Referenced frequently in culture, Prozac is a brand name for Fluoxetine pronounced (floo ox’ e teen). This medication is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, some eating disorders, and depression. The medication can also be used to help with mood swings, bloating, irritability, and breast tenderness with those with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Fluoxetine is in a class of medications referred to as SSRI’s which stands for serotonin reuptake inhibitors and it works by upping the amount of serotonin which is a natural substance in the brain that assists in maintain mental balance.
Sometimes it can take 4 to 5 weeks or more before people start feeling the benefits of fluoxetine. Occasional when people stop taking fluoxetine suddenly, they can have changes such as irritability, dizziness, anxiety, confusion, mood changes, numbness or tingling in the feet or hands, agitation, difficulty staying asleep or falling asleep, or headache.
Sometimes this medication is also used to treat alcoholism, borderline personality disorder, mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, sexual problems, phobias, and more. It is always best to speak to a doctor when finding out information relating to this medication and how it suits each person specifically in alignment with their health and wellness.
Medications can sometimes cause side effects, and a person should tell their doctor if they experience side effects that do not go away or are severe. Some side effects to be aware of sharing with your doctor with Fluoxetine is nervousness, weight loss, stuffy nose, excessive sweating, headache, weakness, dry mouth, heartburn, diarrhea, and others. A person should call their doctor immediately if side effects such as hives, blisters, joint pain, seizures, abnormal bleeding, difficulty breathing, or itching occur. It is always important to keep doctor’s appointments and discuss in depth health history with a physician and see if Fluoxetine is a good fit for an individual if they are curious about the medication and if it is something they think would help them. Other brand names Fluoxetine has is Rapiflux, Selfemra, Sarafem, and Prozac Weekly.
One more important thing to know about Fluoxetine is individuals that are prescribed the medication should not stop taking it when they feel better, a health care provider will work with the individual to see how long the person should take the medicine. Always discuss symptoms of your condition with a health care provider to see what the best plan of action is.
