Description
What is fluoxetine used for?
While this medicine is most commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety, it can help treat a variety of mental health disorders. It’s also beneficial for certain conditions that have both psychological and biological factors.
Fluoxetine has been used to treat the following disorders:
Depression (major depressive disorder)
Anxiety (panic disorder)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Eating disorders (bulimia)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Sexual disorders (premature ejaculation)
If you’re struggling with one of these conditions, generic Prozac may be helpful. Talk with a medical professional for help finding the right antidepressant for your personal treatment needs.
How does it work in the body?
SSRIs like fluoxetine (Prozac) increase levels of the mood-boosting chemical serotonin. This chemical is a neurotransmitter that relieves stress and helps you feel good. It can promote good sleep, memory, energy, and mood while increasing your interest in daily activities.
If you have depression, your brain’s chemical levels may be off. Taking a medication like generic Prozac can increase low levels of this hormone, which can reduce the symptoms of depression.
But how exactly does it work? We can’t be totally sure, but here’s what we think is going on. Neurons in your brain discharge chemicals like serotonin to communicate with other neurons. Once the signal has been sent, the remaining chemical is taken back into the neuron, a process called “reuptake.” Researchers have noticed that in some patients with symptoms of depression and anxiety, the amount of this chemical is lower than expected and associated.
By blocking or slowing down the reuptake process, this type of medication increases serotonin levels and improves your mental state. This leads to higher levels of the feel-good hormone in the space between neurons, where it’s freely available to boost and regulate your mood.
Fluoxetine side effects
This medicine is generally well-tolerated, and most patients don’t have serious side effects while taking it. Some of the most common side effects of fluoxetine are
Headache
Weakness and shakiness
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Indigestion and loss of appetite
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Some people prefer this med because it’s not associated with weight gain and is less likely to make you sleepy the way other antidepressants can.
It’s important to note that this medicine can also cause dangerous changes in thinking, including an increase in suicidality and manic depressive disorder. Please let your doctor know if you have a family history of suicide attempts or manic depressive disorder (also called bipolar disorder or manic depression).
How should I take it?
Use this medicine exactly as prescribed. It’s common to take generic Prozac once daily in the morning, but your prescriber may recommend something different depending on the condition you’re treating with this antidepressant. Often, people start with a low dose of the med and increase slowly over the course of a few weeks.
Try to take this medicine at the same time each day, and don’t stop taking it without consulting your doctor. It’s essential that you continue taking this med even if your symptoms improve. If you stop abruptly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms like bizarre sensations, dizziness, problems with digestion, sleep issues, and trouble with motor control.
How does this med help?
Depression can make it hard for you to do simple, daily things to care for yourself. It can cause your mood and energy levels to decline sharply, making it hard to sleep, eat, or function at your regular capacity.
It can also cause changes in your thinking. When you’re depressed, you might lose interest in things you once found engaging or gratifying, a symptom called anhedonia. You might find yourself wondering about “the point” of anything or experiencing other thoughts associated with feelings of hopelessness or despair.
We know how hard it is to feel this way. If you’re suffering from these symptoms, fluoxetine may benefit your general mood, make it easier to sleep, and allow you to eat normally. It can also help restore your energy and your interest in daily life. Plus, generic Prozac can reduce unwanted thoughts associated with hopelessness, despair, and obsession.
What about dosage?
Fluoxetine (generic Prozac) is available in both tablets and capsules. An adult starting dose for major depressive disorder is 20 mg taken once daily, but your dose may be as high as 80 mg per day, depending on your treatment needs. The Lemonaid pharmacy stocks this med in the following doses: Fluoxetine 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg capsules.
Your dose depends on your individual needs. It will be based on the medical condition for which you’re seeking treatment, as well as how able you are to tolerate the meds. It’s common to start at a low dose and slowly build up to a higher amount of medicine, a process called drug titration.
Can it treat anxiety?
Though some antidepressants have been FDA-approved to treat anxiety, Prozac has only been approved for the treatment of depression. Although this med is not FDA-approved for anxiety treatment, it’s commonly prescribed off-label for that purpose.
If your doctor or nurse practitioner has prescribed fluoxetine for anxiety, use it just as directed. To maximize its benefit, use this med in combination with other modalities like talk therapy, behavioral strategies, and lifestyle changes to improve mental health and manage anxiety and depression.
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Source:https://www.drugs.com/
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