Prozac Overdose: An Introduction
Prozac® (
fluoxetine hydrochloride) is a medication that is used to treat a number of conditions within the brain. As with all medicines, it is possible for a person to overdose on Prozac. The effects of a Prozac overdose will vary depending on a number of factors, including how much Prozac was taken and whether it was taken with any other medicines.
Prozac Overdose: Symptoms
If a person overdoses on Prozac, the symptoms can vary. The most common Prozac overdose symptoms include:
- Seizures
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Fast heart rate (tachycardia)
- Vomiting.
Other Prozac overdose symptoms may include, but are not limited to:
Prozac Overdose: Treatment
The treatment for a Prozac overdose will vary.
If the overdose was recent, a healthcare provider may give certain medicines or place a tube into the stomach to "pump the stomach." Treatment may also involve supportive care. This type of care consists of treating the symptoms that occur as a result of the overdose. For example, supportive treatment options for a Prozac overdose may include:
- Fluids through an intravenous line (IV)
- Medicines to increase blood pressure, control an irregular heart rhythm, or control seizures
- Close monitoring of the heart and lungs
- A breathing tube to help with breathing
- Other treatments based on complications that occur.
It is important that you seek medical attention immediately if you believe that you may have overdosed on Prozac.