My
doctors often ask why I don't take my
medication without question. Well, the answer to that is
I'm not stupid. Listed below are most of the side effects of
Prozac:
Allergic or Toxic:
Frequent: Rash, pruritus.
Infrequent: Chills and fever, urticaria, maculopapular rash.
Rare: Allergic reaction, erythema multiforme, vesiculobullous rash, serum sickness, contact dermatitis, erythema nodosum,
purpuric rash, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, leukopenia, thrombocythemia, arthralgia, angioedema, bronchospasm, lung fibrosis, allergic alveolitis, larynx edema, respiratory distress.
Neurologic:
Frequent: Headache, tremor, dizziness or lightheadedness, asthenia.
Infrequent: Abnormal gait, ataxia, akathisia, buccoglossal syndrome, hyperkinesia, hypertonia, incoordination, neck rigidity,
extrapyramidal syndrome, convulsions, photophobia, myoclonus, vertigo, migraine, tinnitus, hypesthesia, neuralgia, neuropathy,
acute brainsyndrome.
Rare: Dysarthria, dystonia, torticollis, decreased reflexes, nystagmus, paralysis, paresthesia, carpal tunnel syndrome, stupor, coma, abnormal EEG, chronic brain syndrome, dyskinesia and other movement disorders (including worsening of preexisting conditions or appearance in patients with risk factors e.g., Parkinson's disease, treatment with neuroleptics or other drugs
known to be associated with movement disorders]) neuroleptic malignant syndrome-like events.
Behavioral:
Frequent: Insomnia, anxiety, nervousness, agitation, abnormal dreams, drowsiness and fatigue.
Infrequent: Confusion, delusions, hallucinations, manic reaction, paranoid reaction, psychosis, depersonalization, apathy,
emotional lability, euphoria, hostility, amnesia, increased libido.
Rare: Antisocial reaction, hysteria, suicidal ideation, violent behaviors.
Autonomic:
Frequent: Excessive sweating.
Infrequent: Dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, vision disturbance, diplopia, mydriasis, hot flushes.
Cardiovascular:
Infrequent: Chest pain, hypertension, syncope, hypotension (including postural hypotension), angina pectoris, arrhythmia, tachycardia.
Rare: Bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmia, first degree AV block, bundle branch block, myocardial infarct, cerebral ischemia, cerebral vascular accident, thrombophlebitis.
Gastrointestinal:
Frequent: Nausea, disturbances of appetite, diarrhea.
Infrequent: Vomiting, stomatitis, dysphagia, eructation, esophagitis, gastritis, gingivitis, glossitis, melena, thirst, abnormal liver function tests.
Rare: Bloody diarrhea, hematemesis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, duodenal ulcer, stomach ulcer, mouth ulceration,
hyperchlorhydria, colitis, enteritis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis, hepatomegaly, liver tenderness, jaundice, increased salivation, salivary gland enlargement, tongue discoloration, fecal incontinence, pancreatitis.
Respiratory:
Frequent: Bronchitis, rhinitis, yawn.
Infrequent: Asthma, dyspnea, hyperventilation, pneumonia, hiccups, epistaxis.
Rare: Apnea, lung edema, hypoxia, pleural effusion, hemoptysis.
Endocrine:
Frequent: Weight loss.
Infrequent: Generalized edema, peripheral edema, face edema, tongue edema, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, weight gain.
Rare: Dehydration, gout, goitre, hyperthyroidism, hypercholesteremia, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, hyperprolactinemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, iron deficiency anemia, syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion.
Hematologic:
Infrequent: Anemia, lymphadenopathy, hemorrhage.
Rare: Bleeding time increased, leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombocythemia, retinal hemorrhage, petechia, purpura, sedimentation rate increased, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, immune-related hemolytic anemia.
Dermatologic:
Infrequent: Acne, alopecia, dry skin, herpes simplex.
Rare: Eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea, skin hypertrophy, skin discoloration, herpes zoster, fungal dermatitis, hirsutism, ecchymoses.
Musculoskeletal:
Frequent: Muscle pain, back pain, joint pain.
Infrequent: Arthritis, bone pain, bursitis, tenosynovitis, twitching.
Rare: Bone necrosis, osteoporosis, pathological fracture, chrondrodystrophy, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle hemorrhage.
Urogenital:
Frequent: Painful menstruation, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infection, frequent micturition.
Infrequent: Abnormal ejaculation, impotence, menopause, amenorrhea, menorrhagia, ovarian disorder, vaginitis, leukorrhea, fibrocystic breast, breast pain, cystitis, dysuria, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence.
Rare: Breast enlargement, galactorrhea, abortion, dyspareunia, uterine spasm, vaginal hemorrhage, metrorrhagia, hematuria, albuminuria, polyuria, pyuria, epididymitis, orchitis, pyelonephritis, salpingitis, urethritis, kidney calculus, urethral pain, urolithiasis.
Miscellaneous:
Frequent: Chills.
Infrequent: Amblyopia, conjunctivitis, cyst, ear pain, eye pain, jaw pain, neck pain, pelvic pain, hangover effect, malaise.
Rare: Abdomen enlarged, blepharitis, cataract, corneal lesion, glaucoma, iritis, ptosis, strabismus, deafness, taste loss, moniliasis, hydrocephalus, LE syndrome.
With all of these things at risk, don't you agree that I have some cause for worry? With so many side effects out there, the chance I will experience one is greater than ever. There are many I even currently suffer from. But overall, I am pleased with the change Prozac has made in my life. After three years taking it, I would never give it up. Ironic? Nah. I'd rather have nightmares occasionally and experience a few bodily discomforts if it means having my life given back to me in the form of three little green and white pills taken each morning.