Prozac Side Effects in Men

Prozac is manufactured by Eli Lilly and company and is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and is prescribed to people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), bi-polar disorders, depression, etc. Like most psychotropic drugs, Prozac also has some side effects and some of the mild side effects in men include stuffy nose and nausea. Fluoxetine hydrochloride or Prozac is administered orally and the dosage depends on the conditions that needs to be treated. It is also prescribed to treat pediatric depression and OCD.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of fluoxetine in 1987 as a selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Since then, it has been a very popular drug to treat conditions like panic attacks, anxiety, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, etc. One of the problems of pinpointing Prozac side effects in guys is that, the perceived side effects can also be the underlying symptoms of the condition that is being treated.

Like most drugs there are some side effects associated with Prozac and they can be categorized into two categories mild and severe. Some of the mild side effects of this psychotropic drug are headache and loss of appetite. People who are on Prozac also complain of indigestion, insomnia and constipation which can at times be really uncomfortable.

Nausea and vomiting accompanied by fever or chills are also some of the side effects in men and women. Most anti depressants cause urinary retention and dry mouth and Prozac is no different. Some of these mild side effects generally disappear after a week or two of starting the pill.

Some Prozac side effects, which can be categorized as moderate are weight loss, anorexia and skin rash. People who start experiencing weight loss need to consult their physicians and appraise them about the condition so the dosage can be adjusted or alternate medicine can be prescribed. Prozac and weight gain are also inter-related, many people experience weight gain after stopping Prozac.

One of the side effects in men that affects their sexual life is loss of libido. Although doctors are not sure whether the loss of libido is because of medication or the condition. Most of the conditions like depression, anxiety, etc. can cause loss of libido.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is also an undesirable side effect of Prozac and is one of the main reasons why patients request their doctors to change their medication. Although, it is inconclusive whether it is because of the medication or the underlying condition.

Another painful Prozac side effect in guys is priapism, in which the patient will have a prolonged painful erection without sexual arousal. Priapism could have some irrevocable effects on the penis and it is advisable to immediately notify your physician about this situation.

In patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) it is a possibility that depression medication may increase suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Such people need to be closely monitored when taking anti-depressant medications and any mood swings should be reported to the concerning physician.

Prozac when taken with other class of anti depressants like Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) can lead to serotonin syndrome. It is a life-threatening drug reaction which can occur because of over dose of SSRIs or by combining them with other MAOIs.

You should notify your physician about any health conditions that you may have and any other medication that you are taking before using Prozac. Most of the side effects in men are disconcerting, but discontinuing any medication without prior consultation with your physician is not advisable.