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Originally Posted On: Prozac ( Fluoxetine ) Withdrawal Symptoms, Side-Effects, Treatment Help (alternativetomeds.com)
Despite overwhelming evidence and even FDA black-box warnings, Prozac withdrawal symptoms tend to get blamed on the patient rather than the drug itself.
Prozac can have extraordinary side-effects and debilitating withdrawal characteristics for certain persons. Disturbingly, these patients tend to get disregarded and minimized for their very real suffering.
Do you feel misunderstood? So were we.
Alternative to Meds Center been tackling antidepressant withdrawal for over 15 years. We have published evidence regarding our success. Our staff, including licensed professionals and founding members, have overcome similar struggles, which is why we do this work. After working with over 20,000 cases, we have found that each person needs a unique combination of support. Some people are neurotoxic in a way that debilitates neurochemical balance, some require lifestyle modification including diet changes, exercise, and supplementation, and some people have genetic polymorphisms or even medical conditions that can be identified and improved.
Watch this video of a woman who came to Alternative to Meds in a truly disabled state. She was on benzodiazepines and antidepressants and was still highly anxious and highly depressed. She was unable to work and barely able to walk. After completing the program, she was off both medications, was able to walk 1 1/2 hours a day, and has since regained her profession of being a professional counselor.
Prozac withdrawal can be safely done but must be done gradually with adequate support during the process. There are strategic ways to build the neurochemistry naturally so as to properly brace for the withdrawal process
According to recent statistics, Prozac is poised among the top three most prescribed antidepressant drugs; 24,961,000 prescriptions were written in the US alone in for 2011-2012,1 and the statistics have continued to rise. Prozac is an antidepressant drug in the class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Prozac affects neurotransmitters, which are the chemicals within the brain and digestive system that help to send messages along nerve pathways. SSRIs are used in the treatment of a major depressive disorder.
In 2017 it was reported by the National Center for Health Statistics that 13% of all US citizens 12 years of age and older took antidepressants.4 Many such antidepressants were originally intended for short term use, and the original studies supporting their use were short-term studies that did not include long-term efficacy or safety.
With surprising clarity, the DSM-5 clearly delineates the critical importance of assessment in carefully selecting persons who may or may not be good candidates for SSRI drugs to be used in therapy.2
While an ever-growing number of doctors and nurse practitioners are legally able to prescribe medications, it remains essential for consumers to practice due diligence in fully researching a drug and possible useful adjunctive therapies for treating depression in all age categories, before either beginning or ending a prescription drug. For those who have decided to stop taking Prozac, medial oversight is strongly advised. It is possible to learn effective techniques concerning how to get off Prozac safely and as comfortably as possible.
Below you will find some information that may be useful for such research, covering frequently asked questions, concerns, side effects, and additional data. Below is more information on Prozac alternative treatment, stopping Prozac safely, and more. Please contact us to provide more information on these or other topics by request.
What is Prozac (Fluoxetine) Used For?
SSRI drugs such as Prozac are used in treating MDD (major depressive disorder). There are about half a dozen SSRIs that the FDA has approved for treating depression, each having similar characteristics and efficacy. Prozac is the one which remains approved for prescribing to young people, and that is possibly why the number of Prozac prescriptions tends to outweigh the other drugs in this class. Prozac alternative treatments are available, but sadly ignored in the main by doctors and others who may not have been trained in such methods, using non drug-based protocols.
According to various psychiatric associations around the world, pharmacological solutions are not always the recommended first line of defense. For example, often the recommendation of psychotherapy is shown to work where prescribed antidepressants are much less effective. For example, two-thirds of adolescents who were prescribed antidepressants reported relapse phenomena after completing a course of SSRI treatment in the absence of psychotherapy.3
One type of “talk therapy” found effective for the treatment of depression is called CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy. There are many forms of CBT that can be explored, including these:
Cognitive restructuring: involves identifying irrational beliefs or negative automatic thoughts or assumptions and replacing those with more positive and realistic thoughts and conclusions.
Behavioral Activation: creating strategies that support and explore pleasurable experiences; this may motivate and overcome those aspects of inertia or avoidance that are often associated with depression.
Problem-solving collaboration: engaging with a skillful therapist can foster new ways to solve old problems.
Between therapy sessions: assigned “homework” to be done between sessions can provide meaningful opportunities to put into practice newly discovered ways of addressing challenges that may instill a sense of tangible and demonstrated progress.
Prozac Alternative Names and Slang
Prozac is the brand name for fluoxetine hydrochloride, the active main ingredient. Slang or street names for Prozac are:
- Wonder drug
- Bottled smiles
- Miracle drug
- Happy pills
Prozac has become a slang word itself, according to the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, where the definition for Prozac used as an adjective to describe “someone lively and excited.”
Prozac Side Effects
The most troubling side effect for Prozac is the risk of suicide, and unexpected episodes of rage or violence, especially in the initial period of starting to take the drug.
Some people do not report any Prozac side effects or report only mild reactions. Others experience a range of adverse effects from mild to moderate to severe. Such reactions may lead to a decision to begin a program of getting off Prozac. For those considering Prozac cessation, a Prozac taper should only be attempted with medical help and guidance.
Some Prozac side effects include:
- Elevated mood
- Symptoms of low blood sugar, which can induce tachycardia, cold sweats, chills, shakiness, anxiety, unsteady gait, loss of balance, confusion, etc.
- Nausea
- Hot flashes
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Tremors
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Upset stomach, vomiting
- Pain
- Weakness
- Strange dreams
- Changes in vision
- Yawning
- Tiredness, drowsiness, may affect ability to drive or operate machinery
- Nervousness
- Decreased sex drive
- Anorgasmia
- Indigestion
There are some side effects that are less commonly reported, some of which may require immediate medical intervention to avoid serious health risk:
- Serotonin syndrome, life-threatening toxic reaction, coma, seizure, unconsciousness, rigidity, sudden fever, delirium, death is possible.
- Hyponatremia or symptoms of low sodium such as seizure, confusion, weakness, thirst.
- Serious allergic reaction, rash, hives, itching, swelling, etc.
- Convulsions or seizures
- Suicidal behaviors and agitated behaviors or thoughts, feeling restless, agitated, anxious, aggressive, hostile, overly emotional, feeling of wanting to hurt oneself, feeling of wanting to hurt others.
- Signs of bleeding in the stomach such as black tarry stool, vomiting blood, frequent nosebleeds, etc., which can occur because of decreased coagulation of blood platelets.
- Signs of liver problems including nausea, yellowing of the skin or eye-whites, dark urine, pale stools, itching, etc.
- Enlargement of breasts or discharge of milk from the breasts.
- Unusual body or facial movements or tics, involuntary movements.
- Mania, uncontrolled speech, thoughts, impulsive behaviors.
Prozac Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawing from Prozac, usually called a Prozac taper, should be done carefully and slowly, not all at once due to the changes that might be too rapid for the body to adjust easily to. Some Prozac withdrawal symptoms that are experienced when getting off Prozac most commonly include:
- Brain zaps (feel like jolts of electricity through the head)
- Anxiety
- Flu-like symptoms
- Nausea
- Loss of balance
Discontinuing/Quitting Prozac (fluoxetine)
When Prozac side effects become hard to tolerate or seem to outweigh the benefits of the drug, a person may decide to stop taking Prozac. This is generally called Prozac cessation.
However, abruptly stopping is not recommended and in fact, can be life-threatening. Prozac withdrawal can be safely accomplished with proper assistance. Always seek medical assistance from your doctor, or a competent and licensed health practitioner to get proper and safe guidance regarding how to get off Prozac safely. There is competent guidance available for those seeking Prozac withdrawal help. Alternative to Meds Center specializes in Prozac withdrawal treatment and other programs to achieve mental health naturally. Stopping Prozac can be done surprisingly gently and comfortably with the correct protocols and support in place.
Prozac (fluoxetine) FAQs
Below is some information regarding some frequently asked questions about Prozac and some of the characteristics of the drug.
Ask your doctor if you have more questions about how to take Prozac, when to take it, if you have concerns about side effects, if your dosage needs to be changed, if you are considering Prozac withdrawal, or any other important questions.
Is Prozac Highly Addictive?
Prozac is not considered to be addictive according to the organizations that regulate prescription medication. Regulatory bodies that oversee prescribing medications do not classify Prozac as habit-forming or addictive. However, recreational users do report being attracted to its speed-like high and do at times seek treatment for what they are viewing as Prozac addiction or dependence. Because the drug is prescribed, often for a very long time, Prozac addiction can develop unnoticed. The very fact that the FDA advises against abruptly stopping Prozac, informs that dependence is of prime concern for the safety of the patient.
Are Prozac and Xanax (Benzodiazepine) the Same Thing?
Xanax is a benzodiazepine, where Prozac is an SSRI antidepressant. For some users, Prozac has a sedating effect that may resemble a benzodiazepine-type effect.
Can Prozac Make You Sleepy?
One known Prozac side effect is that it can cause the person to feel sleepy or drowsy. This common Prozac side effect may make it difficult to drive a car, or operate heavy machinery safely. CFS or chronic fatigue syndrome is defined as chronic fatigue of unknown cause. However, if Prozac was the known cause of chronic drowsiness and the drug was continued for a substantial period of time, it is possible that chronic fatigue syndrome may have been diagnosed in error.
In clinical trials done, aerobic exercise has been proven more effective in the treatment of CFS than Prozac, and even when exercise and Prozac were combined, there was no further improvement than that attained with exercise alone.5
Is Prozac Dangerous?
Prozac is not recommended for all cases of depression, and there are clear delineations in the DSM-5 which offer guidance regarding who should and who should not be prescribed Prozac as a first line of treatment. Especially where other medications are being taken, and certain health conditions exist, these types of factors can heighten certain risks and should be taken into consideration before prescribing Prozac. Because of the euphoric high that many users report, Prozac addiction is a dangerous yet frequently overlooked potential consequence.
Some factors can increase the risk of what is called the “overstimulation reaction.” This is where there have been reports of people acting in dangerous ways to themselves and/or others after taking this medication. This could be a case of what is called disinhibition, where a person on a sedative, like alcohol or benzodiazepines, acts in violent ways. Careful assessment of these potentials in an individual may preclude Prozac as the right choice in such cases.
Only a competent medical doctor who has access to patient history and current information can assess and determine the risk to benefit ratio for the individual.
Concerns have been raised about the content of fluoride in Prozac and other medications and health products. There are unresolved questions concerning the safety of fluoride in products made for ingestion, and this area remains under discussion within the FDA and also of interest to health advocacy groups.6
Treatment for Prozac (fluoxetine) Abuse and Addiction?
At the Alternative to Meds Center, programming and assessment is done on an individual basis to design a set of protocols designed to assist a person to safely benefit from Prozac withdrawal help. Prozac withdrawal can be comfortable as well as safe, allowing for natural mental health protocols to replace prescription medication.
Many people seek relief from depression, or other unwanted symptoms, for which prescription drugs may not have provided a complete answer. Recovery of health can include relief from mental health symptoms, without relying on drugs which tend to mask symptoms, rather than fix the root causes. Prozac withdrawal treatment may be significantly beneficial in such a situation.
Removal of neurotoxic accumulations from the body, and corrective nutrition can provide a good starting point for the recovery of health. Holistic neurotransmitter repair is another treatment possibility that may be of interest where a person is seeking relief of symptoms without the need for prescription drugs to suppress or mask these types of symptoms.
At the Alternative to Meds Center, we can work in many ways with individuals who are seeking bettered natural mental health. A gentle Prozac taper can be one important part but not the only area to address during our Prozac withdrawal treatment program. We are aiming to help our clients achieve natural mental health. We invite you to contact us and we are happy to supply more information about Prozac withdrawal on request.
1. “Top antidepressant drugs in the United States based on prescriptions dispensed in 2011-2012” Statista
2. Hillhouse TM, Porter JH “A brief history of the development of antidepressant drugs: From monoamines to glutamate” US National Library of Medicine, 2016 Feb 1
3. Van Voorhees BW MD MPH, Smith S Ph.D., Ewigman B MD MSPH “Treat depressed teens with medication and psychotherapy” US National Library of Medicine, 2008 Nov
4. CDC Index
5. Stevens DL “Chronic fatigue” US National Library of Medicine, 2001 Nov
6. “FDA: Tell Fluoride Supplement Manufacturers & Pharmacies to Stop Selling Unapproved Drugs” Change.org