As with any drug on the market today, Prozac not only has its benefits of helping people with certain conditions and disorders, it also comes with a few risks. Oftentimes, these risks will be outweighed by the assistance this drug has on a person's life and well-being, and are fairly rare occurrences for most people. But, there is always the potential, so a consultation with your physician is recommended. She will better understand how Prozac will affect you.
Identification
Prozac is considered a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, otherwise referred to as an SSRI, which is commonly used in the treatment of depression as well as both obsessive compulsive and anxiety disorders. It is essentially used to balance, so to speak, a person's brain by lessening a certain obsession, compulsion, fear or anxiety. Oftentimes, a person will experience a change in his frame of mind or mood while on the drug, effectively turning his attention away from those almost unshakable, disconcerting thoughts or feelings back to day to day life.
Benefits
Besides the obvious benefit of a potential return to a more productive, assured life, a person prescribed Prozac as part of his overall treatment plan will not only see a change in his outlook, but also a change in his level of energy, enabling him to see certain tasks and obstacles to completion. Many times, a person will also experience a change in sleep patterns, improving the ability to actually get a good night sleep.
Considerations
While most people who are prescribed Prozac usually suffer from depression, anxiety or unwelcome compulsions, the drug has also been found to be beneficial for other disorders and syndromes, including bulimia and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is a condition where a woman will basically undergo serious emotional and physical issues while experiencing her period to the severity and point where it disrupts her life. In the case of bulimia, Prozac can more or less diminish the urge to binge and purge while still maintaining a healthy appetite. In the case of PMDD, the drug can successfully decrease many of the symptoms linked to menstruation, including depression and irritability.
Risks
Though the benefits of Prozac often outweigh any of the potential risks, there are certain side effects that sometimes accompany use of this drug, such as drowsiness or trouble sleeping, fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite, dizziness or even anxiety. Since no two people are alike, doctors can be somewhat unsure of how a person may exactly react to any drug, including Prozac, so constant communication is important to effectively treat the disorder you are currently experiencing. Needless to say, you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience these or any other side effects while taking Prozac.
Warning
More often than not, any side effects you may experience while taking Prozac will be relatively minor. And not everyone will even suffer any sort of complications due to its prescription. But, there are a few fairly significant risks or side effects that some patients have undergone, including restlessness and tremors, a change in vision, a change in libido and sexual ability or uncontrollable movements. On rare occasions, some patients have suffered an almost adverse effect from the drug, experiencing an atypical change in mood or rationale where the symptoms accompanying their condition actually worsen. As with any side effect you may experience, contact your doctor without delay for immediate help.
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