Switching from lexapro to prozac reviews (7+ reviews)

In this blog, we are going to talk about switching from lexapro to prozac. They both are antidepressants and can be used to treat several mental health conditions. This blog will cover what actual people have experienced after starting their treatment with prozac. 

Is switching from lexapro to Prozac a better option? 

It depends. If lexapro fails to provide adequate therapeutic response, then it is wise to switch to another antidepressant, like prozac, aiming for better outcomes. If lexapro works just fine for you, there’s no need to switch to prozac, thinking that it will provide better therapeutic response. 

Both lexapro (escitalopram) and prozac (fluoxetine) belong to the same class of antidepressants, that is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

Both lexapro and prozac inhibit the reuptake of leftover serotonin back into the presynaptic neuron by blocking serotonin transporters (SERT). 

This results in an increased amount of active serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and various other psychological processes. 

Most people are pretty adjusted on lexapro, as it is considered a safe antidepressant. Some people, on the other hand, can not tolerate it well and end up suffering from terrible side effects. For such people, it is preferred to switch to another antidepressant. 

Reviews of people who switched from Lexapro to Prozac

4 out of 5 stars

“Lexapro, being the safest antidepressant, was my doctor’s first choice to help me with my anxiety but as soon as I started taking it, my whole world started to fall apart. I could not tolerate the drug at any cost. My doctor then put me on 10 mg Prozac and increased the dose to 15 mg after two weeks. It did make me sleepy but it helped me feel much more calm, relaxed and at peace.”

4 out of 5 stars

“I started on 10 mg lexapro at bedtime, but it made me insomniac. My doctor then shifted my dose in the morning but I still suffered from insomnia at night. My doctor then gave me 10 mg of Prozac and I seemed to tolerate it well. She upped my dose to 20 mg in week two. I’m in my 4th month and completely satisfied with the drug. It has also helped my PMDD.”

5 out of 5 stars

“Prozac has been great for me. I was a little scared to start it after my failure with Lexapro and I spent 8,9 days not feeling well but I felt so much better on day 10. I’m currently on 20 mg Prozac and I have no complaints so far.”

3 out of 5 stars

“I have always suffered from depression but it got worse when the Covid’19 pandemic hit us. At that time, my doctor prescribed 10 mg lexapro, once every morning. It made my depression worse and I started thinking about suicide more often. My therapist then suggested that I switch my antidepressant and put me on 10 mg Prozac. It worked in a much better way and helped me think positively but I still suffered from side effects.”

5 out of 5 stars 

“I’m 35 years old. I started on prozac 5 months ago, first at 10 mg and then my dose was escalated to 20 mg. I feel so much better now. My sleep quality is better now, I stopped binging on high sugar treats and I finally feel alive again.”

4 out of 5 stars 

“My doctor started me on lexapro 5 mg as I’m a little sensitive to antidepressants but it did not suit me. It made me anxious, agitated, bloated and I felt ringing in my ears. My doctor put me off lexapro and started 10 mg Prozac. Since then I’ve been on Prozac and it seems to work pretty well.”

1 out of 5 stars 

“I was diagnosed with depression and was put on lexapro. It did not suit me. My doctor then shifted me to prozac, and boy I couldn’t tolerate that as well. I think there’s something in SSRIs that I could not tolerate. My doctor then put me on elavil and it turned out to be much better.”

4 out of 5 stars 

“I suffer from depression and PMDD. When my PMDD was not diagnosed, I started taking lexapro 10 mg. Later my symptoms got worse before my monthly cycle and my doctor diagnosed PMDD. She shifted me off to zoloft. The first few days were TERRIBLE. It even made breathing difficult for me. Then my doctor stopped zoloft and started prozac 10 mg. It helped with my depression and PMDD. It’s so far, so good.”

4 out of 5 stars

“I have tried multiple antidepressants because of my complex mental health state and finally got settled on prozac. It gives me minimal side effects and helps me feel calm, positive, active and fresh.”

What are the side effects of lexapro and prozac? 

Both lexapro and prozac are associated with some common side effects. These include:

• Loss of appetite 
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Sexual issues
• Difficulty in falling asleep
• Vertigo 
• Decreased salivation or dry mouth
• Sweating
• Anxiety 
• Nausea
• Shaking
• Weakness
• Sleepiness and fatigue
• Weight gain

Prozac may also cause:

• Fever with chills
• Severe skin allergic reactions 
• Muscular pain

These side effects are mostly temporary and start to subside within 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. This time duration can vary from person to person. Some people suffer from mild side effects and recover just within a week or two. 

Others may experience pronounced side effects and take much longer to recover. 

Common antidepressant switching strategies 

Antidepressants need a proper switching strategy to prevent the complications related to withdrawal syndrome (if you take away the med too quickly) or serotonin syndrome (if you start the next one too early). Let’s take a look at four antidepressant switching strategies: 

Direct switch 

Here, you stop one antidepressant and directly switch to another. This strategy is only applicable if you’re switching to a drug which belongs to the same class of antidepressants. You can also switch from SSRI to SNRI (Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) through this strategy. 

Cross taper 

Here, you taper off one antidepressant while gradually increasing the dose of the next one, over a few weeks period. This is the preferred method when you switch to a drug that’s in a different antidepressant class.

Taper and switch right away

Here, you gradually taper off your current drug. As soon as you have completely stopped the first drug, you start taking the next one. 

Taper and switch, after washing out the first drug completely 

Here, you gradually taper off the first drug and wait a couple of weeks, usually 1-6 weeks, for your body to completely wash out the drug from your system, even traces. This strategy is most commonly used in case of Monoaminoxidase inhibitors (MAOI), to prevent serotonin syndrome. 

Common reasons for switching antidepressants

It is not easy to switch antidepressants. Infact, they should be switched only when necessary. Your doctor might recommend another antidepressant for one of the following reasons:

Inadequate therapeutic response 

If your antidepressant is not living up to the expectations and it fails to provide relief from depression symptoms, your doctor might think of increasing the dose of the same antidepressant, as it’s not wise to blame the drug right away and jump to conclusions. 

Drug interactions

If your antidepressant is interfering with the effects or metabolism of some other medicines that you are taking along with it, it’s best to switch to another antidepressant that’s safe to use with your other prescribed medications. 

Side effects 

If your antidepressant is producing side effects which are not going away, even after 3 to 4 weeks of your treatment, you might need to change it. Your antidepressant should be well tolerated as you have to live with it everyday, for several months or even longer. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed reviews related to switching antidepressants from lexapro to prozac. Both of these drugs belong to the same class of antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

These meds work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake by blocking serotonin transporters (SERT). This results in increased serotonergic activity throughout the body. Sometimes, lexapro is not tolerated well by people and they switch to prozac. 

We have discussed 9 reviews, both positive and negative. It is not best to rely on reviews alone as they can vary hugely. Make sure you ask your healthcare provider the best antidepressant for you. If lexapro didn’t work out for someone, it doesn’t mean it will not work out for you. 

Similarly, if someone has benefitted from prozac, it doesn’t mean there’s a 100% chance that the med will suit you too. Don’t compare your condition with someone else’s. Every human body reacts differently to medications. 

FAQs: switching from lexapro to prozac reviews

How do I switch from Lexapro to Prozac? 

As lexapro and prozac both belong to the same class of antidepressants, you can start tapering off lexapro and start prozac from the lowest effective dose. Eventually the dose of lexapro goes down to the lowest possible dose and the drug is stopped altogether. Similarly, the dose of Prozac is increased gradually till you reach the best possible dose according to your condition. 

Is Prozac more effective than Lexapro?

Both Prozac and Lexapro belong to the same class of antidepressants, which increase the dose of serotonin in your body. They both are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in the treatment of depression and several other mental health conditions. The effectiveness of these meds depend on how your body reacts to it. Some people find prozac better, while others have gained maximum therapeutic response on lexapro. 

Are Lexapro and Prozac interchangeable?

No, lexapro and prozac are not interchangeable. They do belong to the same class of drugs and produce the same kind of effects, but they are prescription medicines and you’re supposed to use only the one recommended by your healthcare professional. It is also not advised to deviate from the dose suggested by your doctor. 

Which causes more weight gain: Prozac or Lexapro?

It depends. Both prozac and lexapro are associated with weight gain. How much weight you’ll gain and the amount of time taken for that can vary from person to person. Some people don’t gain weight at all. 

Does Prozac help with anxiety?

Prozac is approved for the treatment of various kinds of anxieties. 

Which SSRI is best for OCD and anxiety?

Paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and lexapro (Escitalopram) can be used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Which one of these is best for you depends on how your body responds to each one of them. All of these antidepressants are also used to treat anxiety, along with fluoxetine (Prozac) and citalopram (Celexa). 

References 

• Joan Raymond – Prozac vs. Lexapro: Side Effects, Interactions, More https://www.webmd.com/depression/prozac-lexapro-side-effects-interactions-more 
• User Reviews for Prozac Oral https://www.webmd.com/drugs/drugreview-6997-prozac-oral
• Chu A, Wadhwa R. – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/#_NBK554406_pubdet_
• Karen Berger – Lexapro vs. Prozac: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you https://www.singlecare.com/blog/lexapro-vs-prozac/
• P Benfield et al. Drugs. (1986) – Fluoxetine. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy in depressive illness https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2878798/