What to expect when your Prozac dose is increased from 10mg to 20mg?

In this blog post, we will answer the question, “What to expect when your prozac dose is increased from 10mg to 20mg?”. Prozac is an antidepressant which is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. This blog will compare the effects of 10 mg and 20 mg prozac. 

What to expect when your prozac dose is increased from 10mg to 20mg? 

When your prozac dose is increased from 10 mg to 20 mg, you can expect a better therapeutic outcome. The higher dose aims to target your depression more effectively. Doctors do not increase the dose if your current dose provides sufficient therapeutic response. 

In usual practice, the treatment with prozac is started from the lowest effective dose. This is because it is impossible for the healthcare providers to determine how a newly diagnosed person will respond to the antidepressants. 

Lower doses are easy to manage, especially in case of an allergic reaction, the symptoms associated with it are much less intense as compared to the symptoms of an allergic reaction on a higher dose. Such patients also recover earlier from unusual effects. 

Better therapeutic response is not the only thing that comes with a high dose. You can also experience side effects more pronounced than your previous dose. We all know, no medicine is pure from side effects. 

As now your dose has been increased, you might find an increase in your side effects as well. Antidepressants take time to settle in your body. Give it a few weeks and let your body adjust to the new increased dose. After a few weeks, your symptoms will begin to subside. 

The most common side effect experienced on dose escalation is mood instability. You may feel good one day but extremely depressed the next. It’s just your body trying to adapt to the higher dose. 

What is the clinical significance of prozac? 

Prozac is used for the treatment of 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 recommended doses for Prozac? 

Prozac is recommended in the following doses:

Depression

For adults: The treatment is usually started from 20 mg/day, taken usually at morning or whatever time is suggested by your healthcare provider. Higher doses can be divided into two doses per day. However, the dose should not exceed 80 mg Prozac per day. 

For Children older than 8 years of age: The treatment is usually started from 10 mg/day. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed. 

For children less than 8 years of age: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

Obsessive compulsive disorder 

For adults: The treatment is usually started from 20 mg/day, taken usually at morning or whatever time is suggested by your healthcare provider. Higher doses can be divided into two doses per day. However, the dose should not exceed 80 mg Prozac per day. 

For Children older than 8 years of age: The treatment is usually started from 10 mg/day. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed. However, the dose should not exceed 60 mg/day. 

For children less than 8 years of age: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

Panic attacks 

For adults: The treatment usually starts from 10 mg/day. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed. However, the dose should not exceed 60 mg/day. 

For children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

Eating disorders 

For adults: The treatment is usually maintained on 60 mg/day, taken as directed by the healthcare provider. 

For children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) 

For adults: 20 mg per day is considered as an initial treatment. It is taken daily throughout your periods. Your doctor might adjust your dose according to your symptoms. Dose should not be more than 80 mg per day. 

In children: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

What are the most common side effects associated with the use 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, we discussed what one should expect when the doctor increases the prozac dose from 10mg to 20mg. In usual practice, higher dose is preferred to achieve better therapeutic response. It is a good option for people who tolerate prozac well but their dose is too low.

When the dose is increased, side effects can get a bit pronounced too, but they remain till your body adjusts to the new increased dose. After that, you begin to settle down on your new dose and hopefully start achieving better outcomes. 

Make sure you only increase your dose if your doctor suggests you. It is not your job to do that on your own. Ensure the proper use and stick to your doctor’s recommendations. Adopt a healthy lifestyle and surely everything will go just fine. 

FAQs: increasing prozac dose from 10mg to 20mg 

How long does an increased dose of Prozac take to work? 

The increased dose may take a week or two to enhance mood stability and help relieve the symptoms associated with your mental health condition. However, increased side effects are also expected and are extremely common when the dose is escalated. 

Several studies also suggest that dose escalation may cause side effects which were not present on the lower dose. Make sure you report your side effects to your healthcare provider and avoid non-adherence. 

What should you expect when your prozac dose is increased from 10mg to 20mg? 

When your prozac dose is increased from 10 mg to 20 mg, you can expect a better therapeutic outcome. The higher dose aims to target your depression more effectively. Doctors do not increase the dose if your current dose provides sufficient therapeutic response. You can also experience side effects more pronounced than your previous dose. 

Any success with increasing prozac dose?

Yes, you can achieve a better therapeutic response by increasing your prozac dose if you function well with it. Some people can not tolerate prozac, no matter the dose. 

If you can take it well and actually achieve benefits from it, but your current dose is too low for you, the higher dose will definitely help you in a much better way. Make sure not to increase your dose without your doctor’s approval. 

What is the usual dose of Prozac for depression? 

For adults: The treatment is usually started from 20 mg/day, taken usually at morning or whatever time is suggested by your healthcare provider. Higher doses can be divided into two doses per day. However, the dose should not exceed 80 mg Prozac per day. 

For Children older than 8 years of age: The treatment is usually started from 10 mg/day. However, the dose can be adjusted by the healthcare provider if needed. 

For children less than 8 years of age: Dose is suggested by the doctor according to the condition and body weight.

Will 10 mg of Prozac do anything?

Prozac is an antidepressant which belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Prozac actively inhibits the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft back to the presynaptic neuron by blocking serotonin transporters (SERT). 

This results in an increased amount of serotonin in the body, which is an excitatory neurotransmitter responsible for modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and various other psychological processes. 

Is it better to take Prozac in the morning or at night?

It depends on your side effects. If prozac causes loss of appetite, drowsiness and nausea, it’s best to take it at night. If it causes loss of libido, insomnia and urinary problems, take it in the morning

References 

• James M. Ferguson, M.D. – SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181155/
• Prozac oral https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6997/prozac-oral/details 
• P Brambilla (2005) – Side-effect profile of fluoxetine in comparison with other SSRIs, tricyclic and newer antidepressants: a meta-analysis of clinical trial data https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15744630/ 
• Fluoxetine (Oral Route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fluoxetine-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20063952