Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: stana on 04/01/2008 20:27:22

Title: Prozac Addiction
Post by: stana on 04/01/2008 20:27:22
Is prozac addictive?

Thanks
Title: Prozac Addiction
Post by: Karen W. on 05/01/2008 12:31:02
The companies themselves claim they are not, but there are huge newer claims that say they are addictive. In order to stop taking them you need to taper off slowly and not just stop as you can exhibit some very severe symptoms coming off ssri's.

Here is a list, and I find many of them true with the sudden  discontinuation of Prozac! The Celexa has been difficult also with many of these symptoms, yet not as strongly.. there none the less still here. I am experiencing some of those symptoms as we speak.
I have been off my meds for almost two weeks.. due to financial restraints...

So it really is still controversial, but if you asked me,and I am no Doctor, but I would say these symptoms are not good, and in my very humble opinion, the drugs are and can be addictive..

All the ones with x's are what I am experiencing and to the degree!


Anxiety =xxxxxxxxxx
Crying spells=xxxxxxxxxx
Insomnia=xxxxxxxxxx
Irritability=xxxx
Mood lability=xxxxxxx
Vivid dreams=xxxx
Nausea=xxxxxxxx
Vomiting=x
Dizziness=xxxxx
Headache=xxxxxxxxxx
Paresthesia
Dystonia
Tremor=xxxxxxxxxx
Chills=xxxxxxx
Fatigue=xxxxxxxxx
Lethargy=xxxxxxxxxx
Myalgias
Rhinorrhea



Title: Prozac Addiction
Post by: Ruth on 23/01/2008 12:01:01
I have just read that Prozac contain fluorine - something which is toxic and affects the endocrine system.
Title: Prozac Addiction
Post by: stana on 23/01/2008 14:24:58
endocrine?
Title: Prozac Addiction
Post by: rosy on 23/01/2008 18:34:51
Fluorine is an element. What effect it may have on the endocrine or any other system will depend very much on what sort of compound it's in. There is a vast range of chlorine and fluorine containing compounds out there. Many are man made, some are antibiotics, some (as in the case of prozac) are SSRIs, some are plastics, others are pesticides, or refrigerants, there are fluorine containing compounds in most classes of chemicals.

Prozac wouldn't contain elemental fluorine if only because it's too reactive, it would have been converted into something else long before the bottle hit the shelves of the pharmacy. Infact it has a trifluoromethyl group to make an aromatic ring more electron rich (as an aside an aromatic ring is a substituted bezene ring, which is to say a benzene with other bits of molecule hanging off it, benzene is incredibly carcinogenic but aromatic rings are everywhere in nature and in manmade chemical systems.

The structure of prozac (or fluoxetine) is here: http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=30#
I don't think there's much doubt now that fluoxetine isn't the side-effect-free feel-good pill it was made out to be in the early days, but I doubt that's down to "containing fluorine".

Ruth, what's your source? I guess from your other posts in the last day or two that you've been having a look round some web based health sites, do take whatever you find out there with a sizeable pinch of salt, won't you? I'm a postgrad student research chemist, and this isn't really my area, I make no pretence of understanding the interactions of drugs with the body (or indeed with each other) but the sort of website that asserts (if that is indeed what it's saying) that prozac contains fluorine and therefore damages the endocrine system is an utter menace and should be disbelieved on all points.

Stana: endocrine system- the system of hormones which controls a wide range of body processes on a range of timescales... from adrenaline (seconds) to growth hormones (months/years). Many hormones are produces by certain glands and secreted into the blood to be carried around the body to their target organ, others act much more locally, for example might be secreted by one cell in order to carry information to its neighbours within the same tissue (someone else, with any luck, will chip in with a more coherent explanation.. or you could take the question out of this thread and start a new discussion with it).


Title: Prozac Addiction
Post by: Karen W. on 23/01/2008 18:40:58
Thanks Rosy.. good information and advice.