Prozac Weekly

Capsules, delayed-release 90 mg (as base) (Rx) Prozac Weekly E Lilly/Dista)... 

Weekly dosing Initiate Prozac Weekly 7 days after the last 20 mg/day dose. If satisfactory response is not maintained, consider re-establishing a daily dosing regimen. 

I Brand Name(s) Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Rapiflux, Sarafem Combinations... 

Oral 10, 20, 40 mg capsules 10, 20 mg tablets 20 mg/5 mL liquid Oral delayed-release (Prozac Weekly) 90 mg capsules Fluvoxamine (generic, labeled only for obsessive-compulsive disorder)... 

Oral delayed release (Prozac Weekly) 90 mg capsules... 

Prozac No Delayed-release capsule — 90 Once weekly... 

In their next study, Mayberg and her colleagues scanned the brains of depressed patients who had responded positively to treatment for depression in a clinical trial of Prozac. The patients were scanned twice, once before the treatment had begun and once again after six weeks of treatment. About half of the patients responded positively to the treatment by showing at least a 50 per cent reduction in their symptoms the other half did not improve that much and were classified as non-responders. For the responders, but not for the non-responders, treatment of depression produced changes in brain activation in exactly the same areas in which normal sadness had produced changes, but in the opposite direction. In other words, successful treatment decreased brain activity in areas where sadness produces increased activity, and it increased brain activity in areas where sadness decreases it. 

The power of antidepressant medications seems most incontrovertible when relief occurs precisely on the time schedule predicted and is experienced as a complete cure. Emily finally found her way to a psychiatric nurse, who prescribed Klonopin and Prozac and told her Klonopin will really help you now because the Prozac won t kick in for about six weeks. In response, Emily exclaimed, T can t wait six weeks. I m going to die before six weeks However, the Klonopin, taken three or four times a day, dulled her pain, and within two weeks things began to change ... 

Within a few weeks the miracle of medication repeated itself and Emily felt absolutely fantastic. At the time of our conversation she had been taking a combination of Celexa and Wellbutrin. The Wellbutrin had been added because Celexa had produced the same sexual side effects she had experienced with Prozac. While that problem has been solved, the medications did blunt her feelings somewhat I am able to feel anger and I m able to cry, but I do notice that I feel a little more apathetic than I want to be. However, compared with her awful depressions, the drug s side effects seem modest. Once Emily began to im-... 

Another study by the same group assessed the use of fluoxetine (Prozac) (20 mg) in a 7-week open trial in 10 adolescents with the commonly occurring triad of SUD, CD, and major depression (Riggs et ah, 1997). Seven of the eight subjects had significant improvement in mood p < 0.001), and the majority reported that the fluoxetine (Prozac) assisted in their substance rehabilitation. The medication was well tolerated and no interactions between fluoxetine (Prozac) and any substances of abuse were reported. There were no positive drug tests for the duration for the study. 

Cornelius et ah, also openly evaluated the efficacy of fluoxetine (Prozac) (20 mg) in 13 adolescents with MDD and alcohol abuse or dependence (Cornelius et ah, 2001). The fluoxetine (Prozac) was well tolerated throughout the entire 12 week duration of outpatient treatment and was associated with a significant reduction in MDD symptoms (p <.001) for all subjects. Overall, there was a significant reduction drinking days (p <.08) and drinks per drinking day (p <.005) with 7/13 subjects having their SUD rated as much improved. 

The prescription antidepressants are taken orally, once a day, either in capsules, tablets, oral suspensions, or solutions. In early 2002, a once-a-week dose in capsule and liquid forms became available for Prozac and some other antidepressants. 

When I found out that I was five weeks pregnant with my first child, I stopped the Prozac immediately. I did not feel depressed and do not remember any negative consequences at that time. Perhaps the fact that I was so ecstatic to be pregnant helped me. Then at three months pregnant we moved. This was a stressful and difficult time. I did not resume the Prozac during that pregnancy and I did not become depressed, but there were times when I felt I was skating on very thin ice and I felt scared. 

Jafri and Greenberg (1991) described the case of a 15-year-old boy who became psychotic directly related to his receiving fluoxetine. After his medication was stopped, he improved over about 1 week s time. Hersh et al. (1991), physicians from Cornell University Medical College, described an 11-year-old girl who developed a delusional system on Prozac. 

When antidepressants block the function of the transporter system, Wegerer et al. (1999) found, the transporter system grows strong in response by increasing in density. This effect was found in young rats after only 2 weeks of exposure to Prozac. 

After a few weeks on Prozac, I realized tny outlook on life was brighter. Since taking it, I... 

Depression is a common symptom when a client is diagnosed as HIV positive or with AIDs. In a recent study investigators studied the efficacy of two SSRI medications, fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), in treating depressed women who were HIV positive (Ferrando, Rabkin, de Moore, Rabkin, 1999). Thirty women were enrolled in an eight-week open trial. The mean age of the women was 35 and most of their HIV risk was related to intravenous drug use (53%) or heterosexual contact (40%). Eighteen women actually completed the study, and the most fie-quently reported adverse effect was anxiety, overstimulation, and insomnia. 

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