Specific Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) is a group of drugs that helps in increasing the content of Serotonin (neurotransmitter) in brain to help the patients lead a normal life. Imbalance in the levels of Serotonin is responsible for the mood swings that one experiences while suffering from depression. SSRI drugs therefore helps patients to recover from depression. Fluoxetine is a member of the above mentioned group and is a popular antidepressant.
Fluoxetine is approved by the FDA to treat the following disorders:
Major depression,
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder,
Bulimia.
Though the drug has been approved to be used in children aged above 8 years for disorders like major depression and obsessive complex disorder one must keep an eye on them and take them for regular checkups as a precautionary measure. It has been found that young patients have the develop suicidal thoughts due to the drugs. A side effect that cannot be avoided ,thus one must take special care of them during the medication period.
It is common to experience unpleasant reactions when antidepressant medicines are stopped abruptly and fluoxetine is no different. These unpleasant reactions are termed as Fluoxetine withdrawal and are triggered by the sudden discontinuation of the drug. Irritability, Anxiety, Confusion, Headache, Lethargy or Insomnia are indications of Fluoxetine withdrawal. Taking a medical professional’s advice before the commencement and the end of the treatment procedure involving the use of drugs such as Fluoxetine is important. Usually in order to avoid the development of such withdrawal symptoms in patients their dose strength is lowered slowly and is then stopped totally. Since the half-life of the Fluoxetine drug is high when compared to other drugs the effect of the drugs is felt even after the discontinuation of the drug. It is said that the effects of the drug is valid for as long as 9 months after having the drug for 3 months.
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