Does Prozac 10 mg do anything? (+3 evidences)

In this article, we will discuss if Prozac (fluoxetine) 10 mg tablet has any effect on a patient or not. Prozac belongs to an antidepressant class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This medicine is used to treat major depressive episodes, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bulimia nervosa. 

Does Prozac 10 mg do anything?

Yes, Prozac 10 mg can induce pharmacological activity as an initial dose in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18. It is also recommended in patients with liver problems and the elderly. Starting at a lower dose reduces the risk of side effects and the worsening of anxiety symptoms that might occur when starting Prozac.

When is 10 mg Prozac prescribed?

  • Depression with OCD: The recommended starting dose of 10 mg/day is prescribed for children aged 8 to 18 with depression and OCD. The doctor may increase the dose to 20 mg/day after 1-2 weeks. 
  • Underweight children may require lesser doses of 10 mg Prozac. If the patient responds well to the treatment, the doctor will consider the need to continue the treatment. If the patient has not improved after 9 weeks, the doctor will reconsider the treatment protocol. 
  • Panic disorder: Prozac 10 mg is used as a usual adult dose for panic disorders. The dose can be increased to 20 mg/day after one week.
  • Treatment discontinuation: a low dose of Prozac is also recommended when the doctor wants to terminate the therapy. 

Does 10 mg of Prozac have side effects?

Suicidal thoughts:

When a patient under the age of 18 takes Prozac, they are more likely to experience side effects. These side effects might include:

  • suicide attempts,
  • suicidal ideation, and
  • hostility (most notably aggression, oppositional behaviour, and anger).

Therefore, Prozac should only be used to treat moderate to severe depressive episodes in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years (in conjunction with psychological therapy).

Irregular blood sugar level:

If the patient has diabetes, Prozac may make it more difficult to maintain a stable blood sugar level. The doctor may advise the patient to monitor the blood sugar levels more frequently during the first few weeks of treatment. During this time the doctor might recommend a lower dose of Prozac so that they can change your diabetes treatment as needed. 

What does the research suggest?

In one of the studies, the researchers stated that there were no variations in effectiveness between the active treatment groups in the 5 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg fixed doses. In terms of endpoint analysis, 5 mg/day outperformed 40 mg/day (1). This data suggests that 10 mg of Prozac can have a substantial effect on patients. 

Prozac takes two-six weeks to take effect and must be taken for at least six months to a year. It is usually regarded as a safe long-term treatment for depression and is not addictive. 

It is important to note that Prozac treatment should begin at least two weeks following the discontinuation of an irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor type A (MAOI) to reduce the occurrence of side effects. Also, do not take MAOIs before five weeks of Prozac termination.

Can you stop taking 10 mg of Prozac abruptly?

If the patient feels that 10 mg of Prozac is not lessening his/her depressive episodes, do not discontinue the medication without first consulting the doctor. The patient must continue to take the medicine. 

Stopping Prozac abruptly can result in serotonin discontinuation syndrome, which is caused by body’s attempt to adjust to not being under the influence of SSRI activity (2).

When the patient stops taking Prozac, the following withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, tingling feeling, sleep problems, restlessness and agitation, weakness, feeling worried and paranoid, headaches and tremors may occur.  

Concluding remarks

In this article, we discussed the use of 10 mg Prozac. We also discussed the possible side effects and precautions while taking Prozac 10 mg.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

References

1.-

SCHATZBERG AF, DESSAIN E, O’NEIL PA, KATZ DL, COLE JO. Recent studies on selective serotonergic antidepressants: trazodone, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 1987 Dec 1;7(6):44S. https://journals.lww.com/psychopharmacology/Abstract/1987/12001/Recent_Studies_on_Selective_Serotonergic.5.aspx

2.-

Ferguson JM. SSRI antidepressant medications: adverse effects and tolerability. Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry. 2001 Feb;3(1):22. https://www.psychiatrist.com/read-pdf/23317/

Find a supportive therapist who can help with Depression.

Discover the convenience of BetterHelp, an online therapy platform connecting you with licensed and accredited therapists specialized in addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Complete the assessment and find your ideal therapist within just 48 hours.

 

AskYourPharm is user-supported. We may earn a commission if you sign up for BetterHelp’s services after clicking through from this site