The popularization of Prozac initially led to a boom in prescriptions for the drug. Find out how it works and what it’s for.
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O prozac arrived in North American pharmacies in 1988. It was a moment of glory for doctors, pharmacies and patients at the time, as it meant a revolution in the treatment of depression.
Also known at the time as the happiness pill, this drug is still quite popular today – perhaps because it appeared at a time when drugs were scarce and because it caused fewer side effects than many others on the market.
Even if it is seen as an added value, it is necessary to understand that this is a medicine and, as such, it must be prescribed by the doctor after analyzing and studying each situation.
It is therefore essential that an assertive diagnosis is made so that it is possible to adapt the medication to each person. After all, the same medication used in an identical treatment may not be the most suitable for two different people.
Stay with us and learn all about Prozac, how it works and what it’s for.
What is Prozac and what is it used for?
O prozac is an antidepressant medication, whose active ingredient is fluoxetine. For a better understanding, Fluoxetine constitutes an antidepressant of the class of selective reuptake inhibitors of serotonin.
Does it seem difficult to understand how it works? In general, the active principle acts by inhibiting the absorption of serotonin by the neurons, which when they have lower levels, can even cause depression, anxiety or other obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
I.e, Prozac works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain – a neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of well-being and pleasure in each of us.
As such, it is a very common oral medication used in the treatment of psychological disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and depression.
Despite being highly effective, improvement in symptoms in patients can take up to about 4 weeks to appear. However, if we reflect well, it is like any other medicine used for these cases where the results are not immediate.
What types of treatments is Prozac indicated for?
As mentioned earlier, there are several indications for treatment with Prozac. For psychiatric illnesses such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety.
Its use is also indicated in some premenstrual disorder and eating disorders such as bulimia.
In addition to these conditions, Prozac can also be used in situations of premature ejaculation in men.
Can the medicine influence everyday life?
In fact, you can. The greatest benefit of using the drug is in improving symptoms associated with depression.. As a rule, little by little, the person feels more active, in a better mood, with improvements in mood and more awake to their family, social and work life.
There are also improvements in terms of other cognitive symptoms, such as: attention, memory capacity and concentration..
However, Prozac is not free of side effects that can somehow change people’s quality of life. These occur essentially in the first few weeks of use, normally disappearing with continued treatment.
The Side Effects of Prozac
In a general way, Side effects are there, but that doesn’t mean they happen to everyone who takes Prozac. They are generally transitory and do not require treatment to be stopped.. The most frequent ones being:
- fatigue;
- headaches;
- lack of appetite;
- feeling anxious or irritable;
- weight loss;
- sexual dysfunction, with decreased libido and slowed male ejaculation;
- nausea;
- palpitations;
- drowsiness or insomnia;
- skin reactions;
- tremors;
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
Some of the side effects of Prozac are used to treat certain diseases.
For example: the fact that it decreases appetite makes it used in the treatment of some cases of obesity. On the other hand, the effect on delayed ejaculation works as a benefit in the treatment of cases of premature ejaculation.
If you experience any of the side effects, talk to your doctor so that together you can understand and decide what to do. And remember: the advantages of using this medicine outweigh the possible side effects.
Medication must be accompanied by a lifestyle change
There are several benefits of antidepressants, including Prozac. After all, the medicine helps to alleviate the symptoms. However, it’s important to understand that it doesn’t solve the problem for good.
It is necessary to make an effort to change our lifestyle and some habits that we have ingrained and that may not be contributing to our well-being and happiness.
Although it is a type of medication that does not cause physical dependence (that is, with signs of withdrawal when withdrawn), it also does not cause tolerance. This means that, in general, there is no need for dose adjustments during treatment.
Even so, nothing guarantees that depression or other pathologies of the psychological nature will not reappear. For this very reason, if you have to go back to treatment, don’t take it as something negative. After all, it is more important to live without depression than without antidepressants.
