Period FAQs

can prozac affect your period

by Clare Altenwerth Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Patients already in a depressed state may notice menstrual cycle changes but when patients are prescribed high doses of Prozac, significant changes to your menstrual cycle will be observed. Even low to moderate doses of fluoxetine can lead to increased changes in your cycle length.

An antidepressant, such as Prozac (fluoxetine) or Zoloft (sertraline), can be an effective way to relieve symptoms of depression—but it's not right for everyone. In addition to possible side effects, some antidepressants can even cause your period to be late or delayed.Jan 5, 2021

Full Answer

Does Prozac mess with your menstrual cycle?

Reproductive or menstrual-related side effects of escitalopram or Lexapro are infrequent and may include menstrual cramps, menstrual disorder, menorrhagia or heavy bleeding, spotting between periods and pelvic inflammation. Changes and irregularities in the menstrual cycle have occurred in women taking antidepressants.

Can Prozac cause heavy periods?

There is a whole variety of side effect symptoms that Prozac may cause. And you never know what to expect. Excessive menstrual bleeding is one of the Prozac’s side effects but it is not that common. However, if you are not experiencing any other symptoms and prozac is the only new thing you introduced, it is probably the cause of your trouble.

Can Concerta affect menstrual cycle?

Menstruation irregular is found among people who take Concerta, especially for people who are 10-19 old, have been taking the drug for 2 - 5 years, also take medication Plan B One-Step, and have Birth control.

Can escitalopram affect the menstrual cycle?

Reproductive or menstrual-related side effects of escitalopram or Lexapro are infrequent and may include menstrual cramps, menstrual disorder, menorrhagia or heavy bleeding, spotting between periods and pelvic inflammation. Changes and irregularities in the menstrual cycle have occurred in women taking antidepressants.

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Can fluoxetine affect periods?

Fluoxetine lengthened the cycles of eight women and shortened the cycles of 10 women by at least four days. The differences were statistically significant, showing a dose-dependent effect on menstrual cycle length. This effect disappeared within one to two cycles when the medication was discontinued.

Can antidepressants affect menstrual cycle?

Some antidepressants have also been linked to high levels of the hormone prolactin, which can prevent ovulation. This may result in disruption to your cycle, such as missing or irregular periods or changes to your menstrual flow.

Does Prozac make periods worse?

Antidepressants. Researchers have found that some women who take antidepressants have menstrual disorders like painful cramps, heavy bleeding, or missed periods as side effects.

What are the side effects of Prozac?

Fluoxetine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:nervousness.anxiety.difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.nausea.diarrhea.dry mouth.heartburn.yawning.More items...•

What drugs affect menstrual cycle?

Many prescription and non-prescription medicines can affect the menstrual cycle. A few examples are: Aspirin and other medicines (called blood thinners) that prevent blood clots. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil or Motrin) and naproxen (for example, Aleve).

Can Prozac cause hormonal imbalance?

What the Research Shows: Can Antidepressants Cause Hormone Imbalance? SSRIs, SNRIs, and TCAs increase levels of hormones, especially serotonin. While serotonin is a good thing in moderation, too much of any hormone can cause issues.

Does fluoxetine affect ovulation?

Women taking serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to help them cope with infertility are actually increasing their serum prolactin to an unhealthy level. This hyperprolactinemia, in turn, blocks ovulation.

Does fluoxetine affect fertility?

There is no evidence to suggest that taking fluoxetine reduces fertility in either men or women. But speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant. They may want to review your treatment.

Do antidepressants affect your hormones?

From data reviewed herein, it is evident that most antidepressants can influence testosterone and estrogen levels.

Can anxiety medication delay your period?

An antidepressant, such as Prozac (fluoxetine) or Zoloft (sertraline), can be an effective way to relieve symptoms of depression—but it's not right for everyone. In addition to possible side effects, some antidepressants can even cause your period to be late or delayed.

Do antidepressants affect fertility?

In a case control study, Grodstein et al. found that women who took antidepressants for more than six months had 2.9 times the odds of infertility (95% CI 0.9-8.3). This finding was based on five cases who took antidepressants.

Can medication delay your period?

They might be able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period. Your GP will advise you when to take norethisterone and for how long. You'll usually be prescribed 3 norethisterone tablets a day, starting 3 to 4 days before you expect your period to begin.

How long does Prozac stay in your system?

Prozac stays in your system for one to two weeks, says Alison Hermann, M.D., a clinical psychiatrist at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Which means: “If you’re someone who forgets to take your meds every day, that’s great, says Hermann. "If you’re having side effects, that can make things extra difficult.”

What to do if you have bruises that won't stop bleeding?

If you notice more bruises than normal or cuts that won’t stop bleeding, definitely bring that to your doctor's attention.

Does Prozac cause nausea?

“By far, the most common Prozac side effects are gastro intestinal, mostly nausea and diarrhea,” says Hermann. Fun fact: “There are actually more cells that have serotonin receptors on them in your gut than there are in the brain, and since Prozac works on the serotonin system, that area can be sensitive to having more serotonin around.” These side effects tend to occur early on in treatment, and can be minimized by starting with a low dose or taking the meds with food.

When did Prozac become popular?

Prozac was so popular after its debut in 1988 that it inspired not one but two best-selling books: Listening to Prozac and Prozac Nation (which was turned into a movie starring Christina Ricci).

Does Prozac affect sleep?

Like most SSRIs, Prozac can have an effect on sleep quality. “Any time you take a medication that affects the brain, there’s a potential for alterations in arousal,” says Murrough. That can manifest in abnormal dreams, difficulty falling or staying asleep, or even nighttime sweats.

Can Prozac cause fever?

This is a rare side effects of medications that work on serotonin, like Prozac, but can occur if you’re on more than one drug that affects serotonin levels—which can overload your system. “With serotonin syndrome, you would have symptoms like fever, agitation, increased reflexes, tremors, sweating, dilated pupils, and diarrhea, and you’d likely have to go to the emergency room,” says Hermann.

Can antidepressants make you feel better?

“The FDA has issued a black box warning—its strictest warning—that antidepressants can actually increase suicidal thinking in young adults and children,” says Murrough. Yes, it’s rare, but if you’re going to the doctor for depression and the medication makes you feel worse, you should absolutely talk to your doc ASAP.

What is the best medication for depression?

Antidepressant therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs such as fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine may help alleviate premenstrual depression. For some women, taking prescribed antidepressants for only a few days each month may help regulate menstrual cycle-related mood changes.

What are the side effects of Zoloft?

Infrequent, uncommon side effects for sertraline or Zoloft are menstrual disorder; dysmenorrheal or severe uterine pain; intermenstrual bleeding; vaginal hemorrhage; amenorrhea or absence of menstruation; leucorrhea or abnormal vaginal discharge; and rarely, menorrhagia or heavy bleeding.

How common is depression in women?

Depression is approximately twice as common in women as it is in men in the United States, affecting one in five women. Prescribed antidepressants may help women cope with psychological, emotional and behavioral problems related to reproductive events, such as menstruation, premenopause, perimenopause and menopause.

Does Lexapro cause cramps?

Reproductive or menstrual-related side effects of escitalopram or Lexapro are infrequent and may include menstrual cramps, menstrual disorder, menorrhagia or heavy bleeding, spotting between periods and pelvic inflammation. Changes and irregularities in the menstrual cycle have occurred in women taking antidepressants.

Does sertraline help with premenstrual symptoms?

The SSRI antidepressant sertraline may also improve psychological and behavioral symptoms in women suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome, according to a 2002 paper presented by Ellen W. Freeman, Ph.D., to the American Psychiatric Association.

Can antidepressants affect your period?

Antidepressant's Effects on the Menstrual Cycle. Antidepressants may interfere with a woman’s menstrual cycle. Some women taking antidepressants may experience side effects and changes in their monthly cycle or menstrual period.

Does bupropion cause irregular menstrual cycles?

Changes and irregularities in the menstrual cycle have occurred in women taking antidepressants. Fluoxetine, venlafaxine and bupropion have been implicated in menorrhagia—heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Women taking bupropion report experiencing shortened menstrual cycle, menstrual spotting or amenorrhea—absence of menstruation. The precise connection between vaginal bleeding and antidepressants is unknown, but theories suggest fluctuation and modulation of hormones are responsible. Serotonin may affect the menstrual cycle by stimulating secretion of specific hormones, according to a 2002 paper on Venlafaxine-Associated Vaginal Bleeding written by professor Sunny A. Linnebur, Pharm.D., of the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy.

What to do when you have cramps during your period?

Aspirin. It’s pretty common practice to use painkillers to ease cramps and other period-associated miseries, but if you reach for these on a monthly basis, it could be time to consider popping a different kind of pill. As it turns out, aspirin could actually be making the situation... well, messier.

What is antipsychotics used for?

"Antipsychotics are a group of potent medications, which are used for the treatment of serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia," says Dr Khaled. "They are associated with disruption of the menstrual cycle, and this is down to increased production of prolactin [a hormone that’s produced in the pituitary gland] - a side effect of how they work."

Why does my period change?

Among these, you’re likely to find that your usual period routine changes radically. This is because the ovary is chemo-sensitive. "Chemotherapy results in a reduction in the number and growth of egg from the ovary," Dr Khaled advises. "This invariably causes loss of hormone production and missed periods, and even early menopause.".

How often should I take a mini pill?

If you’re using the mini-pill, you need to take it every day at exactly the same time, and unlike some other the 21 day combined pill, you don’t get the guarantee of a regular period. As a result, the most common complaints are the absence of a period or bleeds mid-cycle.

What are the factors that affect your period?

From stress, to diet, to your contraception , there are so many factors that can affect your period.

Can antidepressants affect your period?

Antidepressants are not said to adversely affect your menstrual cycle . In fact, they are increasingly being used to treat severe cases of PMT (that's pre-menstrual tension, otherwise known as pre-menstrual syndrome ). "Since 2013, severe PMT has been added to the list of official mental health disorders, with antidepressants being the first line treatment," Dr Khaled details.

Does aspirin cause period pain?

As it turns out, aspirin could actually be making the situation... well, messier. "Aspirin's blood thinning properties make it less ideal for period pain," explains Betty's resident Doctor, Dr Khaled Sadek. "Unlike other anti-inflammatory pain killers, aspirin possess blood thinning characteristics which can result in heavier menstrual flow.".

How much more likely are women to take antidepressants than men?

Notably, adult women are 2.5 times more likely to take antidepressant drugs than adult men. While well-intentioned doctors prescribe these medications to help patients, little attention is paid to how antidepressants can affect a woman’s fertility and overall health. It is crucial to informed consent that women understand ...

Why do women use FAMs?

First, FAMs can be used instead of hormonal birth control, which is now proven to increase the risk of depression among women who use them. Second, fertility awareness can help women and their doctors understand any hormonal imbalances that may be at the root of their emotional or psychological symptoms, such as depression, PMS, or low energy. Finally, FAMs help couples to achieve or space pregnancies in a more natural and emotionally fulfilling way.

Why is FAM important?

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) of charting the menstrual cycle offer important benefits for women who experience emotional or mental health symptoms and want to preserve their fertility. Fertility awareness teaches a woman to recognize simple biomarkers of her body so that she can know the distinct stages of her cycles.

Do antidepressants interfere with ovulation?

For instance, we know that anti-depressants and some anti-psychotic drugs interfere with the hormonal regulation of ovulation and a brain-produced hormone called prolactin. A 2013 study showed that women taking antidepressants in the form of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) took significantly longer to conceive. SSRIs were also shown to reduce the efficacy of infertility treatments and were linked to miscarriage and preterm birth [8]. In an article from Parents.com, Dr. Alan Copperman, M.D., director of reproductive endocrinology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, explains the reasons for these effects well: “Because a woman’s menstrual cycle is tightly controlled by the interaction between the brain, ovaries, and uterus, any health problem or medication that disrupts this communication could adversely affect ovulation and make it challenging for women to achieve a pregnancy.”

Can antidepressants cause dementia?

The prescription of antidepressant medications for non-psychiatric diagnoses is troubling given the unintended effects of these drugs, especially when they are used long–term. For example, research from 2018 found a “robust association” between the use of anticholinergic drugs (a drug class which includes some antidepressants) and future dementia [6]; research published in 2020 likewise found that adults who use anticholinergic drugs have a 47% higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, which is a known precursor to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease [7].

Do antidepressants affect fertility?

But because brain functions control and help balance the performance of other body systems, the effects of antidepressant drugs (and other drugs that have a direct effect on the brain, like hormonal birth control) tend to reach even further beyond the intended outcome—even to the point of affecting fertility.

Can you be depressed on antidepressants?

Not everyone on an antidepressant may actually be depressed. Shockingly, a New York Times editorial reported in 2013 that one in four women are taking psychiatric drugs [1], but up to 2/3 of those taking them do not fit the criteria for major depression disorder as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5) [2].

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