How Should Xanax Be Taken
Take Xanax exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Xanax to take and when to take it.If you take too much Xanax, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
Xanax is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems , coma and death.
Xanax can make you sleepy or dizzy, and can slow your thinking and motor skills.
Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Xanax affects you.
Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that may make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Xanax without first talking to your healthcare provider. When taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness, Xanax may make your sleepiness or dizziness much worse.
Do not take more Xanax than prescribed.
What To Do In Case Of Overdose
If you think youve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
How K Health Can Help
Think you might need a prescription for Prozac ?
K Health has clinicians standing by 24/7 to evaluate your symptoms and determine if Prozac is right for you.
Get started with our free assessment, which will tell you in minutes if treatment could be a good fit. If yes, well connect you right to a clinician who can prescribe medication and have it shipped right to your door.
Read Also: Can Eating Disorders Cause Thyroid Problems
What Are Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders affect 31.9 percent of people between the ages of 13 and 18, and women are twice as likely to develop an anxiety disorder as men. Common examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, substance-induced anxiety disorder and specific phobias.
An anxiety disorder does more than make you anxious. They can affect your entire life. Plus, untreated anxiety can lead to other mental health disorders and physical conditions, Alonzo said. We have no way of predicting what will cause someone to develop an anxiety disorder. However, you can take steps to reduce the impact of symptoms such as getting help from a health care professional early and avoiding the use of non-prescribed drugs and alcohol.
Cannabidiol & Medical Marijuana
Lets address the skeptics here first, but also look at the big picture in an unbiased way. We clearly need more research on this topic. Marijuana can clearly be addictive for some. Our society has had a puritanical basis against marijauna research in the past. Its clearly safer on average than alcohol and benzos in terms of overdose and fatality. Typically, overdose on these products has not ever been described as fatal. Only very recently has a coroner said there may have been a fatal overdose on marijuana. Even if this is not an accurate report, with the legalization of marijuana and development of higher potency strains, it would not surprise me that this does occur in time. But for now, in the big picture, the #1 drug that kills in our society is nicotine, and alcohol is #2.
The mechanism of action here concerns the endocannabinoid system in the human body. Like the other classes of medicines discussed, the exact mechanism is not completely understood. This can have various different effects including reducing seizures, anxiety, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The first ever CBD product was approved last year for severe seizure disorders.
I tend to refer my patients to someone who specializes in medical marijuana and CBD when other classes of medications like antidepressants have failed them.
Don’t Miss: Is Bipolar Hereditary From Parents
Prozac For Depression Related To Bipolar I Disorder
Prozac is FDA-approved to treat episodes of acute depression related to bipolar I disorder. For this purpose, Prozac is used with a medication called olanzapine .
Prozac is prescribed for adults as well as children ages 10 years and older with this type of depression.
Depression related to bipolar I disorder explained
Bipolar I disorder is a mental health condition in which you have episodes of depression and episodes of mania. . The episodes of depression typically last at least 2 weeks. The episodes of mania last at least 7 days or are severe enough to need treatment in a hospital.
With episodes of depression, you may feel extremely sad, gloomy, or hopeless. You may lose interest in your regular activities and feel irritable, anxious, or lacking energy. And you may have physical symptoms, such as changes in your sleep patterns or appetite.
With episodes of mania, you may feel exhilarated, excited, restless, wired, or jittery. You may have racing thoughts and talk excessively. You also may have impaired judgment and engage in risky behaviors, such as driving recklessly or gambling your savings.
Effectiveness for depression related to bipolar I disorder
Prozac, in combination with olanzapine, is an effective treatment for depression related to bipolar I disorder. To find out how the drugs performed in clinical trials, see Prozacs prescribing information.
What Actually Causes Depression
Research suggests that depression doesn’t spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems.
Read Also: How Long Can A Bipolar Episode Last
Precautions Before Taking Prozac
There has been some controversy about the safety of Prozac, due to a safety warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007 about the risk for suicidal thoughts among certain groups.
Despite this warning, Prozac continues to be prescribed and can be used safely under the guidance of a physician. If you have concerns about the safety of taking Prozac, discuss them with a healthcare provider.
Prozac For Anxiety: Benefits Dosage Side Effects And More
Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP
Its normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially in stressful situations. However, if youre prone to severe or persistent anxiety, or if you frequently experience panic attacks, you may be one of the tens of millions of American adults with an anxiety disorder.
Several medications are available to treat anxiety disorders, including the antidepressant drug Prozac®.
Prozac, which contains the active ingredient fluoxetine, works by affecting the levels of natural chemicals that control your moods and feelings. Taken consistently, it can help to treat several common forms of anxiety, improving your mental well-being and quality of life.
Below, weve explained what Prozac is, as well as how Prozac and similar medications work to treat the symptoms of anxiety.
Weve also explained how you can use Prozac for anxiety, from approved dosages to potential side effects and drug interactions that you should be aware of before you start treatment.
You May Like: Can You Have Panic Attacks During Sleep
Precautions Before Taking Wellbutrin
As with other medication, here are some precautions that you need to take before consuming Wellbutrin.
Be aware that there have been reports of changes in behavior such as hostility, agitation, depression as well as suicidal thoughts when this medication is taken to help people stop smoking. These symptoms can start when u first take bupropion or after a few weeks on this medication. These symptoms can occur in people without a history of mental illness and are seemingly worse in people who suffer from mental illness.
Do contact your doctor immediately if you experience suicidal thoughts, anxiety, agitation, hostile behavior, increased risk taking, hallucinations, and confusions. Be sure that you have someone close to you who knows these signs and symptoms, especially if you are not able to seek treatment on your own.
You should also be aware of the ingredients used to make Wellbutrin especially if you have experienced allergies to any other medication before. Before starting on this medication, inform your doctor and/or pharmacist what other medication, supplements, vitamins as well as herbal products that you are taking, including non-prescription medication.
Also, check that other medication that you are taking does not contain bupropion as this will cause you to take too big a dosage and increase unwanted side effects.
Prozac For Anxiety: What Does Prozac Feel Like When It Starts Working
Prozac falls in the class of antidepressants and is the most sought-after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drug. But like many other medications, does Prozac work the first day? It is one of the amazing remedies for anxiety that people can normally use.
However, for anyone, it is more like usual to feel anxiety in most situations. Many of us face anxiety when getting on to a new challenging responsibility at work, school, or even in the community. But what does Prozac feel like when it starts working?
It always feels uncomfortable when you are invited to speak to the public, manage deadlines for complex work, or any other situation which triggers anxiety in just a flash. According to the statistics, one out of six individuals has an anxiety disorder, which becomes the reason for the most common mental illness in US adults. A mental disorder with anxiety can eventually end up affecting your career and life more severely.
This is why Prozac SSRI is the first drug that is approved to treat the threats and effects of anxiety in adults. In addition, Prozac has powerful benefits that can prevent anxiety triggers. It prevents the reuptake of serotonin which results in increasing the serotonin levels in the human brain.
You May Like: How To Stop Hyperventilating During A Panic Attack
Can Prozac Be Prescribed For Anxiety
Yes. Prozac is approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder, which are both anxiety disorders. Prozac may also be used off-label to treat other anxiety disorders. Off-label drug use is when a drug the Food and Drug Administration has approved is prescribed for a purpose other than what its approved for.
If youre interested in taking Prozac for an anxiety disorder, talk with your doctor. They can recommend whether Prozac or a different treatment is a good option for you.
Can I Take Fluoxetine If I Am Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
Pregnancy
If you become pregnant while you are on fluoxetine, you should carry on taking the medicine and go back to your doctor as soon as possible, to see if you should change or stop your medicine.
There is a slightly higher risk of problems in the developing baby if you take fluoxetine it in the early stages of pregnancy. However, fluoxetine and related antidepressants are thought to be better choices if you need antidepressant medicine.
Remember that you need to stay well through your pregnancy, and you may need a medicine to help you to do that.
Fluoxetine may cause heart problems in the developing baby, and other symptoms in new-born babies.
If you and your doctor agree that you will continue taking fluoxetine during your pregnancy, then you should tell your midwife that you are taking it before you give birth.
Post-natal
If fluoxetine is taken in the last five months of a pregnancy, it can cause a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the new-born . This can make the baby breathe faster and look a bit blue in colour. PPHN affects around three in 1,000 babies born to mums who take SSRIs. This compares with a rate of two in 1,000 among babies born to mums who do not take SSRIs.
PPHN appears in the first 24 hours after birth. You will need help from the midwife and doctors, so it is better if they are looking out for symptoms.
- being irritable and crying a lot
- having difficulty sleeping or sucking
- poor weight gain
Breastfeeding
Don’t Miss: Do You Have Social Phobia
Social Phobia Drugs Therapy Work Equally Well
Combining Therapies Wont Provide Greater Relief
Oct. 4, 2004 For relief from social phobia, antidepressants or talk therapy will work equally well. Combining the therapies, however, does not provide any greater benefit, new research shows.
In the U.S., social phobia is a widespread problem one that leads to suicide attempts, numerous health problems, and reduced earning potential, writes lead researcher Jonathan R.T. Davidson, MD, a psychiatrist and behavioral scientist with Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
His report appears in this months issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule.
Studies have found that antidepressants particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac help relieve social phobia. Through cognitive behavioral therapy people learn to change negative thoughts and behaviors that feed the phobia, and they learn social skills.
But can medication be sufficient without therapy? Is group therapy enough if you dont like taking medications? Do the therapies combined provide even better benefits? These are the questions that Davidson tackled in his study.
After 14 weeks of treatment:
Show Sources
Archives of General Psychiatry
What Dosage Of Lamictal Should You Take For Anxiety
Because lamotrigine is not FDA approved for the treatment of anxiety disorders, no dosage guidelines have been established for this indication. If you were to test the efficacy lamotrigine as an intervention for your anxiety, it is necessary to work with a knowledgeable psychiatrist who can first ensure that lamotrigine is safe to administer in accordance with your current medical status, medical history, and/or other substances that you use. Some individuals will be unsuited to administer lamotrigine due to the fact that they have a medical contraindication and/or are taking another drug that would cause a serious interaction.
Assuming lamotrigine is safe for you to take, a psychiatrist will likely initiate treatment with a low dose and gradually titrate it upwards until your symptoms subside. By gradually titrating the dosage upwards, your nervous system is given adequate time to adjust to the effects of lamotrigine whereby the likelihood of serious adverse reactions is minimized. Since everyone is different based on factors such as age, body size , genetics, neurochemistry, and health not everyone should expect to respond to the same amount of lamotrigine.
Read Also: Does Ptsd Cause Anger Outbursts
What Are Potential Drug Interactions
When taking fluoxetine, do not take it at the same time as alcohol and certain over-the-counter and prescriptions. Avoid aspirin for the risk of bleeding and avoid nutritional herbs or supplements like St. John’s Wort.
fluoxetine should also not be combined with tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors . Take caution if you are taking drugs that affect the central nervous system, like benzodiazepines.
How Does Prozac Help With Anxiety Disorders
Prozac is one of several medications known as SSRIs. Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters that normally carry signals between neurons. The SSRIs block the reabsorption of serotonin into the neurons, leaving more serotonin available to enable messages to travel between neurons.5 Increased levels of serotonin have been associated with an overall calming of the nervous system, improved mood, and better sleep quality.6
Another way the SSRIs help is through their effect on the brains structure over a period of time. Higher levels of serotonin are believed to increase the brains ability to restructure parts of itself, in effect, becoming more adaptable. After weeks of use of an SSRI, the brain becomes more able to adapt to new learning.7
Also Check: What To Say To A Depressed Friend
How Effectively Does Prozac Work For Anxiety
Before you start relying on just Prozac or serotonin, it is essential to understand that Prozac is a regular treatment for anxiety that manages anxiety levels in the human brain. However, Prozac may not be that effective in the anxiety attacks that a patient has already been suffering from. Therefore, if you experience severe forms of anxiety and panic attacks already, then you must ask your psychiatrist to prescribe you an SSRI like Prozac that offset serotonin effects on your brain.
Prozac may not act like a miracle that eliminates anxiety from your life, but it can control your anxiety attacks in a way that your struggles against social fears and special anxiety get into your control. You can either take Prozac in the morning or in the evening or as prescribed by your psychiatrist.
Either you take Prozac once a day or according to the instructions, the effects of the medicine vary according to the condition of the person and the time of the day when it is taken. For example, Prozac takes a maximum of four weeks to start working when you take it in the daytime. But if your psychiatrist tells you to take it before going to bed, it may start working right away. For the best effectiveness of the medication, ask your doctor.
You Dont Necessarily Have To Stop Taking Your Antidepressant If Youre Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
Some antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, are considered safe to take while pregnant and breastfeeding.
Women and their doctors must make a risk-benefit calculation, Dr. Cox says. While its best to be on the fewest medications possible during pregnancy, the risk of untreated symptoms of depression and anxiety may be greater than any risk from medication.
When moderate to severe, untreated symptoms can pose risk of serious harm to the mother and baby, Dr. Cox says. These symptoms deserve to be treated just like any other health condition that arises during a pregnancy.
You May Like: Is Borderline Personality Disorder The Same As Bipolar