Fluoxetine

Antidepressants are medications that are commonly used to treat depression. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Fluoxetine, are the most common type of antidepressant. In 1970, the role of serotonin in depression was discovered, leading to the development of the hypothesis that enhanced neurotransmission is a viable mechanism in mediating antidepressant response. This led to the discovery and development of Fluoxetine and its approval in the United States as a treatment for depression. Fluoxetine is an antidepressant that affects chemicals in the brain that may be out of balance in some people who have anxiety, panic, depression, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms, according to First et al. (2011). Fluoxetine is a medication used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, panic attacks, and various other conditions. Fluoxetine is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, panic attacks, and variety of eating disorders. It is also used to mitigate symptoms of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which includes irritability and mood swings (First et al. (2011, p.246). Moreover, it used along with Olanzapine as a treatment for some depression irresponsive to other medications
Fluoxetine is a highly addictive drug and thus require close monitoring by the doctor since sudden halt in taking it can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as mood changes, dizziness, irritability, difficulty falling asleep, and numbness (Riddle, 2006, p.197). According to Riddle (2006), medication may cause several side effects including; heartburns, anxiety, weakness, loss of appetite, headache, confusion, and excessive sweating weight loss. Other side effects can be severe and may include abnormal bleeding, shortness of breath, slow, fast or irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, rashes, and fever.
Alcohol can add the drowsiness due to this medication. Over-the-counter medication may cause serious side effects too, that is why it is advisable to inform the doctor about all medicines used as well as dietary supplements. Mayberg (2000) says that after taking Fluoxetine medicine, it may take approximately 4 to 5 weeks or maybe longer before one feels its benefits; within this period, therefore, the patient is required to take the medication continuously.References
First, M., Gil-Ad, I., Taler, M., Tarasenko, I., Novak, N., & Weizman, A. (2011). The effects of fluoxetine treatment in a chronic mild stress rat model on depression-related behavior, brain neurotrophins and ERK expression. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 45(2), 246.Retrieved from; http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12031-011-9515-5
Mayberg, H. S., Brannan, S. K., Tekell, J. L., Silva, J. A., Mahurin, R. K., McGinnis, S., & Jerabek, P. A. (2000). Regional metabolic effects of fluoxetine in major depression: serial changes and relationship to clinical response. Biological psychiatry, 48(8), 830-843.Retrieved from; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006322300010362
Riddle, M. A., King, R. A., Hardin, M. T., Scahill, L., Ort, S. I., Chappell, P., ... & Leckman, J. F. (2006). Behavioral side effects of fluoxetine in children and adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 1(3), 193-198. Retrieved from; http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cap.1990.1.193