When looking into antidepressant medication, fluoxetine (Prozac) is often one of the first names to come up. Your psychiatrist may recommend it, or you may hear about it from a friend or family member who has had positive experiences. But everyone is different, which is why it’s important to consider for yourself whether or not you should take Prozac. In today’s blog, we’ll break down the information about Prozac so that you can discuss the option with your psychiatrist.
Should You Take Antidepressant Medication?
Before we discuss Prozac in particular, you have to decide whether antidepressant medication is right for you in general. There are two main, proven treatments for depression: psychotherapy — which is talk therapy — and pharmacotherapy — which is treatment through prescription medications. Patients may choose one or the other, but may find that combination of the two is most effective.
Therapy can help you to set goals for yourself and learn coping strategies in order to better handle your worst mental health days. Medication helps to reduce your symptoms on a daily basis by addressing the chemical imbalance in the brain that exacerbates the mental illness. Additionally, therapy or counseling may only be needed for a period of months, but you may choose to take antidepressant medication after the fact.
Many individuals worry that taking medication to help with their mental illness will make them less themselves. The truth is that medication for depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders is no more likely to make you less yourself than medication for physical injuries. The goal of antidepressant medication is to remove the barriers that your mental illness may place on your motivation, focus, and mood, so that you are more able to meet your goals and live your life worth living.
The decision is ultimately up to you whether to take prescription medication as treatment for mental health disorders or not, though some — such as OCD, ADHD, or schizoaffective disorders — may need the day-to-day treatments more urgently than others. Speak with your psychiatrist to determine if medication would be helpful in your case.
What Is Prozac?
Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) which seeks to boost the serotonin levels in the brain, thus boosting your focus and mood throughout the day and reducing symptoms of depression. Prozac may also be used to treat anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and bulimia.
You may be prescribed Prozac after a diagnosis of any of the above conditions. You may also bring up Prozac to your psychiatrist to ask about its effectiveness in your case.
Benefits of Prozac
The main benefit of Prozac, of course, is the boosted levels of serotonin. Increased serotonin levels can lessen symptoms of depression, and offer substantial benefit when it comes to:
- Mood and energy
- Sleep
- Digestion and appetite
- Wound healing
- Sexual desire
You can’t always stop a bad day from happening, but with more serotonin levels, you may be more resilient when it hits. In addition, Prozac is an SSRI, which means it’s not a controlled substance and is typically not addictive.
Side Effects of Prozac
Like any medication, there are sometimes side effects with Prozac. These are typically mild and are far outweighed by the benefit that most patients experience. It is important to know the side effects, however, and to bring them up to your psychiatrist if you notice them in yourself. Side effects may be a sign that your dosage needs to be adjusted or that you may need to change medication completely.
Common side effects include:
- Hives and itching
- Restlessness
- Chills
- Joint or muscle pain
In rare cases, there may be additional side effects such as:
- Cold sweats
- Confusion
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Increased hunger or thirst
- Headache
- Racing heartbeat
- Unusual facial movements
- Seizures
Again, the following are rare but you should always communicate with your psychiatrist if you notice them. Everyone reacts differently to different medications, and being transparent is a big part of finding the right medication for you. You should also tell your psychiatrist about any allergies that you have or other medications that you take, in case these would interact with Prozac in a negative way.
At the end of the day, should you take Prozac? Prozac has been proven effective in treating depression and anxiety, as well as other mental health disorders, and it is DEA and FDA approved. But ultimately, this is something to discuss with your psychiatrist. What we can say, at least, is that when you look at the benefits of Prozac and the proven effectiveness, it’s at least worth bringing it up.
Need to speak with a psychiatrist or find a psychiatrist who can help you find the right prescription medication? Rivia Mind has you covered. Contact us today to learn more about our mental health treatments or to find a provider.
