Side Effects of Prozac

Side Effects of Prozac

Unlike earlier forms of antidepressants, such as MAO

inhibitors, Prozac and other SSRIs tend to produce fewer

and less severe side effects (Hockenbury, 200). According

to Prozac's manufacturer, Eli Lilly (2005), side effects

caused by Prozac may include nausea, difficulty sleeping,

drowsiness, nervousness, weakness, loss of appetite,

tremors, dry mouth, sweating, or yawning. Other side

effects listed included a change in sexual desire or

satisfaction and a formation of a rash or hives. Eli Lilly

(2005) states that these side effects generally go away

after a few weeks of usage and are not serious enough to

discontinue use of the drug.

Other side effects of Prozac reported by PDRhealth include

abnormal vision, itching, flu like symptoms, gas,

sinusitis, and sore throat. Less common side effects

reported included abnormal taste, bleeding problems,

chills, ear pain, fever, frequent urination, high blood

pressure, loss of memory, palpitations, and ringing in the

ear.

The most common side effects reported in controlled study

of patients receiving Prozac, and those receiving a

placebo, patients receiving Prozac more frequently reported

experiencing anxiety, dizziness, lightheadedness,

nervousness, insomnia, drowsiness, fatigue, tremors,

nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, abnormal vision, decrease in

libido, rash, sweating, and abnormal ejaculation (American

Hospital Formulatory Services, AHFS, 2002). Of these

patients, fifteen percent had to discontinue use of Prozac.

The main reason reported for discontinuation was the onset

of anxiety, nervousness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and

rashes. Fluoxetine tends to remain in the metabolic system

for sometime, and because of this any adverse side effects

may take a few weeks to dissolve after discontinuation

(AHFS, 2002).

Side effects reported by patients receiving the weekly dose

of fluoxetine in delayed-release capsules, reported

relatively the same side effects as those taking a daily

dose. Although, problems with cognition and diarrhea were

reported more frequently with the delayed-release capsules

(AHFS, 2002).

The percentages of patients experiencing adverse side

effects of Prozac are as follows: twenty percent

experienced headaches, nine percent felt anxious or

nervous, fourteen percent experienced insomnia, four

percent reported drowsiness or fatigue, six percent

experienced tremors, and one to two percent reported

adverse affects to the nervous system such as confusion,

agitation, abnormal dreams, and sedation. The majority of

these effects may be caused by the dosage a patient

receives, and few patients in each group discontinued the

use of Prozac (AHFS, 2002).