What do prozac pills look like

However, many physicians and psychiatrists have continued to prescribe these medications for people who have taken them for years. A data analysis completed by The New York Times, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, found that almost 7 percent of adults in the United States have taken prescription antidepressants for at least 5 years. White women over the age of 45 made up 58 percent of this group.

It has long been assumed that the use of Prozac, whether short- or long-term, is safe. However, patients who have attempted to discontinue the use of fluoxetine after using it for a long time have often found it extremely difficult to stop, even when the drug is discontinued gradually under the supervision of a physician. Not everyone who stops taking fluoxetine experiences withdrawal symptoms, but many people do.

A study of long-time antidepressant users found that, out of patients, more than reported withdrawal symptoms, and almost half of the study participants reported feeling addicted to antidepressants. Only in recent years have researchers begun to examine the effects of long-term use of fluoxetine as well as its withdrawal symptoms.

A study conducted in New Zealand examined patients who had been taking fluoxetine for two or more years. Half the participants were given gradually tapered doses of fluoxetine, and the other half were given a consistent amount of the drug. The researchers followed the participants over eighteen months. The study found that those taking the tapered doses experienced withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, these were so severe that patients had to begin taking the drug again, even when the drug was tapered gradually over months.

While fluoxetine is not considered to be an addictive drug, the medication does make changes to the chemistry of the brain that cause people who take it to become dependent on it. Long-term drug dependence is not the ideal situation for most people and many who take antidepressants like fluoxetine attempt to decrease their dosages on their own or stop taking their medication entirely.

If fluoxetine is stopped abruptly, or if the dose is decreased too rapidly, however, the following symptoms of withdrawal may occur:. Tingling or prickliness of the skin 1. The symptoms of withdrawal that occur when the use of an antidepressant is ended are referred to by medical professionals as discontinuation syndrome.

These symptoms for other antidepressants are similar to the withdrawal symptoms for Prozac listed above but may occur in varying degrees of severity. Some medications cause more severe symptoms of discontinuation syndrome than others, primarily due to how quickly the drugs remove themselves from the body. On average, symptoms of discontinuation syndrome last for 1 to 2 weeks but may be present for up to a year, 9 depending on the medication and on how long the person has taken that medication.

In fact, fluoxetine is often used as a treatment for discontinuation syndrome when a person is ending the use of another SSRI medication. This is concerning when viewed in light of the research results mentioned above, which indicate that fluoxetine carries the same risk of discontinuation syndrome. Since fluoxetine is often used to treat long-term mental health conditions such as OCD, discontinuation syndrome may be more severe for these patients than for patients who use Prozac in the short term to manage withdrawal symptoms.

Still, caution should be taken when discontinuing fluoxetine, and ending the use of any antidepressant should be done under the supervision of a physician. The types of treatment used to end dependence on fluoxetine depend on the circumstances surrounding how the medication is used.

For people who abuse Prozac or take it in an attempt to self-medicate, treatment should focus on any other substances that are abused along with fluoxetine and on the conditions that people are attempting to treat.

For example, a person taking fluoxetine as an appetite suppressant should receive treatment for the eating disorder associated with this use of the medication. People who use fluoxetine and alcohol or fluoxetine and opioids together should receive treatment for abuse of those respective substances. As stated previously, people who want to end the use of medically prescribed fluoxetine should do so under the supervision of their physicians. Prozac should be tapered gradually until a person can function without the drug with no withdrawal symptoms.

Anticipating that a drug will work often actually makes people feel better. The placebo effect is mainly on symptoms rather than the actual disease. For example, a placebo will never make a broken bone heal faster, but it may make the pain seem less.

Some people seem more susceptible to the placebo effect than others. People who have a positive opinion of drugs, doctors, nurses, and hospitals are more likely to respond favorably to placebos than are people who have a negative opinion. When a new drug is being developed, investigators conduct studies to compare the effect of the drug with that of a placebo because any drug can have a placebo effect, unrelated to its action.

The true drug effect must be distinguished from a placebo effect. Typically, half the study's participants are given the drug, and half are given an identical-looking placebo.

Ideally, neither the participants nor the investigators know who received the drug and who received the placebo this type of study is called a double-blind study. When the study is completed, all changes observed in participants taking the active drug are compared with those in participants taking the placebo. Other common antidepressants belong to a class of drugs called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs.

These inhibit the reuptake of two neurotransmitters: serotonin and norepinephrine. The SNRIs that are available are:.

One of the most commonly prescribed SNRIs is Effexor venlafaxine , which is as effective as other antidepressants in treating depression but does have a higher rate of causing nausea and vomiting, and may increase blood pressure and heart rate. The SNRI Cymbalta duloxetine also can increase blood pressure, but the bigger concern with this drug is that in some people it can lead to liver failure, so if you have any sort of liver disease, it could be a dangerous choice for you.

The same is true if you drink a lot of alcohol. Tricyclics were among the first antidepressants. Types of tricyclics that are available include:. Tricyclics work by blocking the absorption of serotonin and norepinephrine. By preventing the reuptake of those neurotransmitters, it increases serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which can help to improve mood and relieve depression.

No type of TCA medication made the top 10 list of the most commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs were the first type of medication developed to treat depression. They have been largely replaced by newer antidepressants that are safer and have fewer side effects. MAOIs are rarely prescribed given the significant risk associated with eating certain foods containing tyramine, which can cause a hypertensive crisis.

Some of the most commonly prescribed MAOIs include:. MAOIs work by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which are all neurotransmitters that control mood.

This results in higher levels of these chemicals in the brain which helps improve mood and reduce anxiety. Atypical antidepressants are those that don't fit into any of the other classes. Doctors often prescribe them if other antidepressants either don't work, or cause unbearable side effects. Common atypical antidepressants include:. Each of these atypical antidepressants influences different neurotransmitters in different ways.

Some target dopamine, for example, while others serotonin or norepinephrine. Still, others target a combination of the three. As a result, they have different side effects compared to other antidepressants. For example, compared to other antidepressants, Desyrel is less likely to cause symptoms such as sexual dysfunction, insomnia, or anxiety.

Of the atypical antidepressants, Wellbutrin is one of the most commonly prescribed. It works by acting on the neurotransmitter dopamine affecting energy levels, motivation, and attention. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them.

However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Before having any laboratory test especially those that involve methylene blue , tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking fluoxetine.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.

You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Fluoxetine pronounced as floo ox' e teen. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used?

Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Brand names of combination products. Swallow the delayed-release capsules whole; do not cut, crush, or chew them.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of fluoxetine and gradually increase your dose. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking fluoxetine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluoxetine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in fluoxetine preparations.

Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.