I Was Told That Prozac Was Safe If You Were Trying To Get Pregnant. When She Gets Pregnant She Would Try To Taper Off It Again. Can Please Advise.

Posted on Mon, 27 Mar 2023

Question: My daughter went off 60 milligrams of Prozac after about 18 years. She tapered off the drugs slowly and was drug free for about 3 months.
She has had a relapse and is now obsessing about everything.
Her Dr. immediately put her on 40 milligrams.
She has been on 40 milligrams for about 5 days and needs to go up to 60 milligrams.
If she takes 60 milligrams after being on 40 milligrams for a week would that be ok? She would take 40 milligrams in the morning and 20 milligrams at night.
If she did that would it be ok? Would she get nauseated?
I was told that Prozac was safe if you were trying to get pregnant. When she gets pregnant she would try to taper off it again.
Please advise.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Parth Goswami (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes it would be appropriate to take 60 mg dose of Prozac.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

(1)Yes it would be appropriate to take 60 mg dose instead of 40 mg. Your doctor has increased the dose immediately for your daughter because 40 mg might not be sufficient to treat withdrawal symptoms.

(2)Your daughter can take medication as mentioned by your doctor that is 40 mg in morning and 20 mg in evening.

(3)This drug can lead nausea as a side effect.

After 4 week probably your doctor will put her on 40 mg dose. If all goes well then she will be put on 20 mg dose after few weeks and then gradually tapered dose.

Hope I have answered your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Best regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad