Ads from Google:


Google ad
End of ad
Google Adsense ad
End of ads.

SSRI Prozac, Lexapro Withdrawal

Abstract: Antidepressants (SSRI, Paxil, Fontex, Prozac, Lexapro) should often be used for a long time, and reducing the dosage should only be done under supervision of a qualified psychiatrist.

Web4Health logo
psychologist Independent medical expert answers on psychiatry and psychology

SSRI Prozac, Lexapro Withdrawal

Intelligent natural language question-answering in the area of psychology and psychiatry. Ask a simple question  Local help Info


Go the top of the page Top Forum iconDiscuss this Forum iconGet expert advice Printer Print
Question(s): 
Written by: Martin Winkler
First version: 22 Jul 2008.
Latest revision: 31 Jul 2008.

I am 64 years old and have been depressed most of my life. I have been on prozac for about 20 years now. I was quite ill and in the hospital for several weeks, while I was in the hospital I was never given my prozac and when I got out I went into a deep depression. Could it have been that I was suddenly stopped this medication? What are the withdrawal effects of SSRI medicines?

Answer:

You describe a chronic or recurrent type of depression and a positive effect of the antidepressant (a SSRI = serotonine reuptake inhibitor). It is highly recommended to make a permanent antidepressant therapy for this kind of depressive disorder! Sometimes an antidepressant can be combined with another type of mood stabilizer (like carbamazepine, valproate, or lithium). Additional cognitive-behavioral therapy can be useful to learn to cope with this chronic disorder.

It is a common problem that doctors try to reduce or change psychopharmacotherapy in a medical hospital. Sometimes this is necessary due to side effects or other medical reasons. But it should only be done after consultation of a qualified psychiatrist!

Severe medical conditions can trigger (and cause) a depression. For seniors this is a major problem because it can affect sleep, appetite and mobility. Very often additional psychopharmacotherapy with antidepressants is a great help for these group of patients. Some experts in the United States recommend psychostimulants in the treatment of depression in medical ill seniors. They offer a good immediate activation and antidepressant effect until the antidepressant starts to work (usally after 2 or 3 weeks).

Intelligent natural language question-answering in the area of psychology and psychiatry. Ask a simple question:
Local help Info
Google ad
End of ad
Disclaimer: The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It can not and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. If you find anything wrong, please notify us at .
Go to top of page To top of page
Web4Health in other languages: Finnish German Greek Italian Polish Russian Swedish

bipolar-ssri-hospital Copyright 2003-2017 Web4Health
Copyright 2003-2017 Web4Health.
Web4Health was selected as finalist for the 2008 Stockholm Challenge Award
Translate Web4Health
We seek voluntary translators who are interested in translating Web4Health to new languages. We can provide the servers, and pay you 50 % of the income from ads on pages, which you have translated. We are especially interested in translators from German To English, From German, Swedish or English to French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Finnish, Polish, Farsi, Russian.
web4health.info/en/tr/

Advertise here
Reach 300 000 visitors reading one million pages for a cost of 600 US $/month.
/en/ad/