This blog post will answer the question, “What does prozac feel like when it starts working?”. Prozac is an antidepressant which is used for the treatment of various mental health conditions.
However, it is a known fact that prozac and its fellow antidepressants don’t start working instantly. This blog will cover how and when this drug starts working.
What does prozac feel like when it starts working?
When prozac starts working, you begin to feel that the symptoms associated with your mental health condition are fading away. However, this process does not happen overnight.
One should bear in mind that prozac can not produce a satisfactory antidepressant effect in a short span of time. These meds make changes in the amount of excitatory neurotransmitter ‘Serotonin’ in your brain and this process takes a while.
Prozac usually starts working within 4 to 6 weeks. However, this time duration can vary from person to person. Some people may start to notice differences much earlier as compared to others.
How does prozac start producing effects on a week by week basis?
Week 1
Week 1 with prozac does not hold a clinical significance as you feel no beneficial effects during this week. However, prozac might cause some side effects, which are most commonly reported by the people during the first week.
If we take a closer look at side effects, it may take 3 to 4 days for them to appear. This is not the case for everyone because some people, who are new to this antidepressant, begin to experience an allergic reaction soon after taking their first ever dose.
So, if that occurs, it indicates that prozac is not the right choice of antidepressant for you. The most common side effects during the first week of prozac are gastrointestinal side effects, which include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Now, the severity of these side effects depend greatly on your initial dose. In usual practice, the treatment is started from the lowest effective dose. This is because when a person is new to antidepressants, there is no way to predict how his or her body will react to these meds.
The excessive neuronal activity associated with antidepressants make people respond in different ways. Make sure you reach out to your doctor and be certain whether it is okay or not for you to continue using this med.
Week 2
The second week might start to make the physical symptoms associated with your depression better. As we know that depression is a mental illness, but it does make a huge impact on your physical health.
These symptoms might start to feel a little better during the first week, but the side effects from week 1 might still disturb you. At this point, you may suffer from insomnia or inability to fall asleep.
This condition can become really disturbing for people who have a busy lifestyle or their job requires them to be at their full mental alertness at all costs. Lack of sleep at night can make them agitated and sick.
Studies suggest that by day 5 or day 6 of week 2, some people get so fed up with the side effects, they literally begin to hate their antidepressant, but hang in there. Better days are about to come.
Week 3
During week 3, you will begin to notice that your body is adjusting well to prozac. You may still suffer from side effects, but they might feel less intense. However, this varies from person to person.
Some people get much better by the third week, but some still suffer from disturbing side effects at this point. Such people can take up to 4 weeks to get prozac induced unwanted effects.
There are a few ways that can help you avoid some of the side effects. Make sure you take your med in the best possible way. One way to reduce gastrointestinal side effects is to take your Prozac with food.
Prozac comes with a warning of inducing suicidal thoughts in people younger than 24 years of age. This effect can be seen prominently in 2 to 3 weeks of treatment.
So, this time period is crucial for you if you’re 24 years old or less. People in their late teens and early twenties can monitor their side effects on their own.
Parents should keep a close eye on children using prozac who are younger than 14 years of age. Look out for any hopelessness or suicidal behavior.
Week 4-6
Week 4 to 6 are of great importance, as this is the time where you actually start seeing noticeable reduction in your depression and anxiety. During these weeks, you will notice that your body is well adjusted with prozac and your side effects will begin to fade away.
This might not be the case for everyone, as some people take up to 7-9 weeks to start seeing noticeable improvement in their symptoms. It totally depends on how your body responds to prozac and how much time it takes to learn to live with it in harmony.
Make sure you take your medication properly and right on time, once everyday. There are a few things you can try to make your journey better. Stay active and eat healthy foods. This way you can make your body stronger to withstand the side effects.
Your strong immunity can help you a great deal in recovery from these unwanted effects. Make sure you drink plenty of water. Hydration boosts your energy levels and draws out toxins from your body.
What is the clinical significance of Prozac?
Prozac is used to treat the following mental health conditions:
Depression
Prozac is used in the treatment of mild to major depression disorder (MDD). It is a state of mind which is concerned with disturbing thoughts, especially about one’s self.
It is associated with symptoms like hopelessness, tearfulness and emptiness. Depression is caused by the deficiency of excitatory neurotransmitters.
Prozac increases the amount of active serotonin to help relieve the symptoms of depression. Serotonin is an excitatory neurotransmitter responsible for modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and various other psychological processes.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Prozac is used to treat symptoms of OCD. It is a condition characterised by troublesome thoughts that won’t go away, no matter what you do, and a weird urge to do things over and over again.
Panic attacks
Overtime, prozac has proven to be a suitable treatment option for treating panic attacks. They are sudden, uncontrollable attacks of fear and worry. A patient might unwillingly exaggerate a certain condition and gets frightened, often to the point where he gets attacked by seizures.
Eating disorders
Prozac can also be used to help relieve the symptoms associated with eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders. The symptoms include increased intake of fatty and greasy foods, high sugar intake, eating in larger, more frequent portions, feelings of disgust etc.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Prozac is also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including symptoms like mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness.
What are the most common side effects of prozac?
Common side effects of prozac include:
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Skin rash
- Muscular pain
- Joint pain
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tiredness
- Sweating
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of sexual desire
Prozac is also associated with some serious side effects, which often require immediate medical attention. These include:
- Allergic reaction associated with symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc.
- Convulsions
- Dark grey-brown colored vomiting
- Tarry or bloody stools
- Eye problems including pain, swelling, redness, vision changes etc.
- Abnormal mood changes including, excitement following by sudden sadness, erratic behaviour, paranoia etc
- Kidney function abnormalities, including severe pain, elevation of serum creatinine, difference in urine output and colour, blood urea nitrogen levels etc.
- Suicidal behavior
- Excessive muscle tremors
How to ensure the proper use of prozac?
In order to achieve the maximum therapeutic response from a drug, it is extremely important to use it right. Make sure prozac is the right choice of antidepressant for you. Stick to your doctor’s recommended dose. Do not take more or less than that.
Ask your doctor before taking prozac if you’re pregnant, trying to conceive or if you’re a breastfeeding mother. This drug can pass into the breastmilk, which is why it is important to ensure its safety in a breastfed baby.
If you fail to understand how to use the drug properly or have any other question, ask your doctor or pharmacist. In case of overdose, immediately reach out to the hospital. Make sure you properly guide them about how much drug you have taken and when.
If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if a lot of time has passed and your next dose is near, do not take it. It’s better to skip the missed dose and take the next one.
Report any problems with bleeding or bruising to your doctor. If you see any unexplained blisters or rashes on your body, or experience any problems with urination, or if you feel changes in your vision, immediately report to your healthcare provider.
Keep the bottle away from children and pets. In case of overdose, immediately take them to the hospital.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have discussed what prozac feels like when it starts working. It is an antidepressant which is used to treat a number of mental health conditions. However, this med does not start working overnight and takes up to 4 to 6 weeks to kick in.
This blog has covered the effects of prozac on a weeb by week basis as well, just so you can understand it better. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider if you suffer from any unusual or unbearable side effects.
FAQs: what does prozac feel like when it starts working
How does Prozac make you feel when you first start taking it?
Prozac may start to make your physical symptoms associated with depression a little better. However, it can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to start making your psychological symptoms better.
You may also experience a few side effects, which may start right after you take your first ever dose, but these side effects begin to subside within 2 to 3 weeks of treatment.
How do you know if your Prozac is working?
The simple answer: When your symptoms start to subside. Depression is commonly associated with feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness, irritability or frustration, even over small matters.
You simply feel relieved from above mentioned symptoms. When you feel happy and satisfied, when you feel like engaging in your favourite activities and when you start feeling like being a part of your social gatherings again, you know your medicine is working.
How does Prozac make you feel the first week?
Week 1 with prozac does not hold a clinical significance as you feel no beneficial effects during this week. However, prozac might cause some side effects, which are most commonly reported by the people during the first week. If we take a closer look at side effects, it may take 3 to 4 days for them to appear.
Does Prozac affect immediately?
No, prozac does not affect immediately. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to start producing noticeable therapeutic results.
Why does Prozac take so long to work?
Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which inhibits the reuptake of serotonin by blocking serotonin transporters (SERT). This results in increased serotonergic activity.
However, this process takes time to make changes in your system as a day of increased serotonin can’t help you. The effect has to be consistent.
References
- Prozac Capsule – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6997/prozac-oral/details
- James M. Ferguson, M.D.- SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181155/
