Can You Overdose on Prozac? Symptoms and What to Do Next

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverdose DefinitionSymptoms of Prozac OverdosePossible ComplicationsGetting Medical AssistanceTreatmentNext Steps

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Overdose Definition

Symptoms of Prozac Overdose

Possible Complications

Getting Medical Assistance

Treatment

Next Steps

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WarningIf you believe that you or someone else has taken too much Prozac or more than the prescribed dose, seek immediate medical care.911

Warning

If you believe that you or someone else has taken too much Prozac or more than the prescribed dose, seek immediate medical care.

911

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a popular medication used in the treatment ofmajor depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, and some eating disorders.Fluoxetine—the active ingredient in Prozac—is also available under the brand name Sarafem for treatingpremenstrual dysphoric disorder(PMDD).

If taken as prescribed, the risk of Prozac overdose is low. If a person takes more than prescribed either accidentally or intentionally, however, an overdose is possible.

At a Glance

Taking too much Prozac can lead to serious complications. Always follow your doctor’s dosing guidelines and avoid substances or medications that may interact with Prozac. Signs you might be experiencing a Prozac overdose include:

What Is Considered an Overdose of Prozac?

Several factors—including age, weight, current state of health, and whether the person has also taken any other drugs along with Prozac—will determine whether any given dose will be harmful to an individual.

This makes it impossible to generalize about what particular dose would be considered to be an overdose. It is quite possible that one person will make a complete recovery from a particular dose while another may not.

In general, however, if a person has taken more than what they have been prescribed, especially in the presence of overdose symptoms, they should seek out immediate medical attention.

Prozac DosagesStandard Prozac dosages 20 to 80 milligrams (mg) per day for adults. For those under 18, the typical dose is 10 to 20 mg per day.If you take more than your prescribed dose, combine it with certain medications or substances, or take two doses too close together, it can lead to a Prozac overdose.

Prozac Dosages

Standard Prozac dosages 20 to 80 milligrams (mg) per day for adults. For those under 18, the typical dose is 10 to 20 mg per day.If you take more than your prescribed dose, combine it with certain medications or substances, or take two doses too close together, it can lead to a Prozac overdose.

Standard Prozac dosages 20 to 80 milligrams (mg) per day for adults. For those under 18, the typical dose is 10 to 20 mg per day.

If you take more than your prescribed dose, combine it with certain medications or substances, or take two doses too close together, it can lead to a Prozac overdose.

The most common symptoms of a Prozac overdose include:

Some of the possible medical complications that can occur following an overdose include:

While rare, some people may experience seizures as a result of a Prozac overdose. In some cases, this may be the result of serotonin toxicity.

Serotonin SyndromeTaking too much Prozac or combining it with other medications or substances that increase serotonin levels can lead to a serious condition calledserotonin syndrome. Signs of serotonin toxicity include confusion, agitation, changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, nausea, fever, seizures, and coma. Serotonin syndrome can be serious and potentially life-threatening, so it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

Serotonin Syndrome

Taking too much Prozac or combining it with other medications or substances that increase serotonin levels can lead to a serious condition calledserotonin syndrome. Signs of serotonin toxicity include confusion, agitation, changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, nausea, fever, seizures, and coma. Serotonin syndrome can be serious and potentially life-threatening, so it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

Due to the fact that emergency room visits can be quite expensive, people will often hesitate to seek emergency help for a possible overdose, especially if the person does not seem to be experiencing any symptoms. One very good resource for these cases is your local Poison Control Center.

Information to Have Ready

When you are calling either Poison Control or emergency services, you should have the following information available, if possible:

How to Help After an Antidepressant Overdose

Prozac Overdose Treatment

If the overdose occurred fairly recently, then the emergency room will probably pump the person’s stomach to remove any remaining medication. They may also give them activated charcoal to absorb any remaining traces of the drug.

Since no antidote for Prozac exists, the goal of treatment is to monitor and support the patient’s vital functions—such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure—until the person has recovered. Treatment may also involve counteracting any complications that have developed, such as seizures.

Next Steps After Overdose Treatment

After a person has received treatment for Prozac overdose, there are common questions such as how to prevent future overdoses, what to do if the overdose was intentional, and whether the person can continue taking Prozac.

Preventing Future Overdoses

Some medications may interact with Prozac. Always inform your doctor of any other medications or supplements that you may be taking.

An Intentional Overdose

If the overdose was on purpose, it is important to get help from a mental health professional to addresssuicidal thinking and behavior. If there is an immediate danger of self-harm or suicide, hospitalization and stabilization may be necessary.

Further treatment depends upon your doctor’s or psychiatrist’s advice but may involve the use of another type of antidepressant, psychotherapy, or some other treatment.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Tips for Coping with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts

Continuing Prozac After an Overdose

Whether you continue on your medication depends upon your doctor’s recommendations. In many cases, you may need to continue taking your medication for a time as you gradually reduce your dose while your body adjusts.

You should never stop taking Prozac suddenly since you may experiencesymptoms of withdrawal.Such symptoms may include:InsomniaHeadacheIrritabilityNauseaMood swings

You should never stop taking Prozac suddenly since you may experiencesymptoms of withdrawal.Such symptoms may include:

Takeaways

Prozac can be an effective treatment for several mental health conditions, but it can also lead to overdose if not taken appropriately. That’s why it’s so important to always follow your doctor’s directions for taking your medication.

Take steps to ensure you don’t accidentally double your doses, and avoid mixing Prozac with other substances or medications, including alcohol, other SSRIs, and herbal supplements. If you think you or someone you know has overdosed on Prozac, seek medical attention immediately to help avoid serious complications.

Common Antidepressant Medications

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.Snyder M, Kish T.Sertraline-induced rhabdomyolysis: A case report and literature review.Am J Ther. 2016;23(2):e561-5. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000196Kolbeck MK, Schult RF, Nacca N.Generalized seizures after acute fluoxetine overdose in four adolescents.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2024;75:197.e5-197.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.018Poison Control.Calling poison control: What happens when you call us?Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Additional ReadingFluoxetine.AHFS Consumer Medication Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.Cushing, Tracy A.Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Toxicity.Medscape.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.Snyder M, Kish T.Sertraline-induced rhabdomyolysis: A case report and literature review.Am J Ther. 2016;23(2):e561-5. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000196Kolbeck MK, Schult RF, Nacca N.Generalized seizures after acute fluoxetine overdose in four adolescents.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2024;75:197.e5-197.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.018Poison Control.Calling poison control: What happens when you call us?Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991Additional ReadingFluoxetine.AHFS Consumer Medication Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.Cushing, Tracy A.Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Toxicity.Medscape.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.Snyder M, Kish T.Sertraline-induced rhabdomyolysis: A case report and literature review.Am J Ther. 2016;23(2):e561-5. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000196Kolbeck MK, Schult RF, Nacca N.Generalized seizures after acute fluoxetine overdose in four adolescents.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2024;75:197.e5-197.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.018Poison Control.Calling poison control: What happens when you call us?Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).

Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.

Snyder M, Kish T.Sertraline-induced rhabdomyolysis: A case report and literature review.Am J Ther. 2016;23(2):e561-5. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000196

Kolbeck MK, Schult RF, Nacca N.Generalized seizures after acute fluoxetine overdose in four adolescents.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2024;75:197.e5-197.e7. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.018

Poison Control.Calling poison control: What happens when you call us?

Volpi-Abadie J, Kaye AM, Kaye AD.Serotonin syndrome.Ochsner J. 2013;13(4):533-540.

Gabriel M, Sharma V.Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.CMAJ. 2017;189(21):E747. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160991

Fluoxetine.AHFS Consumer Medication Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.Cushing, Tracy A.Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Toxicity.Medscape.

Fluoxetine.AHFS Consumer Medication Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.

Cushing, Tracy A.Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Toxicity.Medscape.

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