The common occurrence of slow-rolling eye movements during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in patients taking Fluoxetine has led to this finding being referred to as “Prozac Eyes” [1]. The oculomotor movements in patients on Fluoxetine are accompanied by an increase in myoclonic activity[2].
Purpose : Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) are widely used for the treatment of depression. Common side effects of fluoxetine include blurred vision and increased pupil dilation, often leading to angle-closure glaucoma.
One of the most common eye-related side effects of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications is blurred vision. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, etc. directly affect the pupil and ciliary muscle function of the eye and can make it difficult to focus on near objects.
How Long Will Blurred Vision Last? Blurred vision as a side effect of tricyclic antidepressants usually subsides within a few weeks of treatment, even if you continue to use the medication regularly. 5 This is also true for SSRI and SNRI antidepressants.
“The ocular dryness that can result from these medications can cause a burning, gritty sensation in the eyes, along with blurry vision.” Some patients also experience excessive tearing as the irritation overstimulates their reflex tear production, resulting in tears dripping down the cheeks, Dr. Tittler said.
Mydriasis is a common ocular side effect of the tricyclic antidepressants owing to their anticholinergic properties resulting in pupil dilation and possible blurry vision.
Patients taking Prozac may also experience rare but serious side effects including suicidal thoughts and behaviors, seizures and bleeding issues. Serious side effects of Prozac include: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Activation of mania/hypomania.
Long-term side effects
Sexual side effects, such as problems getting an erection or a lower sex drive, have been reported after taking fluoxetine for a long time. In some cases, these can continue even after stopping the medicine.
Are there any long-term side effects? For most people, fluoxetine is safe to take for a long time. A few people may get sexual side effects, such as problems getting an erection or a lower sex drive. In some cases, these can continue even after stopping the medicine.
Most people take fluoxetine for at least six to 12 months after they start to feel better. If you have suffered from depression in the past, you should keep taking this medication for at least two years after you start to feel better.
Nonetheless, some patients who take this medication for prolonged periods will experience adverse effects (such as weight gain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, or sexual dysfunction).
Common Prozac side effects include nausea, insomnia, and nervousness. Headache, sweating, and drowsiness are also possible. And for most people, the initial side effects go away after a few weeks. But if they become bothersome or interfere with your daily life, talk to your healthcare provider.
Warnings. Prozac can carry risks, including the potential for clinical worsening and in rare cases, increased thoughts of suicide. 9 Serotonin syndrome can also occur, particularly if Prozac is used in conjunction with certain other medications. Prozac may also activate mania in people who are prone to it.
Do not use fluoxetine with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, St. John's wort, amphetamines, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Ultram®, Zomig®).
Antidepressants played a role as well.
Twins who were on prescription antidepressants were perceived as significantly older, possibly due to the consistent relaxation of facial muscles that occurs with antidepressant usage. This relaxation can lead to facial sagging, creating an older appearance.
What is blurred vision? If you have blurred vision, the things you see will not look sharp and clear. You may experience blurred vision in both eyes or just in one eye, depending on what is causing it. Sometimes everything you look at will be blurry, while sometimes just part of your field of vision will be blurred.
Medications can have a variety of effects on your eyes, ranging from minor, temporary issues such as blurred vision to permanent damage.
In 2018, the manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals issued a voluntary nationwide recall of fluoxetine (Prozac), because of irregular testing results. Fluoxetine is an antidepressant medication used to treat conditions like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic attacks.
Although fluoxetine causes significantly fewer cardiac side effects, there are reports in the literature on dysrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation or bradycardia and syncope associated with fluoxetine treatment and overdose (for an overview, see References Pacher et al., 1998; Pacher et al., 1999b; Pacher and ...
Within the first one to two weeks, most people feel lower levels of anxiety, restlessness or tiredness with Prozac treatment. Your sleep, energy and appetite may improve over the first month and you may have a better focus on daily tasks. A depressed mood can take up to 8 weeks to fully respond.
Prozac has an average rating of 7.0 out of 10 from a total of 407 reviews for the treatment of Depression. 60% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 20% reported a negative experience.
Background: Recent reports suggest that fluoxetine in doses less than the standard 20 mg/day may be effective in the treatment of depression and that some patients, particularly those with panic disorder, may be intolerant of the 20 mg/day dose.
Fluoxetine affects brain structures involved in the regulation of both emotional and cognitive behaviors, including the hippocampus and cerebral cortex [5], [6]. Therefore, besides positively modulating mood, fluoxetine might affect learning and memory.
When stopping Prozac people may experience withdrawal symptoms such as tiredness, irritability, and headaches. Many people who stop or reduce their use of antidepressants may experience withdrawal symptoms, which doctors refer to as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome .