Tolerance to Prozac?

Posted by Dave on July 08, 1999 at 07:24:11
I am currently taking 20 mg of Prozac a day for depression. I have been on Prozac for a little over 2 months.  When I started, I noticed an improvement in my symptoms within two weeks.  Now it seems that my symptoms are creeping back.  Is it possible my body is developing a tolerance to Prozac?  Do I need a larger dosage or do I need to consider an alternative medication?

Posted by HFHS.MD-AJ on July 11, 1999 at 15:09:01
Dave,
Sometimes there may be a need to adjust an antidepressant medication dose to target depressive symptoms. Prozac may be prescribed in doses up to 60mg per day, although 20mg a day is the usual therapeutic dose. You may find it helpful to discuss increasing your dose of Prozac with your treating physician/psychiatrist. Studies suggest that an effective treatment for depression is a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Two types of psychotherapy, cognitive therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, are particularly effective with depression. A referral for one of these therapies may be very helpful.
This response is provided for general information only. Always contact your physician for any health concerns.
Keywords: depression, Prozac, cognitive therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy