Prozac Alternate options to Contemplate — Talkspace

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a typical antidepressant within the class of medication referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medication work by altering ranges of the neurotransmitter serotonin within the mind to reinforce temper.

SSRIs like Prozac are the mostly prescribed antidepressants for treating main depressive dysfunction (MDD), panic dysfunction, obsessive-compulsive dysfunction (OCD), and a few others when prescribed. They’ve fewer negative effects than different antidepressants, however they’re not appropriate for everybody. 

Folks may search for options to Prozac for a wide range of causes. They could be involved about Prozac negative effects, desire a extra pure strategy to treating their signs, or the drug may simply not work for them. In recent times, curiosity in holistic psychological well being therapy has elevated as folks develop into extra keen to discover pure treatments to deal with varied situations. 
In the event you’re excited about studying extra about Prozac options, learn on. We’re masking what that you must find out about various kinds of antidepressant medication you may attempt as an alternative and a number of the common pure treatments accessible as we speak. Upon getting all the data, you may speak to your physician and decide the perfect, only therapy plan in your wants and signs.

Various Drugs to Prozac

Just lately, extra folks have develop into excited about studying about medicines that may function a Prozac substitute. Fortuitously, there are quite a few medication accessible to think about.

1. Celexa (citalopram)

Celexa, or the generic title citalopram, is one other antidepressant remedy within the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class that helps stability temper by growing serotonin ranges within the mind. Earlier than switching from Prozac to Celexa, it is best to speak to your physician about potential opposed results. Important results to pay attention to embrace a hyperlink to coronary heart points and an elevated threat of interactions with different medication.

• Circumstances Celexa can deal with: Celexa primarily treats main depressive dysfunction, however can be used off-label to deal with anxiousness and different situations.

• Widespread negative effects of Celexa: Some widespread negative effects folks might expertise are elevated sweating, headache, diarrhea, nausea, insomnia, and fatigue.

2. Cymbalta (duloxetine)

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is likely one of the important options to Prozac for melancholy and anxiousness. It additionally works by altering neurotransmitters linked to temper swings. Observe that Cymbalta is related to hypertension and liver issues if misused.

• Circumstances Cymbalta can deal with: FDA-approved makes use of of Cymbalta embrace main depressive dysfunction, generalized anxiousness dysfunction (GAD), fibromyalgia, continual musculoskeletal ache, and diabetic neuropathic ache. It’s additionally used off-label to deal with stress urinary incontinence and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

• Widespread negative effects of Cymbalta: Widespread Cymbalta negative effects embrace complications, issue sleeping, blurred imaginative and prescient, constipation or diarrhea, and dry mouth.

3. Lexapro (escitalopram)

Lexapro (escitalopram) is a well-liked different to Prozac. The drug works equally to the others listed right here, but it surely has fewer reported negative effects that typically make it price contemplating above different options. Curious how this remedy compares to Prozac? Take a look at our comparability of Lexapro vs. Prozac.

• Circumstances Lexapro can deal with: Lexapro is used to deal with main depressive dysfunction and generalized anxiousness dysfunction. Additionally it is used off-label to deal with some consuming problems, OCD, PTSD, panic dysfunction, and extra.
• Widespread negative effects of Lexapro: Widespread Lexapro negative effects embrace dry mouth, nausea, bother sleeping, dizziness, and constipation.

4. Paxil (paroxetine)

Paxil can be within the SSRI class of medication. It impacts chemical ranges within the mind that is likely to be unbalanced in folks with anxiousness, melancholy, and different psychological well being situations. Observe that in comparison with different SSRIs, Paxil has extra reported negative effects. In the event you’re curious how the negative effects examine to Prozac’s negative effects, take a look at our information on Paxil vs. Prozac.

• Circumstances Paxil can deal with: Paxil is FDA-approved to deal with main depressive dysfunction, panic dysfunction, OCD, and a few anxiousness problems, together with social anxiousness dysfunction and generalized anxiousness dysfunction (GAD). It’s additionally used to deal with post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) and is used off-label for separation anxiousness, physique dysmorphic dysfunction, OCD in youngsters, and extra. 

• Widespread negative effects of Paxil: Unwanted side effects of Paxil embrace sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, and weight acquire.

ALTERNATIVES TO PROZAC	USES	COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Celexa (citalopram)	Main depressive dysfunction	Headache Dry mouth  Nausea Restlessness Diarrhea Elevated sweating Drug interactions Nervousness Fatigue Problem sleeping (insomnia)  Sexual negative effects Elevated threat of coronary heart points
Cymbalta (duloxetine)	Main depressive dysfunction Generalized anxiousness dysfunction Ache attributable to diabetic neuropathy Power musculoskeletal ache Fibromyalgia	Lightheadedness  Lack of urge for food Nausea Dry mouth Tiredness Constipation Drowsiness Elevated sweating Dizziness
Lexapro (escitalopram)	Main depressive dysfunction Generalized anxiousness dysfunction	Dry mouth Nausea Problem sleeping Confusion Diarrhea or constipation Headache Sexual dysfunction Dizziness or drowsiness
Paxil (paroxetine)	Melancholy Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Generalized anxiousness dysfunction Panic dysfunction Social anxiousness dysfunction Publish-traumatic stress dysfunction Premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction	Dry mouth Blurred imaginative and prescient Sexual dysfunction Dizziness or drowsiness Constipation Sleepiness Lack of urge for food or upset abdomen Weight reduction

Pure Alternate options to Prozac

In the event you’re on the lookout for pure options to Prozac for melancholy, anxiousness, or one other situation, you may have a number of choices to think about. Analysis suggests that some pure treatments and natural dietary supplements might be efficient for some folks. 

5. Holistic approaches 

• Train: Bodily exercise is a robust temper booster that releases endorphins, the physique’s pure feel-good chemical compounds.

• Daylight and light-weight remedy: Analysis hyperlinks melancholy signs to low ranges of Vitamin D. Thus, common publicity to daylight can doubtlessly assist some folks with melancholy. When treating seasonal have an effect on dysfunction (SAD), mild packing containers present synthetic mild that can be useful.

• Weight loss plan: A wholesome and balanced food plan wealthy in complicated carbohydrates, fruits, greens, entire grains, and legumes may assist carry your temper naturally.

• Sleep: A daily circadian rhythm and well-maintained sleep helps neurotransmitter ranges to remain optimum.

6. Pure dietary supplements

• St. John’s wort: St. John’s wort has been used for hundreds of years as an natural treatment identified for its antidepressant properties. Whereas the proof isn’t conclusive, and extra analysis ought to be completed, some research present that St. John’s is likely to be an efficient strategy to deal with melancholy in some circumstances. 

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Extra analysis is critical, however a meta-analysis of dozens of research discovered that 1000’s of contributors noticed useful results of Omega-3s on depressive signs. Further analysis additionally suggests Omega-3 fatty acids is likely to be helpful as a non-pharmacological therapy for melancholy and different temper problems. 

• S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe): Analysis means that SAMe is likely to be useful for melancholy, though, like so many different pure or holistic dietary supplements, extra analysis is required. Greater than 40 research counsel that SAMe is likely to be efficient in treating depressive signs, however sadly, most of them are short-term research that solely lasted a few weeks. 

7. Remedy

Discuss remedy (also referred to as psychotherapy) is confirmed to positively impression the end result of psychological well being therapy — the truth is, as much as 75% of people that search remedy see advantages. 

“Remedy might be as efficient as Prozac in treating signs of melancholy and anxiousness. If signs are gentle, sufferers usually tend to reply properly to remedy alone.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Dion Metzger, MD

Numerous research present that when remedy is mixed with remedy, the outcomes are superior to when both therapy is used alone. 

Talkspace is a safe on-line platform that provides handy, inexpensive entry to remedy. Whether or not you wish to mix remedy with different types of therapy otherwise you wish to use it as a substitute for Prozac for managing your psychological well being situation, Talkspace makes the method simpler than ever. 

Issues for Switching to a Prozac Various

In the event you’re on the lookout for options to Prozac for anxiousness, melancholy, or another situation, speaking to your physician about all of the implications of creating a change is essential.

Each particular person can react in a different way to remedy and therapy plans. Monitoring how your physique responds for those who’ve just lately switched medicines is crucial. Whereas identified and customary negative effects exist for each drug, that doesn’t imply everyone will expertise each facet impact. Ensure that to contact your physician when you have any facet impact that worsens or is regarding or sudden.

Discuss to your physician about:

• Your present well being standing
• Different medication and dietary supplements you take
• Doable negative effects of any new remedy you’re contemplating
• Efficacy of options

“Resulting from its lengthy half-life, Prozac doesn’t should be decreased earlier than stopping. Even on the best dose of 80 mg every day, you may cease taking Prozac “chilly turkey,” and the metabolites of the remedy will work their manner out of your system on their very own. It’s vital to know the chance of switching to a Prozac different is that different therapies is probably not as efficient as Prozac. This opens the door for signs of melancholy or anxiousness to return inside weeks or months of switching.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Dion Metzger, MD

Discover the Proper Various with Talkspace 

Discovering the appropriate therapy plan when looking for Prozac options might be an exhausting, daunting expertise — particularly for those who’re making an attempt to do it by yourself. Talkspace’s on-line psychiatry companies supply a handy, inexpensive, simply accessible strategy to get recommendation about remedy and therapy plans that fit your wants and signs. 

Our licensed psychological well being professionals can information you towards higher psychological well being. Whether or not Prozac isn’t working for you and also you wish to take into account a brand new drug, otherwise you’re on the lookout for pure options to deal with your melancholy, we might help.

Attain out to Talkspace as we speak to be taught extra about options to Prozac that is likely to be efficient for you.