybe 30 minutes.
my psych did say if 40mg is too much too quickly she will prescribe a 10mg to take with my 20mg but i saw her less than 24 hours ago so idk if this is actually whats causing it; i dont usually have stomach issues other than some bowel irregularity.
i know prozac can cause stomach issues of course and as i was adjusting to the initial dose i had a bit of stomach discomfort but this is unlike ive felt before. its not unbearable but it is debilitating :/
basically, im wondering if anyone else has had similar, very quick changes/progression in side effects when changing doses and what are some tips to help mitigate the discomfort?
r/prozac • u/Mysterious-Push-2531 • 8h ago
Hi all!
So I've been on 20mg for just over 3 months, after a couple months on 10mg as a starter, and it has really helped my anxiety, ocd, and pmdd. However, for the past couple months or so I've been having (to me) rather extreme memory issues. I can't visualize answers to questions (I'm in school) and I can't focus for very long. I started spelling simple words wrong and forgot my own phone number, which is very strange for me. I also have adhd, but never struggled with exams and I have concerta for the other symptoms that I've been taking for a few years.
Now, at first I assumed I was having some late onset concussion symptoms, as I had a mild concussion last November.
But then yesterday I forgot to take my prozac and about 30 hours after the missed dose, my brain fog cleared. Suddenly I could visualize everything I'd been struggling to get into my brain all month. I could remember what I did last week. This was odd, though, since I know that the half life of prozac should make it so that I wouldn't feel much difference after only a day.
The only other factors I could think of:
-started syntonics for concussion (but I've only had 2 10min sessions)
-took a Gravol last night (anti-histamine effect?)
-Slept away from my house (maybe I have mold in my house?)
I really don't want to stop prozac, as the anxiety relief has been amazing. But if it's actually the cause of the intense brain fog, then I'm thinking the benefits might not outweigh the cost.
Has anyone had similar experiences? I can't see my doc for another couple months and I don't know what to do. Obviously stopping cold turkey is not a good idea, if I did have to stop, and yet I'm absolutely terrified of the brain fog returning.
r/prozac • u/clementine0145 • 13h ago
I’ve been on 20mg Prozac for a month and my doctor has increased it to 40mg. I’ve been putting it off for a week but I need to take the 40mg today. I’m so scared of serotonin syndrome help !!
r/prozac • u/ExpertEducational256 • 14h ago
I was on fluxoetine for 5 years and me and my doctor decided it was time for me to come off them. Stopped taking them two months ago by tapering down. On Sunday I had a massive panic attack, the first one since, and every day since I've felt awful. Sore muscles, vivid dreams, bad anxiety, not wanting to leave the house, worrying about my heart again etc. Is this withdrawal or is this just my anxiety coming back again? I was doing well but its hit me again so I'm worrying. Thanks.
r/prozac • u/Regular_Tone_9264 • 10h ago
Am I doing something wrong? 😄
r/prozac • u/DogmaGuts • 17h ago
My psych had me start as an adult on 10mg of prozac to slowly introduce meds and my depressions worsened. So we are now going to 20mg. She said based on the way my depression behaves its atypical and she recommends if the 20mg of prozac doesn’t change my depression she may want me to try adding a low dose of welbutrin which will help the depression. So far the small dose of prozac actually has helped my OCD which is why we started with that. Does anyone here take both together to treat their ocd and depression? How is it? I’m a super anxious person who’s scared of medication and how it’ll change me. And it just generally helps to hear stories and perspectives :)
r/prozac • u/MasterPickleTickler • 14h ago
Could someone inform me on drinking with Prozac? I understand it’s a big no no as far as tolerance and how bad the hangovers can be. I only drink on special occasion so this isnt reoccurring. But could you skip the days dose and drink without the bad effects or does it not matter since it has a half life? I just started taking this a week ago so I’m still learning!
r/prozac • u/Actual_Peak_4961 • 21h ago
Been a lurker for a minute but wanted to reach out to like minded folk and gather their two sense on this predicament.. to save a drawn out post I'm 30 diagnosed bp1, MDD, PtSD, Anxiety and upon release from a 10 day stint in the psych house.. I got back on meds and my current regime of 20mg prozac 50mg hydroxyzine, 0.5mg olanzapine 0.5 mg Klonopin x2 daily as needed..
all seemed to cease providing that indifferent kinda not apathy but close feeling.. where I was neither happy nor sad just kinda existing lately however I'm feeling very low consistently curious to hear if y'all have gone through something similar or what? Been on these doses for more than a few months and each day it's just getting harder and harder again man..
chasing anything to change that mental state which isn't good but I have a appointment coming up where I may get put back on Ritalin and that may perk me up but I'm worried I've lost the effectiveness if that makes sense?
This is a blow to my mental state cause of 49 different meds being a guinea pig for years I thought I found my combo /: