Is Prozac Good For Anxiety

How Should This Medicine Be Used

Fluoxetine comes as a capsule, a tablet, a delayed-release capsule, and a solution to take by mouth. Fluoxetine may be taken with or without food. Fluoxetine comes as a capsule to take by mouth. Fluoxetine capsules, tablets, and liquid are usually taken once a day in the morning or twice a day in the morning and at noon. Fluoxetine delayed-released capsules are usually taken once a week. Fluoxetine is usually taken once a day, either every day of the month or on certain days of the month. Take fluoxetine at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take fluoxetine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the delayed-release capsules whole do not cut, crush, or chew them.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of fluoxetine and gradually increase your dose.

Prozac Misuse And Abuse

Even though fluoxetine is not on the controlled substances schedules, people do abuse it at times. Those people who do abuse it usually have a history of substance abuse and usually abuse it in combination with other drugs. A 2014 literature review on the abuse and misuse of antidepressants found a small number of cases of fluoxetine abuse by people who had histories of abusing multiple drugs, as well as histories of mental illness. These people abused fluoxetine by taking it in large quantities or taking it for reasons other than depression, such as using it as an appetite suppressant. There were also a couple of cases of people who used fluoxetine intravenously, or who opened up the drug capsules and sucked in the powder.5

Street names for Prozac include:

Happy Pills

Bottled Smilies

Miracle Drug

The misuse or abuse of fluoxetine and other anti-depressants can lead to dangerous situations if antidepressants are taken at high doses or if they are combined with other drugs. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control from 1999 to 2017 show a steady increase in overdose deaths involving antidepressants, from 1,749 in 1999 to 5,269 in 2017. The following chart separately tracks deaths caused by antidepressant overdose without any other drug involvement , deaths caused by antidepressants combined with opioids , and deaths caused by antidepressants combined with other synthetic narcotics :6

Why Do People Take Prozac Versus Other Drugs For Anxiety

Many types of medication are available for anxiety, so why Prozac? You and your medical provider may need to try a few medications to find the best fit for your case. Here are some of the other options available:

• Benzodiazepines – Typically used for short-term treatment, since it’s a habit-forming drug and best to avoid taking unless prescribed by your doctor.
• Buspirone – Similar to SSRIs, it takes Buspirone a few weeks to become fully effective, though it is not fully understood how the medication works. It can cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea.
• Tricyclics – An older drug that works as well as SSRIs for treating most anxiety disorders, except obsessive-compulsive disorder . Used less often because newer drugs see fewer side effects.
• MAOIs – Monoamine oxidase inhibitors treat panic disorder and social phobia more than anxiety. MOAIs are older drugs that may cause more side effects and come with dietary restrictions.
• Beta-blockers – More commonly used to treat heart conditions and the physical symptoms of social anxiety. May be prescribed for stressful social situations like giving a speech.

Ultimately, your doctor may prescribe Prozac since it has fewer side effects than older drugs like Tricyclics and MOAIs and provides a safe, long-term treatment rather than short-term patch treatments like benzos and beta-blockers.

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How Do Antidepressants Work

Common antidepressant medications include SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep, appetite, and mood. In anxiety and depression, it is common to see lower levels of serotonin, often resulting in symptoms of fatigue, reduced appetite, lack of pleasure, and more.

An SSRI works by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin into the brains neurotransmitter receptors, which then allows the chemical to be more abundant. This can help balance the serotonin levels in individuals with anxiety or depression.

Prozac is an SSRI, alongside other common antidepressants like Zoloft or Lexapro .

There is another class of antidepressants called SNRIs Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors. Similar to SSRIs, SNRIs work to block reabsorption of serotonin, as well as norepinephrine, which is another neurotransmitter heavily involved in mood and feelings of energy and alertness.

A third common class of antidepressants are known as NDRIs, or Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors. Norepinephrine is thought to play a role in the bodys stress response, while dopamine is thought to affect motivation and the ability to experience pleasure. One commonly prescribed SNRI is Cymbalta .

Prozac Vs Zoloft: Which Is Better For Anxiety

| | Similarities | Differences |

Occasionally feeling anxious or excessively worried is a normal part of life. These feelings are triggered by an upcoming event like a public performance, job interview, or test for most people, and these feelings usually go away after some time. However, when they persist, it may be due to an anxiety disorder. Anxiety, which is known as one of the most common mental health conditions, affects approximately 40 million Americans. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the United States, and it affects women more often than men. Anxiety can affect anyone at any age, and there are many reasons that a person can develop it. These include:

• Increased stress due to work, school, relationship, or financial problems
• Substance abuse
• Depression or other mental health problems
• Family history or genetic predisposition
• Low self-esteem
• Certain medical conditions such as heart problems, thyroid disease, or a side effect of taking some medications

• Restlessness or feeling on edge
• Fatigue
• Feeling excessively worried without a specific cause
• Trouble sleeping
• Viewing situations as threatening even if they are harmless
• Diarrhea or nausea

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Plesase Help Me Sleep

I am 32 years old & I have suffered from depression,OCD,& bi-polar disorder for over 15 years.I was taken off prozac when I was in high school due to news reports that prozac caused homicidal & suicidal thoughts.A girl in a town not to far from ours killed her entire family after starting prozac.My parents freaked out & that was it for me.15 years later I am back on prozac & have been for about 2 months.My OCD is alot better thanks to the prozac but I cant sleep.My dreams are so vivid that I’m waking up every 30 min. or so.Anyone that has ever hurt me haunts my dreams.People I dont think about or havent seen in years visit me through my dreams.Not only that- there is nothing for me to do if I should happen to wake up in the middle of the night next to my fiance because prozac killed my sex drive.I am a very attractive woman & although I am a little crazy I enjoyed sex a great deal now I turn my back to my man!

kamilah

Prozac Dosage For Anxiety

Every patient is different. Individual dosages can vary depending on the person taking the medication, their general health, age, and the nature of their anxiety disorder.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder : It is recommended that most patients with OCD should begin by taking 20 mg of Prozac by mouth every day. If your doctor believes you would benefit from a higher dose, they will gradually increase it by 20 mg over every few months. As a rule, patients should not take more than 80 mg by mouth a day when treating OCD.

• Panic Disorder:Its recommended that most patients with panic disorder should begin by taking 10 mg of Prozac by mouth every day before their dose is gradually increased to 20 mg and beyond. Patients with panic disorders should not take more than 60 mg by mouth a day to treat their condition.

Prozac is also approved for pediatric patients over the age of 7 with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Most pre-adolescent children should begin taking 10 mg of medication by mouth every day before their dosage increases to 20 mg after two weeks of treatment, while adolescents may be prescribed doses as high as 60 mg daily.

If you or your child has anxiety and are wondering what dosage might help manage those symptoms, please seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.

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Where To Get Prozac

Antidepressants are medications that require a prescription from a licensed psychiatric provider.

A therapist may recommend that you start taking antidepressant medication, but they cant actually prescribe it for you. What they can do is relay information to your psychiatric provider to help them better assess which course of action is best.

What Are Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders affect 31.9 percent of people between the ages of 13 and 18, and women are twice as likely to develop an anxiety disorder as men. Common examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, substance-induced anxiety disorder and specific phobias.

An anxiety disorder does more than make you anxious. They can affect your entire life. Plus, untreated anxiety can lead to other mental health disorders and physical conditions, Alonzo said. We have no way of predicting what will cause someone to develop an anxiety disorder. However, you can take steps to reduce the impact of symptoms such as getting help from a health care professional early and avoiding the use of non-prescribed drugs and alcohol.

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Common Side Effects Of Prozac Vs Xanax

The most common side effects of Prozac are headache, nausea, drowsiness, insomnia, appetite loss, sexual side effects, and nervousness or anxiety.

Xanax side effects usually increase with higher doses. The most common side effects of Xanax are sedation, dizziness, and weakness. Other side effects may include fatigue, lightheadedness, memory problems, confusion, depression, euphoria, suicidal thoughts/attempt, incoordination, lack of energy, dry mouth, convulsions/seizures, vertigo, visual problems, slurred speech, sexual problems, headache, coma, respiratory depression, weight gain or weight loss, worsening of sleep apnea or obstructive pulmonary disease, and gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, constipation, or diarrhea.

Each time you fill or refill your Prozac or Xanax prescription, you will receive a medication guide that discusses side effects, warnings, and other important information about your medication.

This is not a full list of adverse effects. Other, serious side effects may occur. Consult your healthcare provider for a complete list of side effects.

Can Prozac Make Anxiety Worse

Antidepressants can cause anxiety in the early days of treatment. This side effect is referred to as activation syndrome. Research shows that up to 31% of people who had never taken antidepressants before had activation syndrome when they took antidepressants.

However, this side effect is usually temporary and disappears as your body adjusts to the medication. If you are taking Prozac for anxiety and feel worse off, inform your doctor. Your doctor may lower your dosage, or give you other medication to counteract this side effect. Do not stop the medication before consulting your doctor.

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Ugh I Hated It I Think It Increased My Anxiety

Wow, I would suggest you try something else. I tried this for about three months. I had more trouble keeping my mind on things. I was impulsive. I seriously think it killed my sex drive. I would suggest that i took wellbutrin and i loved it but soon after my shrink made me stop and switched me to something else because it increases anxiety. Oh well, I’ve went off all SSRI’s and plan to stay off. I am giving Xanax a shot but only once a month or when needed because that could open up a whole new can of worms.

Is Prozac Or Xanax Better

Because each drug is used for different purposes, the drugs are not compared in clinical studies. The best drug for you can be determined by your healthcare provider, who can take into account your symptoms, medical conditions, history, and other medications you take that could possibly interact with Prozac or Xanax.

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Warnings Of Zoloft Vs Prozac

Antidepressants can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts in young adults and children. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors should be monitored in individuals whose symptoms are not improving.

Zoloft and Prozac can lower the seizure threshold in some people who have a history of seizures. Therefore, these drugs should be monitored or avoided in those affected groups.

Zoloft and Prozac can cause QT prolongation, an electrical disturbance in the heart muscle. If you have a history of arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythm, you may be at an increased risk.

SSRI antidepressant drugs are usually prescribed for long-term uses. Abruptly stopping these medications can cause withdrawal symptoms such as rebound anxiety, headaches, and insomnia. When stopping these medications, they should be tapered slowly with proper medical guidance.

Zoloft and Prozac are in Pregnancy Category C. They should only be used if benefits outweigh the potential pregnancy risks. Consult a doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Cautions With Other Medicines

Some medicines and fluoxetine can interfere with each other and increase the chances of you having side effects.

Tell your doctor if you’re taking these medicines before you start fluoxetine:

• any medicines that affect your heartbeat – as fluoxetine can speed up or change your heartbeat
• any other medicines for depression. Some rarely used antidepressants can interfere with fluoxetine to cause very high blood pressure even when they have been stopped for a few weeks.

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Are Prozac And Xanax The Same

No. While people may mention these drugs together, they are actually quite different. They are in different categories of medication, work in different ways, and have different dosing, indications, and side effects.

Prozac is an SSRI. Other SSRI drugs you may have heard of include Celexa , Lexapro , Luvox , Paxil , and Zoloft .

Xanax is a benzodiazepine. Some other benzodiazepines you may have heard of include Valium , Ativan , and Klonopin .

How Much Do Zoloft And Prozac Cost

Zoloft and Prozac are very similar in price. But there are differences worth noting.

The cash price for sertraline, the generic version of Zoloft, is about $40 for thirty 100 mg tablets , while thirty 20 mg tablets of fluoxetine, the generic version of Prozac, is about $31.

The brand versions of both drugs are much more expensive. But Zoloft is actually cheaper on the brand side. It costs $442 for thirty 100 mg tablets, while thirty 20 mg tablets of Prozac cost about $472.

The generic versions of both drugs are more likely to be covered by insurance plans because they cost less. You can also save on these medications using a GoodRx coupon or filling a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day.

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