Prozac is an antidepressant that is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, also known as an SSRI. While it is usually association with major depressive disorder it can also be used to treat other problems. Prozac is a very well known medication on the market to treat a wide variety of mental illnesses. This is a medication that is used in the treatment of major depression most commonly but has been found to be effective in the treatment of many other disorders.
In many cases Prozac is prescribed for patients who are suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder in both children and adults, bulimia nervosa, as well as panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. There are much newer antidepressant medications available, as Prozac is an older drug, but despite this it is one of the most popular SSRI medications currently on the market. In just one year more than 22.2 million prescriptions were written for this effective SSRI, making it one of the most well known medications currently on the market.
The United States FDA has approved Prozac specifically for the use of obsessive compulsive disorder, major depression, bulimia nervosa, and panic disorder. It has also been shown to help reduce anxiety as well as improve the quality of sleep. While there are side effects associated with Prozac, most people do not find them bothersome enough to discontinue therapy.
Prozac is an SSRI, and like all medications in this drug class, it and can take up to five weeks to reach its maximum potential. The medication can be prescribed from as little to 5mg per day to 80mg per day depending on the issues that the patient is suffering from as well as how responsive the patient is after two to eight weeks. Prozac can be used short term for as little as three months or can be safely used for longer periods of time in the case of depression or other conditions that will require ongoing therapy.