Prozac (fluoxetine) is a standard antidepressant within the class of medication referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medication work by altering ranges of the neurotransmitter serotonin within the mind to boost temper.

SSRIs like Prozac are the mostly prescribed antidepressants for treating main depressive dysfunction (MDD), panic dysfunction, obsessive-compulsive dysfunction (OCD), and a few others when prescribed. They’ve fewer negative effects than different antidepressants, however they’re not appropriate for everybody. 

Individuals would possibly search for alternate options to Prozac for quite a lot of causes. They might be involved about Prozac negative effects, need a extra pure method to treating their signs, or the drug would possibly simply not work for them. Lately, curiosity in holistic psychological well being remedy has elevated as folks turn out to be extra prepared to discover pure treatments to deal with varied circumstances. 
Should you’re eager about studying extra about Prozac alternate options, learn on. We’re overlaying what you have to find out about several types of antidepressant medication you may attempt as an alternative and among the in style pure treatments obtainable right now. After getting all the knowledge, you may speak to your physician and decide the perfect, best remedy plan on your wants and signs.

Various Drugs to Prozac

Lately, extra folks have turn out to be eager about studying about drugs that may function a Prozac substitute. Thankfully, there are quite a few medication obtainable to contemplate.

1. Celexa (citalopram)

Celexa, or the generic identify citalopram, is one other antidepressant treatment within the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class that helps stability temper by growing serotonin ranges within the mind. Earlier than switching from Prozac to Celexa, you need to speak to your physician about potential opposed results. Vital results to pay attention to embody a hyperlink to coronary heart points and an elevated threat of interactions with different medication.

• Situations Celexa can deal with: Celexa primarily treats main depressive dysfunction, however can also be used off-label to deal with anxiousness and different circumstances.

• Widespread negative effects of Celexa: Some frequent negative effects folks could expertise are elevated sweating, headache, diarrhea, nausea, insomnia, and fatigue.

2. Cymbalta (duloxetine)

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is likely one of the predominant alternate options to Prozac for despair and anxiousness. It additionally works by altering neurotransmitters linked to temper swings. Observe that Cymbalta is related to hypertension and liver issues if misused.

• Situations Cymbalta can deal with: FDA-approved makes use of of Cymbalta embody main depressive dysfunction, generalized anxiousness dysfunction (GAD), fibromyalgia, power musculoskeletal ache, and diabetic neuropathic ache. It’s additionally used off-label to deal with stress urinary incontinence and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

• Widespread negative effects of Cymbalta: Widespread Cymbalta negative effects embody complications, problem sleeping, blurred imaginative and prescient, constipation or diarrhea, and dry mouth.

3. Lexapro (escitalopram)

Lexapro (escitalopram) is a well-liked different to Prozac. The drug works equally to the others listed right here, however it has fewer reported negative effects that generally make it price contemplating above different alternate options. Curious how this treatment compares to Prozac? Take a look at our comparability of Lexapro vs. Prozac.

• Situations Lexapro can deal with: Lexapro is used to deal with main depressive dysfunction and generalized anxiousness dysfunction. It is usually used off-label to deal with some consuming problems, OCD, PTSD, panic dysfunction, and extra.
• Widespread negative effects of Lexapro: Widespread Lexapro negative effects embody dry mouth, nausea, hassle sleeping, dizziness, and constipation.

4. Paxil (paroxetine)

Paxil can also be within the SSRI class of medication. It impacts chemical ranges within the mind that may be unbalanced in folks with anxiousness, despair, and different psychological well being circumstances. Observe that in comparison with different SSRIs, Paxil has extra reported negative effects. Should you’re curious how the negative effects evaluate to Prozac’s negative effects, try our information on Paxil vs. Prozac.

• Situations Paxil can deal with: Paxil is FDA-approved to deal with main depressive dysfunction, panic dysfunction, OCD, and a few anxiousness problems, together with social anxiousness dysfunction and generalized anxiousness dysfunction (GAD). It’s additionally used to deal with post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD) and is used off-label for separation anxiousness, physique dysmorphic dysfunction, OCD in kids, and extra. 

• Widespread negative effects of Paxil: Uncomfortable side effects of Paxil embody sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, and weight achieve.

ALTERNATIVES TO PROZAC	USES	COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Celexa (citalopram)	Main depressive dysfunction	Headache Dry mouth  Nausea Restlessness Diarrhea Elevated sweating Drug interactions Nervousness Fatigue Issue sleeping (insomnia)  Sexual negative effects Elevated threat of coronary heart points
Cymbalta (duloxetine)	Main depressive dysfunction Generalized anxiousness dysfunction Ache attributable to diabetic neuropathy Persistent musculoskeletal ache Fibromyalgia	Lightheadedness  Lack of urge for food Nausea Dry mouth Tiredness Constipation Drowsiness Elevated sweating Dizziness
Lexapro (escitalopram)	Main depressive dysfunction Generalized anxiousness dysfunction	Dry mouth Nausea Issue sleeping Confusion Diarrhea or constipation Headache Sexual dysfunction Dizziness or drowsiness
Paxil (paroxetine)	Melancholy Obsessive-compulsive dysfunction Generalized anxiousness dysfunction Panic dysfunction Social anxiousness dysfunction Submit-traumatic stress dysfunction Premenstrual dysphoric dysfunction	Dry mouth Blurred imaginative and prescient Sexual dysfunction Dizziness or drowsiness Constipation Sleepiness Lack of urge for food or upset abdomen Weight reduction

Pure Options to Prozac

Should you’re searching for pure alternate options to Prozac for despair, anxiousness, or one other situation, you’ve got a number of choices to contemplate. Analysis suggests that some pure treatments and natural dietary supplements might be efficient for some folks. 

5. Holistic approaches 

• Train: Bodily exercise is a strong temper booster that releases endorphins, the physique’s pure feel-good chemical compounds.

• Daylight and light-weight remedy: Analysis hyperlinks despair signs to low ranges of Vitamin D. Thus, common publicity to daylight can doubtlessly assist some folks with despair. When treating seasonal have an effect on dysfunction (SAD), gentle packing containers present synthetic gentle that can be helpful.

• Food regimen: A wholesome and balanced weight loss program wealthy in advanced carbohydrates, fruits, greens, entire grains, and legumes would possibly assist elevate your temper naturally.

• Sleep: A daily circadian rhythm and well-maintained sleep helps neurotransmitter ranges to remain optimum.

6. Pure dietary supplements

• St. John’s wort: St. John’s wort has been used for hundreds of years as an natural treatment recognized for its antidepressant properties. Whereas the proof isn’t conclusive, and extra analysis must be executed, some research present that St. John’s may be an efficient technique to deal with despair in some circumstances. 

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Extra analysis is important, however a meta-analysis of dozens of research discovered that hundreds of members noticed helpful results of Omega-3s on depressive signs. Further analysis additionally suggests Omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful as a non-pharmacological remedy for despair and different temper problems. 

• S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe): Analysis means that SAMe may be helpful for despair, though, like so many different pure or holistic dietary supplements, extra analysis is required. Greater than 40 research counsel that SAMe may be efficient in treating depressive signs, however sadly, most of them are short-term research that solely lasted a few weeks. 

7. Remedy

Speak remedy (often known as psychotherapy) is confirmed to positively affect the end result of psychological well being remedy — in truth, as much as 75% of people that search remedy see advantages. 

“Remedy might be as efficient as Prozac in treating signs of despair and anxiousness. If signs are gentle, sufferers usually tend to reply effectively to remedy alone.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Dion Metzger, MD

Numerous research present that when remedy is mixed with treatment, the outcomes are superior to when both remedy is used alone. 

Talkspace is a safe on-line platform that provides handy, reasonably priced entry to remedy. Whether or not you wish to mix remedy with different types of remedy otherwise you wish to use it as an alternative choice to Prozac for managing your psychological well being situation, Talkspace makes the method simpler than ever. 

Issues for Switching to a Prozac Various

Should you’re searching for alternate options to Prozac for anxiousness, despair, or some other situation, speaking to your physician about all of the implications of constructing a swap is crucial.

Each individual can react in another way to treatment and remedy plans. Monitoring how your physique responds in the event you’ve not too long ago switched drugs is crucial. Whereas recognized and customary negative effects exist for each drug, that doesn’t imply all people will expertise each facet impact. Be certain to contact your physician in case you have any facet impact that worsens or is regarding or sudden.

Speak to your physician about:

• Your present well being standing
• Different medication and dietary supplements you’re taking
• Potential negative effects of any new treatment you’re contemplating
• Efficacy of alternate options

“Attributable to its lengthy half-life, Prozac doesn’t should be decreased earlier than stopping. Even on the best dose of 80 mg every day, you may cease taking Prozac “chilly turkey,” and the metabolites of the treatment will work their means out of your system on their very own. It’s necessary to know the chance of switching to a Prozac different is that different therapies might not be as efficient as Prozac. This opens the door for signs of despair or anxiousness to return inside weeks or months of switching.”

– Talkspace psychiatrist Dr. Dion Metzger, MD

Discover the Proper Various with Talkspace 

Discovering the best remedy plan when looking for Prozac alternate options might be an exhausting, daunting expertise — particularly in the event you’re making an attempt to do it by yourself. Talkspace’s on-line psychiatry providers provide a handy, reasonably priced, simply accessible technique to get recommendation about treatment and remedy plans that fit your wants and signs. 

Our licensed psychological well being professionals can information you towards higher psychological well being. Whether or not Prozac isn’t working for you and also you wish to think about a brand new drug, otherwise you’re searching for pure alternate options to deal with your despair, we might help.

Attain out to Talkspace right now to study extra about alternate options to Prozac that may be efficient for you.