Prozac

If you have used Prozac please help others by sharing your experience with side effects to this forum. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Important Warning

According to the National Library of Medicine, a small number of children, teenagers, and young adults (up to 24 years of age) who took antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as Prozac (fluoxetine) during clinical studies became suicidal (thinking about harming or killing oneself or planning or trying to do so).

Children, teenagers, and young adults who take antidepressants to treat depression or other mental illnesses may be more likely to become suicidal than children, teenagers, and young adults who do not take antidepressants to treat these conditions. However, experts are not sure about how great this risk is and how much it should be considered in deciding whether a child or teenager should take an antidepressant.

You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways when you take fluoxetine or other antidepressants even if you are an adult over 24 years of age. You may become suicidal, especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or decreased. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:

new or worsening depression
thinking about harming or killing yourself
planning or trying to harm yourself
extreme worry
agitation
panic attacks
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
aggressive behavior
irritability
acting without thinking
severe restlessness
frenzied abnormal excitement

Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Your healthcare provider will want to see you often while you are taking Prozac, especially at the beginning of your treatment. Be sure to keep all appointments for office visits with your doctor.

The doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with fluoxetine. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You also can obtain the Medication Guide from the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/UCM096273.

No matter your age, before you take an antidepressant, you, your parent, or your caregiver should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of treating your condition with an antidepressant or with other treatments.

You should also talk about the risks and benefits of not treating your condition.

You should know that having depression or another mental illness greatly increases the risk that you will become suicidal. This risk is higher if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited) or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) or has thought about or attempted suicide. Talk to your doctor about your condition, symptoms, and personal and family medical history. You and your doctor will decide what type of treatment is right for you.

Prozac Side Effects

Tell your doctor if any of these side effects are severe or do not go away:

nervousness
nausea
dry mouth
sore throat
drowsiness
weakness
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
loss of appetite
weight loss
changes in sex drive or ability
excessive sweating

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

rash
hives
fever
joint pain
swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
difficulty breathing or swallowing
fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, and severe muscle stiffness
seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
seizures

Prozac may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

Serious side effects that are not listed here can be reported to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.

Read feeback and comments about Prozac.

Last post: March 29, 2012

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This consumer advocate website is protected by copyright © 2002-2012 Askdocweb, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This is a layman's report on Prozac and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. Do not use the information on this forum as a substitute for your doctor's advice. Always consult your doctor before taking any drug and follow your doctor's directions. Source material: Food and Drug Administration, Medline, Physician's Desk Reference, and the largest community of people in the world, those who are concerned about side effects and healthcare.