Hello all. I have been taking SSRI's for the past 18 years. I started with Zoloft which saved my life. It was a true miracle drug for me. The only problem was that it "pooped" out after taking it for 11 yrs. I tried Celexa and Paxil next and they didn't work for me, made me too tired. Finally found that Lexapro worked. After the past 7 years of upping the Lexapro, I have found it is "pooping" out on me. I was up to 40 mg. of Lex and just too darn tired. I tried adding Wellbutrin, too stimulating. I cant seem to tolerate the SNRI's as they aggravate my panic disorder, so today the PDoc decided for me to try Fluoxetine.



First 6 days:
I will be taking Lex. 20 mg. at night and 10 mg. of Fluox. in the am (doctor says Fluox. should make me more awake, so take in the am)
Next 6 days:
I will be taking Lex. 10 mg. at night and 20 mg. of Fluox. in the am
Next 6 days:
30 mg of Fluox in the am - no Lexapro.

I am really apprehensive about trying Fluoxetine. I remember back in the late 80's my PDoc at that time wanted to put me on Prozac and I wouldn't take it, I was terrified because of all of the press about it causing suicide, etc. After finally getting up the nerve to take Zoloft in 1991, there was bad press on Zoloft, but I felt fine, so I don't know why I am so apprehensive about Prozac (Fluoxetine).



Can anyone tell me some good things that Prozac (Fluox) has done for them? I am hoping to transition from Lexapro to Fluox. and hoping that it works for me and doesn't make me feel like a walking zombie or make me want to climb the walls (the way Wellbutrin did!)

I guess I am just looking for someone with good results. I hope to hear from someone!

Wish me luck!

Hi kristenpa!

I'm on Fluoxetin since 2 months and it really changed my life.
A few days ago my doc asked how it worked for me and about this was my answer:

Before I started taking it, there were few times when I wasn't sad. Now this is my normal state, but there are happy times too.
I can stand up in the morning. When I want to stay in in bed, it's because I didn't sleep enough and not because I just don't want to stand up.
I go to university every day, didn't even think about staying at home once.
I talk to people (wow!) and actually enjoy it.

Concerning your apprehension: I wasn't suicidal before, but I thought about death a lot. That stopped almost immediately (I guess during the first time it wasn't really due to Prozac itself, but because I finally was at the doctor's and thought there might be hope - but the thoughts never came back).
I wouldn't really be too worried about it, you know it could happen and that's actually a good thing, because you know if it does happen, it's just coming from the medication and your doctor can fix it (so call him straightaway if you think there's something wrong).

Good luck!

I am so glad to hear that you are feeling so much better and actually living again. Thank you for your quick response!

Took my first Fluoxetin this am, was tired and went back to sleep, but the only side effect I am noticing is a bit lightheaded. Hope this is the only side effect and I will be on my way to feeling good again. (Got to think positive!)

It is so great to know that there are others out there who understand how I feel. I am mostly concerned with wanting to stay in bed all of the time, I sure hope that Fluoxetin gives me the same results you have gotten. I hate feeling like a zombie.

Again, thanks for the quick response and best of luck to you!!!

[after an attempted suicide in my twenties and living with depression unknowingly till my doctor diagnosed it 4 months ago i am now 48 i am on 60mg fluoxetine a day and it has changed my life i still get down days but no severe mood swings or thinking about death any more it really helps me

Freda, it must have been horrible to live that long with depression, I'm so glad you're better now!

Kristenpa: After the good news in my last post, I think I can tell you about my sideeffects too. They all didn't last very long and it was really worth going through that, because after all they went away and I'm feeling better than ever before, so keep that in mind. ;)
At the beginning, I was very tired too, but only for a week or so. I also had a very bad headache for a few days (and wasn't sure if I could take a pill for that, so I just sat it out). And the anxiety was worse than before. When the sideeffects were gone everything changed. Strange about that: I didn't notice at first, I just felt normal. And well, it was just little things. Like, before the Fluoxetine, when I was thirsty I had to convince myself to get up and get something to drink, sometimes for hours. Suddenly I just did it, without thinking about it - how should one notice?
What I did notice, was that I could phone - my doc gave me the number of a therapist where I could get help without having to pay anything (insurance only pays a part of it, it still would have been too expensive for me). So I was sitting in front of the phone and tried to call, but just couldn't. One day I woke up and did it, made an appointment and a few days later went there being able to say "I feel fine. I probably needed you all my life acutely, but right now i'm good."

I really hope it will help you to fight the zombie! Keep us posted. ;)

Prozac has been very helpful to me and other than being very tired during the first couple weeks on the med, I've had no side effects at all. My anxiety is much lower and I don't get severly depressed like I used to. No weight gain or any problems that I've heard people have with other anti-depressants. I'm happy with it. Hope it works for you.

Great to find this topic!!! As I am on Zoloft for the past few years and think that it has pooped out on me as well. So I was thinking about going on Prozac again, as I was on it years ago and from what i remember, it worked great with me. I also tried Wellbutrin and it drove me up the wall, gave me more anxiety. So I am similar I think to you. I have an appt w my pdoc next Friday and will strongly ask for a switch as I have been thinking about it for a while. The last time I asked for a switch she told me that I have only been on it a few years and therefore it hasn't stopped working for me.....but what the harm in trying, I say!

Would love to hear more stories about Prozac...I think it is cheaper as well, since it is an older AD.

I forgot, is it good for anxiety as well???


-Nefret

Hi Nefret!
As far as I know some even take it for nothing but anxiety. :)
My anxiety was worse for the first week or two, but then it was gone.
Good luck to you!

Thank you all for contributing to this thread.

I have been taking the Fluox. for 5 days now, 10 mg in the am and taking 20 mg. Lex. at night. I am very tired. I was hoping the Fluox would make me more awake, but so far it isn't. Could still be a side effect, or could still be the Lex. Tues. I start with the 20 mg. of Fluox in am and 10mg. of Lex at night and I am hoping that will help me not to be so tired. We shall see.

I did notice "Blubb" had mentioned the tiredness, so I have hope!

Other than a little bit of lightheadness and being tired, I honestly don't feel to bad. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Good luck to you all and keep your experiences coming. They are greatly appreciated.

to you all!