Prozac medication

What is Prozac?

Prozac is the commercial name of a patented drug- Fluoxetine, which is a unique member among Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is an established medication in the treatment of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an irregularity resulting in unwanted thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Similar depression disorders are Panic Disorder which is the root cause of sadness feeling in a person without any reason. Bulimia Nervosa is another such disorder which results in intermittent overeating periods followed by vomiting.

Such disorders are noticed because of an imbalance in the neurotransmitters released in our body through the nervous system. Prozac restores the balance of those neurotransmitters and accounts for feel-good factor. This is why, it is exemplary among antidepressant medication.

Prozac is supposed to have longer half life, which means that its effect remains even after its discontinuation. Thus, for low responding patients, it proves to be a boon as the impact of Prozac is still intact while the dose intake is stopped.

When is Prozac supposed to be taken?

Depression is a mental condition which can range in different intensities. Some depression symptoms are so subtle that they remain undiscovered and get intensified with time. Some of the symptoms which call for attention and thus Prozac medication are:

• Thinking and acts of taking its own life.
• Inability to sleep or Insomnia.
• Acting violently.
• Aggressive attitude.
• Been always scared.
• Irritability and excessive activities.
• Any other noticeable unusual change in behavior.

Benefits of Prozac

Prozac stands out in the category of anti-depressants as it has longer half-life. It works as a panaceal remedy for people who slowly respond to medications and thus they have long term impact of Prozac, even if the medication is discontinued.

Benefits of Prozac can be experienced only when taken according to prescription and the guidelines. Some other drugs and medicines have to be stopped to avail proper advantages of Prozac.

Prozac comes coupled with certain drawbacks which are termed as side effects of Prozac. There are some symptoms which initially do not classify as side effects as they may be new. But an unwanted change should immediately be reported to doctor, as it can very well be a side-effect. Some of the examples are:

• Tiredness
• Hallucinations
• Terror
• Dizziness
• Weight loss
• Pain in muscles and joints
• Imbalanced menstrual cycle
• Excessive sweating
• Behavioral changes
• Gastrointestinal problems like nausea and diarrhea.

The dosage of Prozac depends upon the severity and the medical history of the patient. Some of the points regarding Prozac intake and dosage are:

• Being an oral drug, Prozac can be taken with or without food.
• Prozac should not be taken more or less than the prescribed quantity.
• No two doses of Prozac should be taken together, even if the previous dose is missed, the missed and the next dose should not be taken simultaneously.
• The maximum advised dose of Prozac for adults is 80 mg while for children is 20 mg per day.
• Having longer half-life, the dose of Prozac should not be discontinued without doctor's advice.
• Overdosing of Prozac is not recommended for immediate relief. In such a case, call doctor at once.

Prozac demands for cautious and prescribed medication guidelines and routine. Certain drugs are prohibited to be taken along with Prozac as they can cause serious repercussions. Some of the precautionary measures to be taken are:

• To diminish depression, Prozac may cause sleepiness and affect your thinking capabilities. Without assured about how Prozac is affecting you, do not drive or perform activities which can prove dangerous.
• Drug interactions are a common problem with any medication. Consult your doctor if you are taking any medicine, vitamins, proteins or supplements, in addition with Prozac, as it might cause adverse effects if taken together.
• Fluoxetine Hydrochloride containing preparations are not supposed to be taken with Prozac.
• People carrying on with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor or discontinued within 5 weeks, should not take Prozac as it can cause serious heart ailments and also greater chances of dieing.
• Store Prozac under cold temperature and away from sunlight and children. The temperature range is stated on the pack itself.
• Do not intake Prozac for undefined disorders and also do not prescribe it to someone having the same symptoms.

This site throws light on Prozac or Fluoxetine which is an excellent anti-depressant with long half life and remedial properties in almost all types of depression and mental disorders. It incorporates many advantages as well as side-effects. However, the side-effects are more of temporary nature which are transient and arise due to discontinuation of Prozac.