Prozac.

[Hallelujah]

So I've been prescribed my first course of anti-depressents and I'm just wondering about side-effects, do's and don'ts etc etc.

I know that it comes with a leaflet explaining poss. side effects but I always disregard those - my doc mentioned its likely I'll be nauseous and I wondered if anyone could testify as to how bad? I've warned my boss that I'm on some new meds for "stomach problems" that might disagree with me, but I don't want to spend the next few days spewing my guts up.

Can I drive while on prozac? And what about drinking? I don't really drink heavily but often have a glass of wine with dinner, and I was hoping for a night out with my mates when they're back from uni next week. If I'm not allowed to, well I can party like a trooper anyway when I'm sober, it'll just save me getting a taxi home, eh? [Unless I cant drive....]

Ta guys

[Palmolive]

Hey there

Well personally I have felt nothing from Prozac in the past and now (I have now been on it for eight weeks). I had no side affects or anything. However my sister got awful stomach pains and couldn't even walk properly when she was on it so I guess it's down to each individual.

You're not suppose to drink anything from a doctors recommendation although I have looked on the internet and found quite a few people on the medication who do have a glad of wine and to feel no difference. It just says on one site drinking might increase your chances of side affects. If it makes you drowsy (which can be a side affect) then you shouldn't drive.

I really hope they start to help you.

Chin up,
Jessie.

[erinybob]

It varies for everyone, but normally if you do have side effects they regulate themselves within 6 weeks.
You can still drive on prozac, but if you get dizzy spells of it don't drive until you've stopped getting them.

[*Jen*]

Hey Jo,

I have been on prozac in the past and didn't get any side effects from it at all. Also if you do get any side effects they should wear off within a few days. Prozac is not meant to give many side effects though since it is a newer anti-depressant. I use to drink alcohol when I was on it and it didn't make a difference so I would say you are ok to drink. I hope they start to help soon

[Victoria ♥]

Hi Jo.

For the first week after I started taking it I had tummy ache and felt a bit sick, I felt normal again though after that.

[Hallelujah]

Thanks guys I think it helps hearing it from people on it, rather than reading the silly leaflets. They're so melodramatic

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Pharmacologically, you're not meant to drink alcohol but at a practical level, at least for prozac, it's not taken literally. You can have some alcohol, as long as you don't get drunk and take it is the main concern. If you wish to do so, you can look up a table of CYP450s (class of enzymes used in drug-drug interactions) and see alcohol affects CYP450 2E1, whereas fluoxetine (aka prozac) has no interactions. However, were you to take fluvoxamine (another SSRI) it has a lot of drug-drug interactions (none with 2E1 though). Citalopram also has interactions but not as many.

[Hallelujah]

Originally Posted by The Man And XX Master

Pharmacologically, you're not meant to drink alcohol but at a practical level, at least for prozac, it's not taken literally. You can have some alcohol, as long as you don't get drunk and take it is the main concern. If you wish to do so, you can look up a table of CYP450s (class of enzymes used in drug-drug interactions) and see alcohol affects CYP450 2E1, whereas fluoxetine (aka prozac) has no interactions. However, were you to take fluvoxamine (another SSRI) it has a lot of drug-drug interactions (none with 2E1 though). Citalopram also has interactions but not as many.

O.o
Umm...

Yes!

Thanks for the help

[Alexx]

I've been taking Prozac for the last month or so, and the only problems I had was a bit of a headache for the first few days. I'm also wondering whether it has effecting my sleeping, which has been worse lately, but I'm not sure whether that's due to other issues. I was also a bit prone to mood swings for the first couple of weeks, but since then have calmed down a lot (my mood swings any way so that may not be an issue). (:

I think, like others have said, it does come down to each individual. However, in the past I tried Citalopram and they really didn't work with me at all and I had quite severe side effects, but with Prozac things have been much much better, so it's definitely a case of finding what's right for you Good luck!

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by Eremophobia

O.o
Umm...

Yes!

Thanks for the help

LOL, yeah I thought that reaction may happen, although hoping in my mind it wouldn't. The translated version of my previous post was doctors will say don't mix alcohol and prozac but from accounts of those who have, it's fine as long as you don't get hammered then take prozac.

[Anatidaephobia]

I have been taking prozac and to start with it made me feel a bit sick but that passed after a few days.

You can drive on prozac unless it makes you dizzy or drowsy or you are told you cannot drive.

A glass of alcohol should be ok. You probably should drink it but it shouldn't do to much harm. Just don't drink a lot

[TheBabyEater]

Every responds to different medicines differently. Prozac had no effect on my boyfriend for one, then he was switched to another (he won't tell me the name for fear I'll get a hold of it for fun ) and it made him have horribly fun (but probably unhealthy) hallucinations. Like, for instance, thinking he was surrounded by water during class lol But now he's on Lexapro and he doesn't seem to have any problems

As for me, I started and am still on Prozac, and everything seems to be... better for the most part. It's not great, but I have no side effects. The worst though you'd probably get though is maybe a little insomnia

[Hallelujah]

So far I just have a headache, touch of nausea and some epic drowsiness. But I figure it could be just as pyschological as it is actual side effects.

Soo....sleeeeeepy *honk shuu*

And ta guys...this can be closed now

[Katrina]

Originally Posted by Eremophobia

And ta guys...this can be closed now

On it. By the way, great to see you by the way, Jo. You were here when I was a wee tot (meaning, I was new) on staff, and I always love seeing old faces. Glad these lovely guys were able to help ya out.