Prozac - Long Term Effects

I have been on prozac (fluxetene) for 14 years now - I was severely depressed - and when I started taking it I was suicidal.  After two weeks on Prozac my life changed dramatically - and I have been on it ever since with variations on the dozage - I now take 20 mg daily. (I did try to get off it once because everything in my life was great and felt there was no reason to be depressed - but after weaning myself off the depression came back with a vengence - so I went back on it).  My question is that I am 54 years old and am starting to feel like I am becoming forgetful and a little like I am in a fog - I don't know if there are any studies on this long a period of time to be on prozac - but I have always had a sharp mind and never forgot anything, and I don't know if it is because of prozac or I am just getting older - but I think 54 is too young to start feeling like this - thank you for your help -

[starr28]

Hi,

I have been on ads for 20 years now (including prozac) and I do
think it has affected my short term memory.  I also have a hard
time concentrating but the depression is worse than both of
these combined so I just put up with it.  best wishes to you,

starr28

[Suchecki]

Hello, I went on prozac and then my life totally changed and I felt great. So I went off of it. but then in the past few months I got depressed again. I'm thinking I should go back on it.

[MaryAnn731]

Thanks for replying, I know what you mean, the depression is worse then loosing your memory, I have my good days when I do feel alert, but somedays I am just in a fog, I really do think it is the medication, but I am not going to get off of it.  And sometimes it's better to not know what is going on around you - lol  

[MaryAnn731]

Yes I think you should go back on it too - sometimes it really is a chemical imbalance causing the depression, because when I went off of prozac there was nothing going on with me that would have made me depressed but once the medication was out of my system the depression came back, so I figured why mess with something that is working.  Except for this forgetfulness I really don't have any other side effects.

[lizzy7769]

Hi!
I have been on anti-depresants for 20yrs!! and for 16 of them Prozac!! i dont know how i'm still alive suffering depression for all of my life but I too cannot function normally without Prozac. I do sometimes deteriorate and i wonder if it even works anymore but i would rather take a tablet for the rest of my life and function than totally be in despair of depressive illness.  It hasnt done anything so far to me so i think i would just continue taking it like myself.
I hope this is of some use to you.