What does Prozac mean?

Prozac is an antidepressant. It is mainly used to treat major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. Also known by its generic name, fluoxetine, Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

What does Prozac do to a person?

As an SSRI, Prozac works by preventing the brain from reabsorbing naturally occurring serotonin. Serotonin is involved in mood regulation. In this way, Prozac helps the brain to maintain enough serotonin so that you have a feeling of well-being, resulting from improved communication between brain cells.

What are Prozac side effects?

Common side effects include feeling sick (nausea), headaches and trouble sleeping. They are usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks. If you and your doctor decide to take you off fluoxetine, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent extra side effects.

Can Prozac work the first day?

While many patients hope to experience relief from their symptoms immediately, Prozac is a long term antidepressant that needs time to work. Prozac often begins to improve physical symptoms of depression like irregular sleep, appetite, or energy levels, first, sometimes in as little as one to two weeks.

How does Prozac work and what are the side effects?

1. How it works Prozac is a brand (trade) name for fluoxetine. Experts believe fluoxetine’s effects are due to its ability to block the reuptake of serotonin by nerves, leading to an increase in serotonin concentrations in the nerve synapse (space between two nerves).

How is Prozac used to treat eating disorders?

How it works Prozac is a brand (trade) name for fluoxetine which may be used to treat several different mood or eating disorders Experts believe fluoxetine’s effects are due to its ability to block the reuptake of serotonin by nerves, leading to an increase in serotonin concentrations in the nerve synapse (space between two nerves).

What’s the difference between Prozac and fluoxetine?

What is Prozac? Prozac ( fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. Fluoxetine affects certain chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that communicate between brain cells and helps people with depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

When to talk to your doctor about Prozac?

Talk with your doctor. You should take Prozac or Lexapro exactly as prescribed by your doctor to treat your mental health problem. Usually, medications for mental health conditions are part of an overall treatment program that includes counseling and other therapies.