Prozac (fluoxetine) is a typical antidepressant within the class of medication often known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medicine 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 unintended effects than different antidepressants, however they’re not appropriate for everybody. 

Individuals would possibly search for alternate options to Prozac for quite a lot of causes. They might be involved about Prozac unintended effects, need a extra pure method to treating their signs, or the drug would possibly simply not work for them. Lately, curiosity in holistic psychological well being therapy has elevated as folks grow to be extra prepared to discover pure treatments to deal with numerous situations. 
In case you’re fascinated about studying extra about Prozac alternate options, learn on. We’re protecting what you could find out about several types of antidepressant medicine you possibly can attempt as an alternative and a number of the in style pure treatments obtainable immediately. After you have all the knowledge, you possibly can discuss to your physician and decide the most effective, simplest therapy plan to your wants and signs.

Different Drugs to Prozac

Lately, extra folks have grow to be fascinated about studying about drugs that may function a Prozac substitute. Happily, there are quite a few medicine obtainable to contemplate.

1. Celexa (citalopram)

Celexa, or the generic identify citalopram, is one other antidepressant treatment within the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class that helps steadiness temper by growing serotonin ranges within the mind. Earlier than switching from Prozac to Celexa, you need to discuss to your physician about potential antagonistic results. Vital results to pay attention to embrace a hyperlink to coronary heart points and an elevated danger of interactions with different medicine.

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

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

2. Cymbalta (duloxetine)

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is without doubt one of the essential alternate options to Prozac for despair and nervousness. It additionally works by altering neurotransmitters linked to temper swings. Be aware 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 nervousness dysfunction (GAD), fibromyalgia, persistent musculoskeletal ache, and diabetic neuropathic ache. It’s additionally used off-label to deal with stress urinary incontinence and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

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

3. Lexapro (escitalopram)

Lexapro (escitalopram) is a well-liked various to Prozac. The drug works equally to the others listed right here, nevertheless it has fewer reported unintended effects that generally make it value contemplating above different alternate options. Curious how this treatment 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 nervousness dysfunction. It is usually used off-label to deal with some consuming problems, OCD, PTSD, panic dysfunction, and extra.
• Widespread unintended effects of Lexapro: Widespread Lexapro unintended effects embrace dry mouth, nausea, hassle 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 nervousness, despair, and different psychological well being situations. Be aware that in comparison with different SSRIs, Paxil has extra reported unintended effects. In case you’re curious how the unintended effects examine to Prozac’s unintended 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 nervousness problems, together with social nervousness dysfunction and generalized nervousness dysfunction (GAD). It’s additionally used to deal with post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) and is used off-label for separation nervousness, physique dysmorphic dysfunction, OCD in kids, and extra. 

• Widespread unintended effects of Paxil: Unintended effects of Paxil embrace sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, and weight achieve.

ALTERNATIVES TO PROZAC	USES	COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Celexa (citalopram)	Main depressive dysfunction	Headache Dry mouth  Nausea Restlessness Diarrhea Elevated sweating Drug interactions Nervousness Fatigue Issue sleeping (insomnia)  Sexual unintended effects Elevated danger of coronary heart points
Cymbalta (duloxetine)	Main depressive dysfunction Generalized nervousness dysfunction Ache attributable to diabetic neuropathy Continual musculoskeletal ache Fibromyalgia	Lightheadedness  Lack of urge for food Nausea Dry mouth Tiredness Constipation Drowsiness Elevated sweating Dizziness
Lexapro (escitalopram)	Main depressive dysfunction Generalized nervousness dysfunction	Dry mouth Nausea Issue sleeping Confusion Diarrhea or constipation Headache Sexual dysfunction Dizziness or drowsiness
Paxil (paroxetine)	Despair Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Generalized nervousness dysfunction Panic dysfunction Social nervousness 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 case you’re in search of pure alternate options to Prozac for despair, nervousness, or one other situation, you could have a number of choices to contemplate. Analysis suggests that some pure treatments and natural dietary supplements may be efficient for some folks. 

5. Holistic approaches 

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

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

• Weight loss plan: A wholesome and balanced food regimen wealthy in advanced carbohydrates, fruits, greens, complete grains, and legumes would possibly assist raise 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 recognized for its antidepressant properties. Whereas the proof isn’t conclusive, and extra analysis needs to be accomplished, some research present that St. John’s is likely to be an efficient technique to deal with despair in some instances. 

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Extra analysis is critical, however a meta-analysis of dozens of research discovered that 1000’s of contributors noticed helpful 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 despair and different temper problems. 

• S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe): Analysis means that SAMe is likely to be helpful for despair, 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

Speak remedy (also referred to as psychotherapy) is confirmed to positively affect the result of psychological well being therapy — in reality, as much as 75% of people that search remedy see advantages. 

“Remedy may be as efficient as Prozac in treating signs of despair and nervousness. If signs are delicate, sufferers usually tend to reply effectively to remedy alone.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Dion Metzger, MD

Numerous research present that when remedy is mixed with treatment, 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 need to mix remedy with different types of therapy otherwise you need to use it as a substitute for Prozac for managing your psychological well being situation, Talkspace makes the method simpler than ever. 

Concerns for Switching to a Prozac Different

In case you’re in search of alternate options to Prozac for nervousness, despair, or every other situation, speaking to your physician about all of the implications of creating a swap is vital.

Each particular person can react in another way to treatment and therapy plans. Monitoring how your physique responds when you’ve just lately switched drugs is crucial. Whereas recognized and customary unintended effects exist for each drug, that doesn’t imply everyone will expertise each aspect impact. Make certain to contact your physician when you’ve got any aspect impact that worsens or is regarding or sudden.

Speak to your physician about:

• Your present well being standing
• Different medicine and dietary supplements you’re taking
• Potential unintended effects of any new treatment you’re contemplating
• Efficacy of alternate options

“Because of its lengthy half-life, Prozac doesn’t should be lowered earlier than stopping. Even on the best dose of 80 mg every day, you possibly can cease taking Prozac “chilly turkey,” and the metabolites of the treatment will work their method out of your system on their very own. It’s necessary to know the danger of switching to a Prozac various is that different therapies will not be as efficient as Prozac. This opens the door for signs of despair or nervousness to return inside weeks or months of switching.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Dion Metzger, MD

Discover the Proper Different with Talkspace 

Discovering the correct therapy plan when looking for Prozac alternate options may be an exhausting, daunting expertise — particularly when you’re making an attempt to do it by yourself. Talkspace’s on-line psychiatry companies supply a handy, inexpensive, simply accessible technique to get recommendation about treatment 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 need to take into account a brand new drug, otherwise you’re in search of pure alternate options to deal with your despair, we may also help.

Attain out to Talkspace immediately to be taught extra about alternate options to Prozac that is likely to be efficient for you.