Depression just found out?

Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a prescription medicine used to treat a number of conditions within the brain.

Fluoxetine is licensed to treat a number of conditions. These uses include the treatment of: Depression; Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); Bulimia; Panic disorder.

Fluoxetine is part of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs for short. SSRIs, such as fluoxetine, act on a specific chemical within the brain known as serotonin. Serotonin is one of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.

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As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release serotonin. The serotonin enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough serotonin reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any serotonin that remains in the gap between cells. This is called "reuptake."

Normally, this process works without any problems. When the levels of serotonin become unbalanced, however, it can cause a variety of conditions, including depression. Fluoxetine helps to block the reuptake of serotonin so more serotonin remains in the space between the brain's nerve cells. This gives the serotonin a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell.

Fluoxetine for Depression
Studies have shown the drug to be effective for depression treatment in children, teens, and adults. These studies included children as young as eight years old. Another study showed that a long-acting form was also effective for treating depression in adults.

Fluoxetine for OCD
In studies, 28% of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who took fluoxetine felt their OCD was "much improved," compared to only 8% of those who were not taking it. None of the people taking the medication felt that their OCD was worse, compared to 8% of people not on fluoxetine. In other studies, it was also shown to be effective for OCD in children and teens.

Fluoxetine for Bulimia
Studies have shown it to be effective for treating bulimia in adults. While the antidepressant effects of fluoxetine may take longer to be seen, the effects of fluoxetine for treating bulimia were seen within one week. Also, it helped people with bulimia regardless of whether they had depression or not. It has not been studied in children or teens with bulimia.

Fluoxetine for Panic Disorder
Two studies looked at using fluoxetine to treat adults with panic disorder. Up to 62% of people taking it were free from panic attacks, compared to only 44% of those not taking the medicine. It has not been studied in children or teens with panic disorder.

Hope to have provided you with enough info? Take care, best wishes!

Hello Nite Angel, it is scary when you discover you have clinical depression. Your new prescription is the generic for Prozac. I am on 40mg of the same. I have been on every antidepressant out there ( and I do mean every as in ALL of them) I have living with this for 13 years. You do not have to tell your family yet as long as you have a close friend you trust and can tell them. I say this because in my experience someone in your life who is around you a lot can assist you in your health care. When you begin a new med you need someone you trust, who knows you very well. This person can tell you if you start having the strange side effects associated with Prozac. A small number of people have severe problems with this med. The majority find Prozac extremely helpful. Nite Angle, just take your med exactly as prescribed. If you or the trusted friends notice any side effects that concern you TELL your DOCTOR ! Never drink alcohol while taking Prozac.

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I do not understand why you are afraid to tell your family. You have done nothing wrong. You didn't ask for depression! But you were right to seek help. We cannot help that our brains are not producing enough serratonin or any other chemical or hormone. It concerns me that you would be scared. If your family is not the type to be supportive I recommend you join a support group for your condition. As for me this is my second attempt with Prozac and I am feeling really good ! I actually cleaned my house yesterday ! Don't be scared dear, just take it 1 day at a time. Hope this helped.

Hi there Nite Angel,

I have had 4 depression in my life. Two of them major ones where I had to be hospitalized. I would go on meds then when I felt well the doctor and I made the decision for me to come off. This is fine for some people who have one depression in their life. But for some of us the serotonin in the brain needs a little help. Put it this way if you broke your leg you would get a cast right? This is the same thing. Some people just have trouble understanding depression. And because it is a mental health issue it scares some.

I need to take meds the rest of my life because of depression but I have accepted it and have a normal happy life. People who met me don't know I'm on meds. I don't have depression symptoms anymore either. It takes a while before you find the right meds for your depression too so don't get discouraged, it takes time.

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It also takes time to get out of your depression so give meds time to work unless you are having side effects. Keep a log of what you are taking and side effects and how you feel. Bring it to your Psychiatrist for referral.

Support is a big help when your going through this like family and friends. You will find support here for sure. So many of us have gone through depressions and we all come to talk things out with each other.

Hope this helps you, I will friend you in case you want to ask me a private question.

Take care,

Smileyhappy

nite angel, dont be affraid to tell anybody or embressed. depression is an illness that needs medication, just like cancer needs chemo, heart attack needs blood thinners. ive been on prozac for the last 10 yrs now and it does work. the last 6 months or so my mg was upped from 20 - 40 since the death of a loved one where i administered cpr and now suffer ptsd from it. and on top of that im on a taper off of percocet 10/325 that ive been taking for 2 1/2 yrs now. at one time i was taking 18pills a day. and in between doses i went thru withdrawls. i began taking it for a bad case of tmj from a broken jaw set wrong. now i have to take it to feel normal. so after many attempts to taper with all different ways and failed faithfully to all of them. finally i just sat down with my dr, who is very supportive, we wrote out a 11 1/2 week taper schedule, reducing 12.5 mgs per week. im on week 2 and the depression is out of wack. be positive, tell yourself you can do it, journal or color.

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those are things that help me. and of course, my main support is here at dc, hang in there, ttyl, 808wahine96734