well here's just an update just incase someone wants to know if prozac works
its been a 4 1/2 weeks after taking it at 20mg a day and i'm not sure if theres a big change. i don't get those panicky moments as much or rarely, which is a small change. but im overall general anxiety hasn't really lifted. my appetite is still the same unfortunely, i haven't been eating much. i was hoping to gain some extra weight since i heard prozac increases appetite. i've heard that it can take from 4 to 6 to 8 to even 12 weeks to take full effect. i go see my psychiatrist on the 28th so perhaps 3 or 4 more weeks more will do the trick in relieving my general anxiety hopefully.
as for the side effects in the beginning, i'm not sure if they're as big as everyone says but then again it has different effects on different people. i had a small increase of anxiety in the beginning but i think that was all self made and i rarely got stomach aches and if i got them they wouldn't be big deal. oh well

When I went on Effexor it took about three months for it to have any really lasting and noticeable effects. I was on it for 2 1/2 years and during that time the depression really did lift.

I had to work in therapy to actually get relief from the symptoms of Panic and Anxiety.

Medications are so helpful. They can be a real godsend when it comes to trying to get better.

However, they don't work all by themselves. They're not magic. We really do have to do a lot of work to change the way we think and the way we react and the assumptions we make about our bodies and our environment. This takes a tremendous effort, and a lot of time.

I think the best timeline to have in your mind is that after six months on medications you will see a difference in whatever that med is dealing with (an anti-depressant deals with depression) and then another 12 to 18 months if you work really hard to see a significant change in your Panic and Anxiety.

It took me a multiple of things to really get it done. Meds, therapy, massage, nutrition, exercise, and working on some creative outlets -- drawing and painting.

Good luck - I know you can do it!

Ceejay

so its been about 2 months
i'd say things are going somewhat okay. I used to wake up with horrible feelings like fatigue and less appetite. But i've gained my appetite back, i've been eating the same as i used to before which is good. My psych said to give prozac a few more weeks and if i'm still getting that anxiety then he'll boost me to 30 mg and try that out. I've been able to go out alot, mostly around the house. haven't really tried being driven around since i don't really have the chance. Most of the phobias are gone and things that made me anxiety filled are pretty much diminished. Hopefully i can go out and try to expose myself to other things to get used to them, like driving again.

hope things go well for you, i have also just started a med that is new to me, effexor, and am in the "wait and see" process of it all. thanks for coming back and updating this i wondered if some people would come back and update even after feeling better or if the site was mainly a "crutch" for just bad periods

heres another update for those that are following! I've been getting way better, i now go out with my friends ALOT we go almost everywhere, i walk alot now and i can cross street lights with ease. I'm finally going back to in class college classes which will be great, i get little bit of car anxiety still becos i don't really go into cars alot. But everything good, i got my weight back and i'm trying to gain more so i can go workout and again. i'm still on prozac 20mg, and i no longer take xanax, its been probably 2 months since i've taken xanax, i no longer need it. but i'll update again soon if i can.

So glad to hear Prozac is working for you and that you have your appetite back. I would like to reinforce what ceejay said. It is so important to get out of negative thinking patterns. If you change the way you think, you can change the way you feel. I am living proof of that.