Prozac is a commonly prescribed medication for children and teens withmajor depressive disorder (MDD)and sometimesbipolar disorder.
Before your child begins taking Prozac, it’s important that you understand its potential side effects.
Prozac for Kids and Teens: What Does It Do?
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SSRIs may help improve mood by increasing the amount ofserotoninin the brain.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood andemotions, sleep, and appetite.
SSRIs work to make serotonin accessible again so that the body can receive its benefits.
Serious Side Effects
Although rare, Prozac is associated with certain more serious side effects.
Some of the warning signs include an increase in sadness, isolation, panic attacks, or aggressiveness.
These may be subtle and lead tothoughts about suicide or dying, suicide attempts, or self-injury.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
While many side effects may resolve with time, a child should not suffer unnecessarily from additional complications.
There are many different treatment options that can help minimize the potential for these side effects.
How do Kids and Teens Take Prozac?
If your child is taking Prozac, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind.
Adolescents may need to take 40mg or 60mg per day to achieve the desired effect.
Be sure you only administer to your child the dosage of Prozac that their doctor prescribes.
Never give your child a higher dose.
For children with OCD, the dosing is similar to treating depression.
Supervising Your Child
A child shouldn’t take Prozac alone.
It’s best that you, or another trusted adult, oversee its administration.
Prozac is taken once per day.
Your child may take the medication with food, but it is not necessary.
Prozac should be taken at around the same time every day.
You should never double your child’s Prozac dose.
After starting Prozac, all children should be monitored closely for any side effects, especially changes in behavior.
Storage
Prozac should be stored in a room-temperature location.
Avoid any place with too much light, heat, and/or moisture.
For instance, it’s bestnotto keep Prozac in the bathroom.
Keep Prozac in the container provided to you by your pharmacist and check that the lid is tightly closed.
you’re free to talk to your local pharmacist to learn the best way to dispose of Prozac.
Some pharmacies participate in a “take-back” program and can safely dispose of Prozac for you.
However, it is important to work with your doctor to determine which treatments are right for your teen.
Prozac (fluoxetine) is often considered the best antidepressant for treating depression in teens.
This amount may be increased up to 60 milligrams per day until the desired effect is achieved.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Label for Prozac (fluoxetine).
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?
National Alliance on Mental Health.Fluoxetine (Prozac).
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