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!

121 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 • • 3h ago

QUESTION weird pornographic dreams?

9 Upvotes

does anyone else get weird and disturbing sexual dreams? ive had very unfortunate sexual dreams that are sometimes incestuous or involve me cheating on my boyfriend or have me in really weird scenarios and it makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable and i hate it.


r/prozac • • 2h ago

QUESTION Pregnancy Prozac

3 Upvotes

Has anyone taken Prozac while they were pregnant if so what dose and did it cause any issues?


r/prozac • • 47m ago

QUESTION Prozac and Melatonin - intense dreams?

• Upvotes

Hi all, writing this after waking up from 2 back to back nightmares. I recently tried melatonin and found it helped me sleep but noticed every time I take it I wake up in a cold sweat and have intense dreams.

A few hours ago I went to sleep and didn't take any melatonin and woke up twice within the space of 2 hours with intense nightmares and in a cold sweat, is this normal?


r/prozac • • 52m ago

DAILY LOG/ JOURNEY UPDATE Had to go back down to 10

• Upvotes

It feels a little defeating but I tapered down to 10. When I bumped to 20 after 3 weeks of 10, I had really bad side effects. One of which was increased ideation so I really had to calm it down. Back down at 10 I feel a bit better. I’m gonna try and rock the 10 for a while as I’m really trying to give this med a full trial period. I’m at 7 weeks in total.


r/prozac • • 5h ago

QUESTION Prozac and libido?

5 Upvotes

I, female, have been on Prozac for a year and a half and noticed that recently I have no sex drive. I am still able to finish and can enjoy sex, but my body never craves it, unless I’m drinking. I also craved it when I started a new relationship at the beginning of this year, but it fell off. I’m not sure if the Prozac is to blame in this situation. I am on it for anxiety, and it really helped at first but now I’m unsure if it’s even worth being on. I initially got on Prozac after being on lexapro and getting off because I saw no benefit, but suffered GI problems because of the anxiety. I’m also worried that the libido problem could be permanent.


r/prozac • • 11h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST If you managed to lose weight on prozac, please share your experiences, how!

9 Upvotes

All the tips and tricks are welcome 🙏🏼


r/prozac • • 17m ago

QUESTION Week 5 on Prozac 40mg

• Upvotes

Is it normal to experience different symptoms every day? Yesterday I was the happiest with no symptoms, no ocd, and today I get extremely fatigued and headache then it will repeat like this throughout the week on and off for the past 5 weeks. It’s very unpredictable how I’m gonna be every single day


r/prozac • • 30m ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Doctor wants to increase from 10mg to 40mg within a month

• Upvotes

I started Prozac at 10mg at the beginning of September (roughly 6 weeks). Always struggled with mental health to some degree and have been in therapy for 15 years and never took meds. I’m sensitive to meds and have med anxiety. But I’ve been having a really hard time in life this year and really have not been functioning well at all so i decided to give Prozac a try. She purposely started me at a low dose and I felt some relief at first. Better ability to focus mentally which was a relief at first, then it kinda dropped off and I still have depressive symptoms most days and my physical motivation is still pretty nonexistent. I saw my doctor today and she thinks OCD is playing a part here and wants to increase my dose to 40mg over the course of the next month. She’s referring me to a psych as well to see about OCD and ADHD diagnoses that she suspects. She wants to increase the dose because of my depression and also because OCD treatment tends to need higher doses.

Has anyone been in this boat before and found 40mg the right spot for them? Should I be worried about increasing the dose by that much in a short period of time? I’m supposed to start 20mg tomorrow for one week and let her know how I’m doing.

I had pretty mild side effects on the 10mg. Some increased anxiety and nausea at first. Now mostly just struggle with insomnia (prescribed trazodone for sleep) and jaw clenching.


r/prozac • • 8h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Week 3-4

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Started Prozac 3 weeks ago today and feeling exactly how I did before starting Prozac: anxious and panicky. Week 1-2 I felt great which I’m sure was placebo effect. But now I feel like I’m back to where I started. Is this normal, do I need to give it more time? I hear so many people talking about how their anxiety and panic disappear and I want that :( please give me some advice !


r/prozac • • 1h ago

QUESTION Advil PM

• Upvotes

I’m on Prozac 20mg and kinda freaking out bc I have a 9 hour flight in a few minutes and super TMI but I have a crazy hemorrhoid that is so painful and I need to sleep will I be ok to take Advil PM??


r/prozac • • 8h ago

QUESTION Prozac and Tirzepatide?

4 Upvotes

Hey all, I am back on prozac 10mg after being off for about a year. I keep fooling myself into thinking I don't need it, since it's such a low dose, but then my anxiety and mood issues slowly creep back in. I gained some weight (15ish lbs) on it as well - granted idk if it's from the actual med, or other things. I'm 42f so I realize that could be hormonal/perimenopausal. Anyway, I went on a micro dose of tirzepatide a few months ago to finally get rid of the weight. My question is, is anyone else on both prozac and tirzepatide, and if so, do you feel like your weight loss has stalled, or you still gained weight? I guess I'm not looking to lose anymore, just maintain, but I'm worried that because of the prozac I'll need a higher dose of tirz just to maintain my current weight. I really don't want to go any higher on the tirz as I do have some side effects. TIA!


r/prozac • • 2h ago

QUESTION Prozac sleep issues and physical side effects?

1 Upvotes

I’ve been on the lowest dose for 3.5 weeks now. For some reason the effects on mood were almost immediate for me. From day 1, it was blocking out negative thoughts and rumination.

The problem is sleep. I constantly wake up at night, feeling a sensation that I want to pee (and I do need to pee). It’s not UTI. I limit myself from drinking water at night and empty my bladder before sleep. But the same thing keeps happening.

I also wake up in the morning with weird tingling feelings on my leg muscles. It’s not sore, but it feels like I need a deep tissue massage on my legs.
Along with the muscle sensation, I feel restless and kind of anxious when I wake up.

But during the day, everything is fine.

I wanted to continue since it’s doing positive things to my mood but the sleeping bit is giving me so much stress.

- Does this go away eventually or is this a good enough sign to switch meds?

P.S i tried changing the time I take prozac from night to morning with food — still had the same side effects


r/prozac • • 6h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Need support (things are ROUGH 3 days into 40 MG)

2 Upvotes

Every time I go up a dose, I've had anxiety and panic attacks for like a week or 2 but this is a whole new level.

Dizziness/light headedness has never been one of my side effects until going to 40 mg. I was at 30 for 2 weeks and my doctor said let's go to 40. My eyes feel so heavy, I feel like I'm not a real person. It's weird I don't know how to describe it because it's not depersonalization I just feel like I'm on Mars. Felt a horrible panic attack coming on as well but it seemed to disappear before it started thankfully.

My hands were so shakey this morning like I couldn't even hold my coffee mug. My daughter was over an hour late to school because I was struggling so much with anxiety, shakiness and dizziness.

Has anyone else experienced this? I don't know whether to just stick it out or to go back down a dose. If this is going to go away I'd rather just get it over with but I feel scared like I'm losing my mind lol.

Any advice appreciated 🫶


r/prozac • • 3h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Not sure if increased dose is working well, advice?

1 Upvotes

Been cruising with 20mg for a few years and I felt my depression symptoms reverting back to when I started. It worked very well for me up until recently. I consulted with a doctor and she bumped me up to 40mg. I was already nervous to try it, but I said fuck it. It's been almost a month now and I can't tell if its doing anything for me. I feel like a shell of a person and dizzy and shaky, but at the same time it doesn't feel much different than I how felt before. I do have more energy and motivation. I drank a few times in the adjustment period (which probably wasnt a good idea) and I felt sick to my stomach a couple of those times. Could I still in the adjustment phase? I just want to feel normal again and at this point I'd rather just die because I'm tired of feeling anything.


r/prozac • • 3h ago

VENTING Day 28 20mg

1 Upvotes

Felt great all morning until 4pm when I had a sudden panic attack and felt like I went numb in my whole body feel terrible since


r/prozac • • 7h ago

QUESTION Is this normal while on prozac?

2 Upvotes

I started taking prozac for anxiety going on to 6 month now. The first 2 months were awful then it got better with fluctuations some days I felt amazing then extremely tiered for the next month. Then on the 4th month I felt invincible great I was on a roll getting my exercise eating well. Not for weight management but because I actually head enery to do things that made me feel better. I even added meditation.Then about the end of the 5th month I felt it was hard to get up again so we added welbutrin to support with energy. It worked then mid through the 6th month I feel so exhausted again. Its extremely hard to get out of bed it feels like a heavy weight all around me. It takes me hours to even go to the restroom I cant get myself to get out of bed. It feels like my body has a tingling sensation all around as well. A heavy need to cry but I dont.


r/prozac • • 1d ago

SUCCESS STORY Prozac changed my life!

46 Upvotes

It works guys! It really does! Been taking it for almost a year and I have never been that happy/relaxed in my life.

It’s teaching me so much about my self, how to deal with my strong emotions, how to deal with people and how to take MUCH BETTER AND STABLE DECISIONS.

Stay consistent because consistency really matters, missing a dose or two does make a difference (don’t stress about it though your body still catches up).

For reference, I’m a 27 year old female, taking 20 mg Prozac mostly for anxiety (this is my first anti anxiety/antidepressant ever).

I’m here if you have any questions/concerns


r/prozac • • 8h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Crazy Nausea

2 Upvotes

Hello!

I am back on Prozac for the second time. I was on it for over a year about two years ago and decided to go off of it because I was in a really good place and didn’t feel I needed it anymore. Recently, where I live has had a lot of gloomy days so the lack of sun mixed with wedding planning made me go back on it because no way I was going to get through the little sun of winter. My first time starting it, I really only had severely sweaty palms. This time around, it’s insane nausea. It’s not constant and comes to random times but I feel absolutely horrible. For anyone else that has experienced this, is there anything that helped you? Any OTC medications, timing of taking med, etc.?

TIA!


r/prozac • • 5h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Prozac- what can I expect?

1 Upvotes

Hi! I’m making this post to seek out individual experiences amongst people who are prescribed Prozac. I’m a 27 year old female. I’m diagnosed with ADHD and currently take Adderall XR 20mg and Lexapro 10mg.

For some background, Lexapro helped me a lot at first. I felt calmer and less explosive. However, after several months leading to a year I felt like it made me feel too numb. I just felt weird & didn’t care to be active and my motivation tanked immensely. I also put on 15 pounds after previously losing 50 pounds and changing my whole life in regard to my fitness health. As you can imagine, this sucked. I started taking less to hopefully make my self feel something again lol. I took 5mg and have been until now.

Anyways, so here I am getting ready to start my Prozac journey. I’m mainly concerned of the side effects for my libido and possible weight gain. Some questions I have, for those of you have OCD tendencies- did it help you?

With all of this being said, I do know that medication affects everyone differently and it’s hard to know how it’ll work for everyone.

**please be kind. I know that weight gain/ libido for some people isn’t a big deal but for me it truly is.


r/prozac • • 9h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Im really struggling on 60mg, I cant stay awake help

2 Upvotes

60mg has not really helped much more then 40mg I still have anxiety and depression been on 60 for 8 weeks

But the fatigue is debilitating I can barely stay awake all day

If I move back down to 40 how long before the fatigue relieves.. Is it intense when decreasing dose like increases


r/prozac • • 6h ago

SUPPORT REQUEST Advice

1 Upvotes

I started buspar 13 days ago 7.5 MG twice a day and also I’m on 40 mg of Prozac , for the past two days my anxiety is bad , I keep waking up every 2 hours and I feel like I’m scared of my thoughts once again… I was told to stop the buspar and go up to 50mg on Prozac…. Anyone else experience this with buspar being added?


r/prozac • • 8h ago

IM NEW HERE! Diagnosed with GAD and prescribed Prozac

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone!! I’m here cus I saw a psychiatrist recently and he diagnosed me with GAD and prescribed me to take Prozac for my anxiety. This was my first time seeing a psychiatrist but I’ve struggled with anxiety for a very long time. Talking to him was a such a good experience cus he validated everything I was going through and told me yeah that’s not normal. I still have to pick up my medication and I’m doing more research on Prozac. I would appreciate if you can tell me your experience and any advice you can give as I start my journey with Prozac :)


r/prozac • • 9h ago

QUESTION hangovers

1 Upvotes

Does anyone experience delayed hangovers while on prozac? i’ve been on a 10mg and recently 20 mg for 5 years now and just recently started socially drinking, and the day after I would be fine but after a day I wake up with a major hangover. I wanted to know if anyone has had a similar experience or maybe why this happens ?