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Overview
Prozac was the first of a new generation of antidepressants to come on the market. It works by enhancing the action of a brain chemical called serotonin.
In a few short years this drug has become so popular that, in addition to becoming the most prescribed antidepressant on the physicians' hit parade of drugs, it has become a household name.
Prozac has been featured on the covers of newsmagazines and has even been the subject of a best-selling book (Listening to Prozac).
This success comes largely because Prozac is less likely to cause typical side effects associated with older medications.
Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil, Tofranil, Sinequan and Pamelor can produce dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, weight gain, and a sluggish or lethargic feeling. Prozac does not.
If anything, it has a slight stimulant action.
Prozac is used in the treatment of depression; it is also approved for treating obsessive compulsive disorder.
Psychiatrists continue to experiment with the use of this medication for eating disorders and other problems.
Side Effects and Interactions
Side effects associated with Prozac include headache, nervousness, agitation, insomnia, tremor, fatigue, rash, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dizziness, depersonalization, nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, sweating and dry mouth.
Somewhat less common adverse reactions include impaired concentration and memory, weird dreams, lowered libido, loss or delay of orgasm, abnormal ejaculation, dry skin, constipation, hair loss and itching. Report any symptoms to your physician promptly.
Uncommon but very serious side effects to be alert for are rash with flulike symptoms such as chills, fever or sore throat, anemia, breathing problems, severe allergy, or seizures.
Prozac interacts with a number of other medications. Anyone taking other antidepressants, especially drugs such as Nardil, Marplan or Parnate should stop such a medicine at least two weeks before starting on Prozac.
If Prozac was taken first, five weeks should elapse before starting on one of these other medicines, because Prozac can last in the body a long time.
Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil or Tofranil and even Anafranil for obsessive-compulsive disorder may have stronger actions and more pronounced toxicity when they are combined with Prozac.
If such a combination is prescribed, the physician should monitor blood levels of the medications.
The same is true of the antipsychotic drug Haldol.
If the amino acid tryptophan ever becomes available in this country again, it should not be taken with Prozac, as it may increase the potential for adverse reactions.
Other compounds that could cause complications in combination with Prozac include lithium, Coumadin, Lanoxin and Valium (or similar medications such as Dalmane, Halcion or Klonopin).
Interactions between the herb St. John's wort and Prozac are possible. Switching between antidepressants and herbal treatment calls for medical guidance (physicians can find a suggested protocol for gradual substitution of St. John's wort in Hyla Cass's book, St. John's Wort: Nature's Blues Buster).
Check with your pharmacist and physician before taking any other medicines or herbs.
Special Precautions
Some people may need very close monitoring if the doctor prescribes Prozac.
Because this drug may cause anxiety, nervousness and insomnia in a substantial number of people, those with a predisposition to such conditions need to alert their physicians if such symptoms are aggravated by Prozac.
Patients with kidney disease, diabetes, liver problems or a history of seizures also require careful monitoring while they are taking Prozac.
People with a history of suicide attempts must also be extremely vigilant. There have been reports that some people may develop a preoccupation with suicide or violence while taking Prozac.
It is still not certain whether this is caused by the underlying mental condition or is in some way related to the drug.
Family members must help monitor people on Prozac for suicidal thoughts or self-destructive behaviors. The doctor must be notified immediately in such cases.
Taking the Medicine
According to the manufacturer, you can take Prozac with or without food.
If it upsets your stomach you may find that swallowing Prozac with meals may be helpful.
Did this drug work? Average rating: 4.1/5 (30 votes)
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I have been taking fluoxetine at 40mg/day for 4 months now, and I can't believe the difference I have seen in myself and others have seen in me. It really has given me back my life, and I would strongly recommend this drug to anyone suffering from severe depression. I only experienced a few side effects. The worst one that I have experienced, sadly, is loss of orgasm. It's frustrating and it sucks, but I have a wonderful husband who completely understands (and who also takes an anti-depressant), and the benefits of the drug still outweigh the side effects for me. However, I am also on a strong narcotic, and this also contributes to not being able to reach orgasm. So I am double whammied. Anyone else experience the same thing on Fluoxetine?
My 16 year old son took his life after taking fluoxetine 20mg (by TEva) for 43 days. A friend of his later told me that my son had confided in him & told him the medication (the only medication he was on) made him feel like a different person who didn't care about anything anymore, not even living. We were never told of the Black Box Warning on SSRI's (for people under the age of 24yrs) Not the Dr. nor the Pharmacy said a thing.. after contacting the F.D.A., I learned about the high suicide rates for teens on fluoxetine, more than all the other SSRI's combined. My son had no previous suicide attempts or ideations.. Beware of this drug if you are within this age group!
My dr prescirbed this med to me knowing about the migraine meds and elavil that I also take for chronic pain--when I picked up the rx the pharmacist told me not to take it cause taking with zomig-maxalt-etc.. can cause fatal heartbeats--make sure to tell your dr all meds and have the cross reference before they write the rx .
I have been taking Prozac since 1990 and have had excellent results. My insurance company INSISTED I change to the generic of Prozac. After about 3-4 weeks my family started to notice a difference in my behavior and asked if I had stopped taking my medicine. I had noticed I was feeling "down" more often and it was a fight to bring myself back "up" and get everyday things accomplished. I also found I began to have serious thoughts of just "ending it all". Something I hadn't had for years.
I thought it was just a tough period I was going through for some reason. I never thought my body was not responding to the generic drug. I spoke with my doctor and she suggested I try the brand name Prozac for a few weeks to a month and see how I felt. After about 2 weeks I noticed a remarkable difference in my outlook and my family said they noticed that I was more like my "normal" self again.
Since this time, my insurance has made errors and my doctor's office has concurred with their requests to change my medicine to the generic -- 3 times. I now have my file marked in YELLOW AND ORANGE HIGHLIGHTS that there is to be NO SUBSTITUTIONS. MUST HAVE THE BRAND NAME. Although I have heard from many people that generics are exactly the same as the brand name drugs -- in this case for me the generic was like taking nothing at all. I DO take generics whenever possible, but this is one medication I refuse to ever change again. Life with chronic depression is no fun, and life-threatening for me.
I have taken Prozac for almost 10 years and just lately realized I do not care about anything anymore. I don't answer my phone, do not care how I look or how much weight I gain....I think it all goes back to my taking Prozac for so long. I am afraid to stop taking it because I am afraid to care about things now.
I have been on Prozac since 1999, now that there is a generic I have been taking that one. I have noticed a dramatic change in the way I feel...I have a heavy head and have a hard time concentrating and keeping my train of thought, I forget things and feel like I am functioning in a out of focus world. Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover the nongeneric brand. Is it possible that taking generics is different than the name brand?
The generic form of Prozac (called fluoxetine hydrochloride) does NOT WORK NEARLY AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL! And it tastes like melted plastic as soon as it hits your saliva...it's awful. God forbid it starts to dissolve in your esophagus and back up into your throat. It is a terrible feeling and I had to race home at high speeds in my car to drink some milk to wash down the medicine. Almost did me in. Spend the extra money and get the real thing folks!
I have been taking generic fluoxetine for 6 months now and have noticed a HUGE difference between generics. The fluoxetine made by Barr pharmaceuticals is awful! It tastes like rotton eggs and is about as effective as taking a placebo. My depression was back, I couldn't think straight, and my anger problems were back too.
But the other generics I've taken of fluoxetine worked fine. I think the Barr version of fluoxetine is inferior to all fluoxtetines made, which is weird, because they were the first to manufacture generic Prozac. You think they would have gotten it right by now, or maybe they have just recently gotten careless with their manufacturing processes.
Sometimes when I take my Prozac I get incredible stomach upset. Have you ever tasted the powder inside the capsule? It feels like it's burning a hole through your tongue. No wonder my stomach is upset.
Generic SSRI's do not work. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, ect. I have not used them in my psychiatric practice for 4 years.
H. Wagemaker, MD
i have been taking fluoxetine for 3 weeks now and have been finding it very difficult to climax, something that has never been a problem before! i am gutted! its reassuring to hear i am not the only one!
Is there a way to find out which generic company makes the closest equivalent to the original FLUOXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE? The generics I have been getting DO NOT WORK and I don't have insurance so I'm hoping to find a generic that will work as well as the original did. I have found the FDA Orange Book but am unsure as to what to look for there. Thank you for any help you can give.
I am taking Fluoxetine manufactured by Sandoz and haven't had any adverse side effects. I hope this helps NK.
I was taking Fluoxetine by Mallinckrodt for over a year and was feeling great. Then my script was refilled with Fluoxetine by Teva and my depression is back. I also have been having severe anxiety and uncontrolled thoughts.
I have seen my doctor and talked to the pharmacist. Mallinckrodt has been discontinued. So they have increased my dose. It has been 1 week and I still feel crazy. My doctor wants me to give it 2-4 weeks.
Has anyone else had this experience and does it get better? Should I just demand Name Brand?
I'm 17 and I've only been taking 10mg for a little over a week and I can't orgasm at all. Didn't have any problems a week ago. I also have a lowered sex drive. Whoever else has this problem shouldn't feel alone.
I also have trouble sleeping. Somebody else mentioned the high suicide rate among teenagers taking fluoexetine, my Doctor mentioned this. I've had suicidal thoughts since 3rd grade, I've been seeing counselors since then, but I only just started taking medication.
Same here. Teva is horrid for me. The one I use is from Sandoz; white with orange stripes. It's worked wonders for me. Just try different generics, and call up the pharmacies around your area to see what type they offer.
I had great results with the Barr generic of fluoxetine.. The Teva version sent me off the deep end and I have just learned Teva bought Barr so as of tomorrow I will be begin a generic made by Sandoze.. This could not have happened at a worse time as I am traveling outside the country next week.. .uggggggghhhhh.. Depression symptoms are slowly returning--stayed in bed all days yesterday and did not do any chores.. :-(
I have taken Prozac off and on for several years. I've tried various medications and I have always preferred the Prozac because I can get the desired effect on the lowest dose. However, my pharmacy recently switched the generic Prozac they carried to a different one and seriously, I felt TERRIBLE!!
I called them and they ordered the Sandoz generic I used to take (the ones they switched to were 2 different shades of blue... BAD STUFF!). We'll see what happens. I noticed that Sandoz Prozac is now in a powdered form inside the capsule as well. It used to be "beads". Anyone else notice this?? If this doesn't work, I guess I'll fight the insurance company and see if I can get the brand name Prozac (right now, I'd have to pay $150 a month!!). I'm all about generics unless it's messing with moods/the brain!
Deanna, PLEASE tell me where you are finding Prozac for 150 a month! I just paid 391.00!!! And I have allergic reactions to Prozac generics--mouth and throat swell and I have problems breathing. Although that is a serious reaction, my insurance refuses to cover a penny of the brand name drug. I have nothing against generics, either. I just don't want to die from them!! So, you can see, 150.00 sounds good to me! Thanks for any help you can give. Ann
I have been on the generic now for about a year. I lost my job because my boss told me I wasn't able to focus, which is a side effect of depression and the drug. At any rate, I have felt tremendously better being on this medication - better than I have in my whole life. I've suffered from severe depression and anxiety since I was about 10. I've tried Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Selexa, and several others.
This is the only one that helps me regulate my sleeping patterns, and have the oomph to get out of bed and not feel entirely hopeless. I do agree with Louise, however, that it's virtually impossible for me to have an orgasm on this medication. I still find myself to be interested in sex, but I simply cannot climax. And during the adjustment period (about a month after starting the med) I could hardly hold my head up, I was so sleepy. All in all, given that I've been on so many different medications for depression, this is the best one. I actually feel normal, which is something I never thought I'd be.
I guess I'm in the adjustment period with the prozac. The one side effect that I have gotten, which I did not get with any other ssri is weight loss. A good side for me as long as it is just in the adjustment phase.
I do however "think" I feel much better. Hard to tell when your looking for it, but I notice like previous poster, that I do get right out of bed and don't have that sickened feeling in my gut.
anybody else w/ gut issues, like real lose of appetite?
DS - yes, I had a lot of digestive issues while in the adjustment phase. And, as well, I lost about 6lbs during that time. Once you level off (if you're like me) you'll stop losing, and your stomach will adjust.
I know that I feel better. I used to lie in bed for an hour or so because I simply couldn't get up to face everything. Now, it's not even a thought. I wake up, and I'm ready to go. I believe it's mostly the medicine, because I've never had that improvement in all the time I've suffered from depression. I've even noticed a lot of the aches and pains I used to have are gone now.
I've changed my way of thinking about depression, due to my doctor. I no longer am ashamed of it, nor do I feel like I'm the odd man out. I OWN it. This is mental illness. I don't hear voices, I'm not locked up in the looney bin, but this is mental illness, nonetheless. And once I started thinking in that manner, my whole approach changed. I look at my symptoms no differently than I would if I had diabetes or another disease.
And I also no longer look for a pill to solve everything. But I know Fluoxetine enables me to cope and deal with things, which is worlds apart from the life I knew before.
Kristi
I had the same thing happen to me! The Malinkrodt worked wonders! And then WHAMO! They stopped making it and I was on Teva! Ever since I've been on a different generic I feel like garbage! I want my old generic back so badly!
I have wrestled with depression and OCD for a number of years now. I have been taking the generic of fluoxetine but recently my pharmacy changed manufacturers. It's been 3 weeks now and I am in the middle of another depressive episode. Usually last 4-5 days. Very dark and gut wrenching. After reading the above comments it sounds like I need to switch to the real thing. This is a hell I would not wish on anyone.
Hi, I've been on Prozac on and off for years, I've just come off it but have noticed that I'm starting to feel agitated, lethargic etc, cant be bothered to do anything and in my own little world half the time, I've still got some left so I'm going to go back on them, the question I wanted to ask is how do you know what's generic and what's not, what's the difference, mine are fluexotine 20mg and say milpharm limited. Does that mean anything?
I have been on generic prozac for 9 years and it works great for me.
I've been on prozac for 2 months. I've lost my appetite and along with it 18 pounds and counting. I have forgotten what being hungry feels like and I only eat when I get a headache or feel nauseous. I've had horrible bouts of diarrhea and nausea. I'm not sure how effective it has been on my depression. I mainly feel apathetic. I'm strongly considering stopping the medication because I'm tired of constantly feeling sick.
I have just (2 weeks now) been changed to generic Prozac. I am so sick, nauseated, but I know I need an antidepressant. Have tried about all the others. Have had weight gain with the others, and do not have an appetite with Fluoxentine. Please help me. Would the non-generic (Prozac) be any different? I feel sick all the time. HELP!!!!!!
JW - I don't believe you'd experience anything different (other than a whole in your pocket from the cost) by using brand name Prozac. People are different - but I've had a better experience with the generic. Give it about 4 to 6 weeks. You'll feel better. I know I did.
My daughter has had the same issue with it as well-her Dr. said there was no other antidepressant that he could prescribe for her at her age (17). So I called and talked with her pharmacist to see if they had any suggestions and she said to try the tablet form and cut in half and take 1 with breakfast and then like 20-30 min later take the other half. She said it is not under the name Prozac it is called the fluoxitine tablet.
Has anyone had experience with it?
I'm 16 and started Prozac at 15. I did feel better at first but now I feel like my depression is coming back slowly. I get really bad stomach cramps and feel like throwing up and bad headaches.