# Prozac Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/prozac/ 10 people recommended Prozac in Hacker News comments, 2 had mixed feelings and 28 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 12 months, in 3 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. 8 of the 10 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “Prozac 'no better than placebo' for treating children with depression, experts”. These are opinions from Hacker News comments, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor. **Verdict:** More people criticize it than recommend it. Many say it lifted depression and is cheap with few side effects; critics note modest gains over placebo and serious side effects and withdrawal. Summary written by Claude from the comments below. ## What people warn about - Withdrawal and unpleasant side effects (5 comments in the sample): "Because this class of drugs was so heavily promoted for such a long time, the side effects have always been swept under the rug." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46015926)) "after taking them for a few months in my 20's, and experiencing how terrible the withdrawal symptoms are when stopping" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46008522)) "No change in my mindset, just the unpleasant side effects when we changed or discontinued my medications." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45992288)) - Suicidal thoughts in young people (3 comments in the sample): "Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46009589)) "so generations were poisoned with side-effects: suicidal ideation, homicidal tendencies, etc." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46005323)) "Prozac and other SSRIs are proven to cause MORE suicidal tendencies in children." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46018927)) - Only modestly better than placebo (2 comments in the sample): "no better at placebo at treating depression but also carries a host of known side effects" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46009657)) "treatment is more helpful than a sugar pill in only 1 out of 6 cases" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46009280)) - Psychosis and homicidal impulses (2 comments in the sample): "had a psychotic episode described as a "murderous impulse" just after starting a brand new "wonder pill", Prozac." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46002561)) "SSRIs, at their inception, carried black-box warnings about homicidal ideations." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50268488)) ## Why people recommend it - Life-changing improvement in mood (4 comments in the sample): "I take prozac and it's far better than paxil (for me and many others). Has been transformative in my life." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50281981)) "A little prozac fixed something that was just chemically wrong in my head." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47087532)) "As an adult, Prozac for me has been life changing and for the better." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46010481)) - Works better than placebo (3 comments in the sample): "Studies repeated with just major depression all conclude antidepressants are better than a placebo." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46010746)) "current evidence suggests that prozac is effective well over placebo for adults" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46016531)) "Having seen the reversal myself, it's hard to understand how this is placebo." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46009232)) - Cheap with few side effects (2 comments in the sample): "effectively treated a condition that may be hereditary with no negative side effects" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46010851)) "since Prozac is cheap and I don't seem to suffer any side effects" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46008748)) - Helps those with genetic predisposition (2 comments in the sample): "for those with genetic predispositions it can be extremely helpful" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46016427)) "If a small dose can help someone have a somewhat "normal" childhood, then its worth a try." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46010816)) ## Other antidepressants people recommend - [Ketamine](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ketamine/): 8 recommend, 4 mixed, 5 criticize - [Bupropion](https://hackerapproved.com/p/bupropion/): 8 recommend, 4 mixed, 3 criticize - [Lexapro](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lexapro/): 8 recommend, 0 mixed, 3 criticize - [Wellbutrin](https://hackerapproved.com/p/wellbutrin/): 6 recommend, 0 mixed, 2 criticize ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Prozac", https://hackerapproved.com/p/prozac/ (10 recommend, 2 mixed, 28 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.