Prozac and Other SSRIs for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
Prozac, a common medication prescribed for the treatment of depression and/or anxiety, is part of a larger class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These medications have been used for years to treat mild, moderate, and even severe cases of depression or anxiety. Some patients have used these medications for only a brief period of time, while other patients continue on-going therapy and treatment involving the routine use of SSRIs. Other class of antidepressants and antianxiety medications have been developed, but SSRIs have the longest history. Therefore there is more statistical information available for SSRIs like Prozac.
Mild depression or mild anxiety may not require medication. However, doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists usually recommend drug treatment for moderate to severe cases, or for patients with on-going conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, where symptoms are frequent and recurring. The choice to use such medications is a very personal one, best left for discussion with your doctor or healthcare provider as each medication has its own risks, benefits, and associated side effects. The most common side effect for mild SSRIs like Prozac is initial nausea or stomach upset when first starting a course of treatment. Most mild side effects correct themselves within a few weeks.
In cases where patients require regular antidepressant medications or therapies for anxiety disorders, the lifetime benefit limits for health insurance coverage can be reached quite easily and in a very short period of time. This is especially true for patients who require hospitalization for medication evaluation or titration. In these cases, once insurance benefits run out, the patient is left to cover the cost of their prescription SSRIs out of pocket. Given the cost of some of the newer SSRIs on the market, this can get quite expensive.
In such instances, patients can benefit from establishing a relationship with an international pharmacy, like those found in Canada. A Canadian pharmacy can fill prescriptions for Prozac and other SSRI medications easily through an online pharmacy portal. Canadian drugs are much less expensive than domestic pharmacies, partially due to the decreased advertising for pharmaceutical companies in Canada. An online Canadian pharmacy can offer these discount drugs at huge savings over their domestic U.S. counterparts, therefore saving a patient money without sacrificing quality or medicine authenticity. Beware of frauds and drug peddlers who prey on unsuspecting patients. Ensure the Canadian pharmacy you choose is full licensed and certified.