short and long term effects of Prozac

[tnl1209]

I have been on Prozac for 2 or 3 years, 20 mg.  About 4 weeks, I decided to stop taking it.  My doctor gave me a week's supply of 10 mg to wean me off gradually.  I have been feeling not great for the last 2 weeks -  cramping, and loose bowel movements.  I never really thought it was related to the weaning off of Prozac, but now am starting to wonder if it is.  My question to you is, are there any reasons why I shouldn't take Prozac for the rest of my life?  I don't like taking medication and am always wondering what I am doing to my body long-term.

[mjbrown]

Nobody really knows long-term effects there are (if any) with antidepressants. However, Prozac is the oldest SSRI out there, and people have been on it 20+ years, with no serious long-term effects reported yet. In generally, the SSRI antidepressants appear to be very safe. Though their long-term effects have not been adequately studied. Being on Prozac for 2-3 years should have no lasting detrimental effects. I was on Prozac for 3 years, and I'm now on Lexapro for 2 years. So problems so far. My psychiatrist told me that I will probably have to be on antidepressants for the rest of my life, and knowing what I know (I'm getting a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology), I am okay with this. Not happy about it, but not worried about it either. Luckily, Prozac has the longest half-life of the SSRI antidepressants, and people rarely experience intense withdrawal symptoms - even without weaning off of it. See how you do without the Prozac... if you need it again, it will always be there.

Best of luck..