Prozac Alternatives

If side effects occur or if your condition cannot be treated with Prozac, alternatives to the medication are available. There are a number of other methods for treating depression, including therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, alternative therapies, and other antidepressants. Other SSRIs, SNRIs, and MAOIs can all be used instead of Prozac as well.

Prozac Information

Prozac Alternatives: An Overview

Prozac^® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia, and panic disorder. It is part of a group of antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

For most people, Prozac is effective in treating their symptoms, and most people tolerate it well. However, as with all medicines, side effects can occur or the medicine may not adequately control a person's symptoms. Fortunately, several alternatives to Prozac are available to treat depression, including:

Therapy
Other depression medications (also known as antidepressants)
Electroconvulsive therapy
Alternative (natural) therapies.

(This article describes alternatives to Prozac for the treatment of depression. For information on Prozac alternatives for other medical conditions, see OCD Treatment, Treatment for Bulimia, or Panic Attack Treatment.)

Therapy as an Alternative to Prozac

Many forms of psychotherapy, including some short-term therapies (10 to 20 weeks), can help people with depression.

"Talk" therapies help patients gain insight into and resolve their problems through verbal exchange with the therapist, sometimes combined with "homework" assignments between sessions.

Behavioral therapists help people learn how to obtain more satisfaction through their own actions and how to unlearn the behavioral patterns that contribute to or result from their depression.

(Click Psychotherapy for Depression to learn more about this treatment option.)

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