At a Glance
If you experience panic attacks, you will likely be treated with antidepressant medication.
Prozac is one popular antidepressant that is FDA-approved to treat panic disorder.
Fortunately, many of these unpleasant effects diminish once your body adjusts to your medication.
Paul S. Howell/Getty Images
Due to the effectiveness, safety, and limited side effects of SSRIs, their popularity continued to grow.
Doctors initially prescribed Prozac to treatdepression.
People with mood andanxiety disordershave an imbalance of serotonin.
As an SSRI, Prozac works to influence serotonin by inhibiting its absorption in nerve cells in the brain.
Common Side Effects
Prozac has the potential for side effects, which often vary for different people.
kindly note that these are only some of the side effects that can occur while taking Prozac.
Consult your doctor if you experience any side effects that become unmanageable or don’t go away.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
How Quickly Prozac Works for Panic Attacks
Don’t expect Prozac to immediately make you feel better.
give a shot to give your medication some time before determining whether or not it’s helping you.
Additionally, yourpanic disorder symptomscan worsen if you suddenly stop taking your medication.
Your dosage of Prozac can be gradually and safely reduced with your doctor’s guidance.
Lightheadedness, Dizziness, and Drowsiness
Prozac can make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, and tired.
It doesn’t cover all potential variables, including possible side effects, precautions, and contraindications.
Always talk to your medical provider about any questions and concerns you may have about your prescription.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).
Horwitz AV.How an age of anxiety became an age of depression.
2021;13(3):387-401. doi:10.3390/neurolint13030038
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Label for PROZAC (fluoxetine).
2016;291(38):19725-19733. doi:10.1074/jbc.M116.727263
Harvard Health Publishing.Going off antidepressants.
2014;26(3):163-170. doi:10.3233/JRS-140632
Harvard Health Publishing.Treating generalized anxiety disorder in the elderly.
Drugs.com.Prozac (fluoxetine) Drug Interactions.
International OCD Foundation.Medications for OCD.
National Institutes of Health U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus.Fluoxetine.
Silverman HM.The Pill Book, Fifteenth Edition.
New York, New York: Bantam Books; 2012.