is prozac a narcotic

is prozac a narcotic?

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is prozac a narcotic?

Although many doctors don’t consider Prozac additive in the traditional sense of inducing cravings for the medication, patients can become dependent on the drug. Drug dependency is when the body has adapted to the drug to the point where it requires steady doses to function. Because of this, it is important that patients take fluoxetine only as directed and that they not abruptly discontinue use. Patients who stop taking Prozac “cold turkey” are more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, headache, dizziness, and fatigue.

Dependence and Withdrawal

Physiological dependence occurs when the body has adapted to the drug to an extent in which it requires regular doses to function normally. Because of this, it is essential that patients take fluoxetine only as prescribed and that they do not suddenly discontinue use. Patients who quit using Prozac “cold turkey” are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, headache, dizziness, and fatigue.

The more significant problems, however, are related mainly to emotional upheaval. People who stop taking antidepressants after months or years are likely to experience profound depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or panic due to the body’s inability to regulate serotonin levels—a problem with which Prozac is intended to help. 

In fact, going off Prozac can result in rebound symptoms that are much more severe than the initial symptoms.  By slowing weaning a person off Prozac, the will be much less likely to encounter severe symptoms. If the use of Prozac has been problematic, it may be possible to replace it with another antidepressant that will work better.

If you are considering the use of Prozac or another antidepressant, talk to a doctor about the pros and cons of their use. 

What is Prozac (fluoxetine)?

Fluoxetine is an oral drug that is used primarily for treating depression. Fluoxetine is also used to treat depression, bulimia, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It is also prescribed in combination with olanzapine (Zyprexa) to treat resistant depression

and depression associated with bipolar disorder.

Fluoxetine is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that includes

citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft). Fluoxetine affects neurotransmitters, the chemicals that nerves within the brain use to communicate with each other. Neurotransmitters are manufactured and released by nerves and then travel and attach to nearby nerves.

The serotonin either travels across the space between nerves and attaches to receptors on the surface of nearby nerves or it attaches to receptors on the surface of the nerve that produced it, to be taken up by the nerve and released again (a process referred to as re-uptake). Many experts believe that an imbalance among neurotransmitters is the cause of depression. . Since uptake is an important mechanism for removing released neurotransmitters and terminating their actions on adjacent nerves, the reduced uptake caused by fluoxetine increases free serotonin that stimulates nerve cells in the brain. The FDA approved Fluoxetine in December 1987.

 

Prozac side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Prozac (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
• low levels of sodium in the body – headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady; or
• severe nervous system reaction – very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Common Prozac side effects may include:

• sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, vision changes;
• tremors or shaking, feeling anxious or nervous;
• pain, weakness, yawning, tired feeling;
• upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• dry mouth, sweating, hot flashes;
• changes in weight or appetite;
• stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat, flu symptoms; or
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Prozac may interact with cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures or anxiety, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other antidepressants, blood thinners, or migraine headache medicines.

Prozac may also interact with alprazolam, clopidogrel, clozapine, flecainide, haloperidol, nebivolol, vinblastine, or seizure medications.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Prozac.

Prozac Dosage