Prozac Alternatives

This entry was posted in Antidepressant and tagged Holistic on June 20, 2022 by Lyle Murphy.

Last Updated on June 21, 2022 by Carol Gillette

Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr Samuel Lee MD

The medical community has expressed a growing interest in exploring natural remedies for depression. Alternative to Meds Center has been successfully helping people with mental health challenges and medication-related issues using Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for a decade and a half. We are here to help.

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Natural Prozac Alternatives?

Alternative to Meds has been primarily invested in guiding clients toward alternatives to prescription medication and we’ve been doing this for over 15 years. Using Orthomolecular, Holistic and Environmental Medicine, we have published evidence showing that over 77% of clients who we helped to discontinue antidepressants, and then replace drugs with choices such as transitioning to a holistic lifestyle have overcome their original symptoms, and are feeling better than they ever were on Prozac.

Overview of Antidepressant Alternatives

There are a number of different alternatives to Prozac for depression or other symptoms. Prozac, also known as fluoxetine, is part of a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are frequently prescribed to treat depression and other mental health conditions.²² There are a number of Prozac side effects that may occur from taking this drug.³ And in many cases, mental conditions don’t resolve by taking antidepressants.¹¹ Fortunately, antidepressant alternatives to Prozac are available for those who want to avoid side effects or unsatisfactory results from drug-based therapy. At Alternative to Meds Center, we believe that there are effective alternative solutions besides continuing to be medicated with prescription depression drugs. We employ effective alternatives to Prozac for anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems, and have done so successfully for more than 15 years.

Many of our patients who were considering alternatives to Prozac for anxiety or depression claim that their doctor wanted to keep them on medication by suggesting another similar drug. This is likely because doctors get little to no education in nutrition or other alternative treatments for depression during their medical education.⁸ Doctors often prescribe multiple pharmaceutical products such as SSRIs — Paxil® (paroxetine), selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Cymbalta® (duloxetine), tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil® (amitriptyline), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as Nardil® (phenelzine).⁹ All of these drugs can come with their own side effects and may be similarly ineffective. These medications can cause dependence and will cause withdrawal symptoms when discontinued. This is the trap that keeps many stuck on the endless prescription. However, Antidepressant withdrawal can also be eased by using natural alternatives for mental wellness.^10,11

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Prozac Alternatives Treatment

Prozac side effects could be solved by transitioning to natural Prozac alternatives.^4,5,7,6,13 A thoughtful selection of Prozac alternatives can avoid the pitfalls of unwanted consequences associated with prescription medication.⁶ Depression and other mental conditions are very often a result of physiological, lifestyle, occupational and nutritional factors.¹²

Simply substituting other antidepressant drugs as alternatives to Prozac for depression or anxiety may not be the answer for most people. Many of the adverse effects of Prozac may also occur with other prescription drug treatments.¹¹ We recommend Prozac alternative therapies in drug-free formats for individuals experiencing complications from prescription antidepressants. For example, many different forms of psychotherapy, such as CBT can help people manage symptoms of depression and help them to make consistent, proactive steps toward their desired mental health goals.^1,2

Talk therapies can allow depressed individuals to look at their problems from another perspective and find strategic resolutions for these problems through talking with the talk therapist. Talk therapists can also help patients with finding more satisfaction with their own actions and ways to unlearn old and unproductive patterns of behavior and thought which may be contributing to depression.

Natural Alternatives to Prozac Include:

Individual CBT or other forms of counseling and lifestyle coaching strategies ^13*
Group CBT* ¹³
Other forms of counseling such as DBT ¹
Exercise and physical activity may be as or more effective than drugs for depression ^23,27
Improve sleep for better energy and mood ^29-32
Tryptophan is a precursor for natural neurochemical production ^14,33
SAMe, Omega Fatty Acids, St. Johns Wort ⁷
Avoid refined carbs, sugars, caffeine, and food additives ¹⁸
Testing for and clearing out neurotoxins lodged in the body such as cadmium, lead, industrial chemical exposures, heavy metals, and food additives ^12,25,26
Food allergies can go unsuspected unless tested for and diet adjustments made ²⁴
Balance the microbiome (gut bacteria) with probiotics and fermented foods ²⁸

*A groundbreaking 2011 study (Driessen, Hollon) showed CBT to be an effective alternative treatment for depressive symptoms.

Underlying Causative Factors of Depression

Heavy metal toxicity; nutritional deficiencies; irregularities in sleep, poor diet, or lack of physical activity; dysfunctional relationships; environmental factors; and many other aspects of one’s life and lifestyle play a role in the symptoms and outcome of depression.^5,12 Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant for a mental condition, as a quick fix. A more thorough approach could include testing and other assessments to identify underlying medical, dietary, toxicity-related, or other causative factors.

Did you know that depressive symptoms occur in about 75% of people with sleep problems? Rather than drugging the problems, one can look to natural solutions. These may include melatonin, L-theanine, and chamomile tea, reducing blue light and evening exposure to electronics, better pillows and mattresses, and reducing stimulants like caffeine. These examples of natural sleep aids may be helpful and they won’t introduce other troubling side effects like the daytime drowsiness often associated with sleeping pills.^29-32

Depression may not always respond to a medication quick-fix. Prescription drugs may complicate the condition, worsen depression for some, or cause emerging side effects.^22,11 Medication ineffectiveness, dependency issues, and withdrawal symptoms can tangle things up even more.¹⁰ Effective treatment for depression may be achieved by discovering the underlying reasons that cause depression. Instead of trying to fix depression symptoms with drugs, addressing the underlying causes of depression may be more effective. We seek to alleviate the symptoms rather than mask these very symptoms that can act as signposts, and that can lead to an effective, authentic, and permanent resolution.

Effective Holistic Prozac Alternatives

Other popular and potentially effective Prozac alternative medicines include anxiety or depression relieving supplements and vitamins such as valerian and St. John’s Wort ⁷, and serotonin-producing amino acids such as L-tryptophan.^14,33

At Alternative to Meds, we believe that any positive effects of Prozac can generally be recreated with natural medicines and healing therapies that don’t inflict the risks associated with prescription medications.

There is no reason to suffer from drug side effects when equally effective and low side-effect Prozac alternative therapies are available.^4,5

People are often given an antidepressant prescription without any prior biological investigations into what might be causing their depression.¹⁵ Low serotonin is frequently blamed as the cause of depression, hence the hundreds of serotoninergic antidepressant drugs. But there is a lack of evidence that drugs actually resolve a deficiency in serotonin. Supplements like L-tryptophan and a diet containing nutrients that naturally convert into serotonin may be helpful.^14,33 The depressed individual may have a diet that is so severely poor in nutrients, that they are not able to produce what is required for optimal brain health.¹⁸

SSRIs like fluoxetine block serotonin reuptake, but they do not produce any serotonin. Serotonin is designed for reuptake, so it can be used again by the nerve cells. But, when the serotonin is forced to stay in synaptic suspension, much of the serotonin is lost, and cannot be recycled. This constant presence of serotonin in the synapse can cause downregulation, which means that the receptors are not as responsive to serotonin.²⁰ This neuroplasticity is a common feature of many antidepressants.²¹ This is similar to why cocaine can only relieve depression for a short time. Cocaine will use up all of the person’s dopamine, rather than producing any of it.¹⁹ What’s left is a deficit. And depression. And other troubles.

Also consider food allergies which slow metabolism,¹⁵ environmental neurotoxins like heavy metals that ruin our energy metabolism, or low thyroid as a contributor.^12,17 A person may just be completely wrapped up in an unsatisfying life and they need a pathway and perhaps guidance to make some needed changes. Any of these issues could be underlying causes of depression. But instead of addressing these underlying problems, a person is often given an antidepressant that brings on even more problems than were present before using the medication.^2,3

Integrative Prozac Alternatives

At Alternative to Meds Center, we look for potential medical, biological, genetic, lifestyle, and other contributors to depression. Our program’s protocol uses lab testing, stabilization of the neurochemistry using natural substances, cleansing to remove environmentally accumulated toxins, holistic Prozac withdrawal techniques, specialized IVs, amino and other targeted nutritional treatment, correction of diet, nebulized glutathione, peer support, Qi Gong, exercise, yoga, massage, Equine therapy, CBT and other forms of counseling, colon hydrotherapy, art therapy, and many other strategies to successfully combat depression and provide the most effective Prozac alternatives natural help plan on planet Earth.

1 (800) 301-3753 for Prozac Alternatives Help

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Originally Published Oct 30, 2018 by Lyle Murphy

This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.

Dr. Samuel Lee

Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.

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Lyle Murphy

Lyle Murphy is the founder of the Alternative to Meds Center, a licensed residential program that helps people overcome dependence on psychiatric medication and addiction issues using holistic and psychotherapeutic methods.

Medical Disclaimer:
Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.

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