Prozac positive stories please terrified to start

[emmabombemmauk]

Hello everyone

I have been prescribed 20mg of Prozac for severe health anxiety.

I cannot get a prescription for 10mg as it is so expensive on NHS. I cannot get a 20mg tablet and break as they only do capsules.

I am so scared to start because I’ve tried sertraline and citralorapram before and both the meds gave me the worst panic attacks of my life and made me have these weird orgasm type feelings when I yawned (sounds great but really was not)

I am desperate and want these to work but I am so so terrified. New meds are an anxiety trigger for me.

Anyone?

Prozac is the brand name of Fluoxetine which is a very good and safe antidepressant licensed to treat anxiety, as well as depression. As a Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS and privately, I can tell you that I have known thousands of patients who have benefited greatly from it. I also took it myself in 2001, for about two years to treat both anxiety and depression and found it really beneficial. If you suffer from disabling anxiety (and I’m guessing you do), you may well find it life transforming.

Thank you @AnnieSnap that is very encouraging to hear. I assume just because I found sertraline and the other difficult it does not mean fluoxetine will be the same? Surely there is something for me?

👋🏼 I’m on it and it’s great for me. TBH you will probably get some not unpleaaant side effects the first 2 or 3 weeks such as increased anxiety/panic and sweats, bad sleep etc so may need to take some sick leave if you work out of home, but it’s worth it as when it kicks in properly these will all go away and you will start to feel so much better. I was in a right state with awful anxiety and depression and am now loving life again and went from being about to give up my job to being happy and calm at work. Good luck-you can do it!

@goodjoujou thank you just don't think I'm strong enough for the initial increase in anxiety

@emmabombemmauk I know it is really hard but if you can try to think to yourself ‘it’s only 2 weeks’ and then I have the rest of my life ahead feeling good. And just taking one day at a time. I kept a diary each day as to how I felt which was helpful as I could see when the positive changes started to happen and compare how different I was feeling. You can do this.

@goodjoujou thank you for the motivation I just swigged back my first.....I need my life back

@emmabombemmauk

Thank you *@AnnieSnap* that is very encouraging to hear. I assume just because I found sertraline and the other difficult it does not mean fluoxetine will be the same? Surely there is something for me?

Although Sertraline, Fluoxatine and all the other SSRIs are formulated with the same compounds to do the same thing, for reasons that we don’t know, one that works brilliantly for one person, will do nothing for another. It’s very common to find no help in one (or several), but find another does a great job. So you have every reason to feel optimistic. Fingers crossed for you. Do come back in 4 weeks and tell us how it’s gone.

Prozac didn't help me at all but I didn't have any side effects either. Honestly wouldn't have known I was even taking it. Might as well have been skittles. It'll do you no harm to give it a chance.

Also it took trying 6 antidepressants before I found one that worked and damn did it work. Just because you have bad luck with one ( or two or three!) doesn't mean there isn't one that will work.

I totally get where you’re coming from—starting a new med can be so nerve-wracking, especially when you’ve had bad experiences before. I haven’t taken Prozac specifically, but I’ve been on Fluoxetine (the active ingredient in Prozac) for quite a while now, and honestly, it has been life-changing in the best way. It took a few weeks to really kick in, but once it did, I noticed my anxiety levels dropping, my thoughts weren’t racing as much, and I could finally breathe without that constant feeling of doom hanging over me.

The first couple of weeks weren’t fun, not gonna lie. I had some nausea, a bit of jitteriness, and yeah, some weird yawning sensations too (totally get what you mean about that!). But the side effects gradually faded after about two weeks, and I managed by drinking lots of water, eating small meals, and reminding myself that it was temporary. Once my body adjusted, it was so worth it. Just remember, everyone’s experience is different, and sometimes the anticipation is worse than the reality!

One big thing I learned is that the quality of Fluoxetine really matters. If you’re taking a reliable, well-made version, the side effects are usually milder, and the adjustment period is easier. I always make sure to get mine from a trusted pharmacy—if it helps, I order from topsup24.com because their quality is always top-notch, and the delivery is super fast!

You got this! 💙