To learn more, check out Bipolar Disabilities Guide.
Prozac is a medication often prescribed for bipolar disorder, bulimia, and anxiety disorders. The medication is highly effective because it acts as a serotonin inhibitor, which means that it helps balance serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin levels are responsible for mood stability, depressive states, and control of anxiety, fears, or phobias.
Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a mental illness that is caused by a combination of biological, neurological, emotional, and situational factors. The true causes of bipolar disorder are not yet fully understood. However, it is understood that imbalances in the neurotransmitters of the brain, such as serotonin, are partially responsible for the predisposition of bipolar disorder in some patients.
Bulimia is an eating disorder in which the patient eats excessively then purges themselves of the food they have eaten through either vomiting or induced bowel movements. Bulimia is caused by a combination of psychological and emotional factors, and in some cases environmental factors. The emotional factors relating to bulimia are very similar if not identical to factors involved with depression and low self worth issues, which are connected to serotonin levels in the brain.
Anxiety disorders are thought to be caused by erratic fluctuations in brain chemistry. Anxiety is defined as the intense somewhat debilitating feeling that something horrible is going to happen. Everyone feels anxiety at some point, but typically the normal person has a logical reason to feel anxious. With anxiety disorders, the reason for the anxiety may not be known, or it may not be logical if it is known.
Prozac is an effective treatment for bipolar disorder, bulimia, and anxiety because it controls and balances the serotonin levels in the brain. In bipolar patients, it is often prescribed in conjunction with other medications. Prozac is an effective treatment for depression, but may cause manic episodes to worsen. For this reason, Prozac is generally prescribed along with an anti-psychotic drug that helps tone down manic episodes. Therapy sessions or counseling is also generally a part of treatment.
In bulimia patients, Prozac is often the only prescription given. However, it is combined with treatment of symptoms via counseling and therapy. The idea behind this counseling is to identify why the patient has developed a sense of self-worth, and to allow the patient to learn that what they perceive is not necessarily reality. This is very helpful in bulimia patients who binge and purge as a result of how they perceive their bodies.
Anxiety patients are often prescribed Prozac with great success. Counseling may also be a part of treatment. In therapy sessions, patients may learn techniques to control their anxiety through rationalization of situations that may not at first appear rational. For example, if a patient feels anxiety over a cigarette burning in an ashtray, they can learn techniques to allow their mind to rationalize the situation and understand that there is no real danger of fire, and therefore no reason for the anxiety. These techniques are very successful in conjunction with Prozac for treating anxiety.
Overall, Prozac is an effective treatment for many mood disorders. Along with Lithium, it is often considered a miracle drug, helping patients gain stability and normal lives while living with an unstable, unrealistic view of themselves or their surroundings.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Bipolar Disorder - Good Reasons To Give It Immediate Attention
- Exploring the Various Bipolar Disorders
- Simplified Explanation of What Bipolar Disorder is and How You Can Cope With it
- Bipolar Disorder: 13 Items Vital to Getting Your Bipolar Social Security Disability Claim Approved
- What Is Bipolar Disorder And How Do You Treat It?
- What to Do if you Have a Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
- All About Bipolar Disorder Treatment
- About Type 1 Bipolar Disorder



Epilepsy - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
By: James S. Pendergraft | 04/07/2009Epilepsy is considered as group of interconnected disorders which are characterized with a tendency of recurrence seizures. There are distinct kinds of epilepsy as well as seizures. The drugs of epilepsy are given for controlling seizures and sometimes when the treatments are not effective then surgery is required.
Low Back Pain - 3 Things You Can Do to Prevent Back Pain
By: James S. Pendergraft | 04/07/2009Low back pain has been considered as one among the most usual problem which people face while working. It's also the top reasons why people are missing at work. Actually, roughly eighty percent of the Western countries adults have at some point or another experienced this discomfort.
Coronary Artery Disease - Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
By: James S. Pendergraft | 04/07/2009CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) refers to the contracting of the heart arteries because of atherosclerosis. The heart muscle doesn't get sufficient oxygen when the heart arteries are contracted. If your heart is starving out of oxygen, then the pain in the chest arises which is called as angina. If your artery is totally blocked then the result would be heart attack. In medical terms, the heart attack is referred as myocardial infarction (MI).
Treating Urinary Tract Infection - Acupuncture, The Better Alternative in Treating UTI
By: Alvin Hopkinson | 04/07/2009Doctors nowadays allow some UTI patients to try alternative forms of medication if antibiotic resistance has become apparent. One of the safest and most recommended form of alternative treatment is the Chinese acupuncture.
The Sciatic Nerve
By: Sensei Adam Rostocki | 04/07/2009Sciatic Nerve information written by an actual recovered lower back and leg pain patient. Article details the lesser known aspects of sciatica diagnosis.
How to fix a Trapped nerve? I can show you how to fix that trapped nerve
By: Matthew Miles | 03/07/2009It is estimated that Nearly 80% of females in Germany suffer from troublesome back pain at one time or the other. One type of back pain that is very common is called trapped nerve. I can show you amazing ways to fix it.Conditions like chronic back pain should not be ignored and treatment should be taken as early as possibleA trapped nerve will usually occur in grown-ups between 30 and 50. It is very important to look after your whole body.
Instant Soups linked to cancer
By: cristal munoz | 03/07/2009Find out why instant soups such as Cup a Noodle can cause cancer and other serious health problems
How to Treat Ugly Toenails with Zetaclear
By: Galena Peters | 03/07/2009Are you having problems on getting rid of toenail fungus? Well, it could no longer be a big dilemma for you… Here are some home remedies and alternative tips for treating your toes. As we can see it physically, it has always been a widespread problem, in which a microorganism engrossed to depressing, soggy surroundings that takes up dwelling in and something like to your toenails. This can really be frustrating since it appears visibly and yet, itchy feeling is the result. Z...
Ways to Save Money for Holiday Travel
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsMany people want to travel for the holidays but they don’t feel like they can because their budget doesn’t allow for it. Yet there are plenty of ways you can raise money to be able to do so. The sooner you start making a plan and determining how much money you will need the more successful you will be. Come up with as accurate of an amount as you can so you wont’ fall short. If you overestimate the amount of money you need for holiday travel then you can enjoy it later on.
Ways to Make Holiday Travel Easier for the Elderly
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsThe elderly may find it more stressful to travel over the holidays because they aren’t used to all the traffic or all the crowds. There are ways to make it is much easier trip though if you plan ahead. Many elderly people take daily medications so make sure you have plenty of it. Put it in a safe place where it isn’t likely to get lost. If you have extra pills you will want to pack them separately. If you have some in your purse and some in your luggage you are fine if one of them gets lost.
Ways to Keep Children Entertained While Traveling in the Car for the Holidays
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsTaking your own car to travel for the holidays is a great way to avoid the hassles at the airport. It can also be less expensive as many flights are more expensive during holiday travel times due the demand passengers have. Traveling with children though can be difficult if you aren’t prepared.
Traveling for the Holidays on a Greyhound Bus
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsGreyhound is a bus line service that takes people all over the United States with more than 2,000 bus terminals. This is a great option for those that want to travel for the holidays and not drive there themselves. You will find the lines at the Greyhound terminal to be less hectic than at the airport and you can simply get into your seat and relax for the trip.
Tips to Make Holiday Travel Easier
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsThe holidays can be quite hectic but they are often a time when people travel to see family and friends or to take a well deserved vacation. Following some basic tips will help ensure you have the best time when you travel during this time of year. Being prepared for things to go wrong is the first step in minimizing the damages and getting on with your holiday travel plans.
Tips for Staying Alert During Holiday Travel
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsTraveling during the holidays is very exciting and there is plenty going on all around you. However, it is very important that you remain alert so you won’t be involved in an accident or become a victim of theft. There are plenty of criminals that target holiday travelers as they know they are likely to have money on them and they aren’t always paying attention to their surroundings.
Tips for Packing your Car for the Holidays
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsKnowing what you are going to put into your suitcase is only half of the battle when it comes to effectively packing your car for the holidays. While you want to be selective of what goes into the suitcases and the number of them, there is likely to be plenty more than you will have to concern yourself with. The size of your vehicle is going to realistically determine what you can take and what will have to be left behind.
Save Money With a Timeshare for the Holidays
By: Li Ming Wong | 03/11/2007 | Travel TipsAnyone that travels over the holidays knows that accommodations are generally more expensive than during other times of the year. They can also sell out fast if you don’t make your reservation very early. One way to save money when you travel for the holidays is to invest in a timeshare. They are available in most locations that people often travel to for a holiday vacation.