Prozac - Prozac Side Effects
Prozac is a brand name of the generic prescription drug fluoxetine. Other brand names for fluoxetine include Prozac Weekly, Rapiflux and Sarafem. It is an antidepressant in the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) family. SSRIs work by slowing the absorption of serotonin in your brain, thus increasing the amount of serotonin available. While Prozac and other anti-depressantshave been invaluable in treating depression and other mood disorders, there are dangerous Prozac side effects of which you should be aware.
Common Prozac Side Effects: Suicidal thoughts are a common Prozac side effect, particularly in the first twelve weeks of treatment. It is not uncommon for many symptoms of anxiety and depression to worsen when you first start taking Prozac. Your doctor should schedule frequent appointments, and should tell you to report any of the following Prozac side effects immediately:
Mood or behavior changes, anxiety or panic attacks, trouble sleeping, disturbed sleep, impulsivity, irritability, aggravation, hostility, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, depression or thoughts of harming yourself or others
The Most Dangerous Side Effects of Prozac: For years, Eli Lilly, the makers of Prozac, have denied what is arguably the most dangerous Prozac side effect of all suicidal thoughts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have issued a special warning that anti-depressants like Prozac seem to increase the risk of suicide among children and adolescents. This risk is even higher if the child is being treated for bipolar disorder, or if there is a family history of suicide.
Prozac Withdrawal Symptoms: Because Prozac remains in your system for a long time even after you stop taking it, there is less chance of Prozac withdrawal than there is of withdrawal from other medications that don't last as long. However, there is still a chance that your body will react badly if you stop taking Prozac abruptly. In order to avoid Prozac withdrawal symptoms, many doctors will wean you off of Prozac by prescribing gradually smaller doses until you can safely stop taking Prozac altogether.
The most common Prozac withdrawal symptoms are headache, nausea, pins and needles, dizziness and anxiety. Those may sound mild, but many of those who experience them for weeks after discontinuing Prozac would differ. Tapering off Prozac is the best way to reduce the Prozac withdrawal symptoms. According to the company that makes the drug, less than 2 people in 1000 experience any symptoms at all when it is 'discontinued properly'.