Know all the Warnings About This Anti-Depressant Drug
Prozac
seems to be a common fix all antidepressant. Prozac comes with many dangerous
side effects and they should be investigated thoroughly by the patient.
Prozac has been prescribed for years, but with any drug there are bound to be side effects. Not everyone will have the same side effects and some will not have any. But a thorough investigation of the dangers should be looked at in full.
Why is Prozac Prescribed
Normally, Prozac is prescribed for depression and bi-polar disease. Antidepressants are needed when the depression causes a person to disrupt his daily activities with loss of sleep, changes in appetite, little or no sex drive, fatigue, feeling of guilt or slow thinking and of course suicidal thoughts.
In these cases, antidepressants are usually prescribed. When the patients first start taking Prozac in the beginning there is a possibility of having suicidal thoughts for the first 12 weeks, so they need to be under regular medical supervision. These thoughts tend to come to people under 24 years of age.
If the patient's symptoms get worse and not better, then the doctor should be called right away. If things like anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, irritable, hostile, aggressive restless and even more depressed happens then it is time to visit the doctor and be checked. Never stop the medicine without talking to your doctor about the proper procedure in withdrawing from the medicine. There are some side effects that need to be addressed. With full knowledge, the right plan of action can be initiated.
Side Effects
Go to the emergency room if these side effects are noticed: difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, skin rash or hives and allergic reaction. Telephone the doctor if the symptoms become worse and not better such as mood, anxiety, panic attacks or sleeping problems. Call the doctor right away if there are thoughts of suicide or thoughts of wanting to cause harm.
People who should not take Prozac
- If presently taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
- Patients taking thioridazine. Do not take thioridazine within 5 weeks of stopping Prozac.
- Patients taking pimozide
- Patients who had allergic or had allergic reactions to drugs
It is very important that the patient reveal all to the doctor, including past history of all medicines. The doctor must know if there was ever any problems with liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, seizures or epilepsy, bipolar disorder (manic depression) or a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.
The doctor must be called if the patient develops
- Severe blistering, peeling and red skin rash
- Very stiff muscles, high fever, tremors, irregular heartbeats and irregular reflexes
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, and feeling unsteady.
- Headache, memory problems, weakness, confusion, hallucinations, shallow breathing, breathing that stops and fainting
Minor side effects
- Symptoms of a cold such as stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat
- Mild nausea, upset stomach, constipation
- Drowsiness, feeling nervous and dizzines
- Dry mouth
- Decreased sex drive, impotence or difficulty having an organsm
- Increased appetite, weight change
Resource
pdrhealth.com
health.kosmix.com
Photo courtesy of Photobucket/ Spazhawk, lgiannelli
