Dec 11, 2024, 2:16 AM
Dec 11, 2024, 2:16 AM

Alexandra Shulman reveals she's still on Prozac after 25 years

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Highlights
  • Alexandra Shulman has been taking Prozac daily for 25 years, having started during a time of personal crisis.
  • She has experienced severe anxiety and panic attacks, often feeling detached from reality due to the medication.
  • Despite the benefits, she raises concerns about the lack of monitoring for long-term users and the potential risks of withdrawal.
Story

In the United Kingdom, Alexandra Shulman has been on Prozac for 25 years, having first started taking the antidepressant when she had been on it for six years and felt overwhelmed by panic. Shulman experienced severe anxiety, characterized by dizziness, vertigo, and episodes of extreme terror during the night, which left her feeling unstable, especially as the primary caregiver for her children. She had faced personal challenges, including emotional distress over her marriage and the responsibilities of her job, which contributed to her reliance on the medication. Even after years of use, she expressed uncertainty about whether she should continue, highlighting the lack of review or monitoring for such prescriptions. Throughout her experience, she felt a detachment from reality, as if living behind a 'frosted glass screen', which was preferable to confronting her painful emotions more directly. Although she acknowledged the positive effects of Prozac in stabilizing her serotonin levels, she also noted the common, unmonitored nature of such prescriptions, which raises questions about their long-term impact on patients. Additionally, she recounted an instance when she contemplated stopping the drug during a positive period in her life, only to change her mind when her father fell seriously ill, reaffirming her need for emotional support during stressful times. Shulman reflects on the essence of her journey with Prozac, acknowledging both its benefits in her life and the grim realities faced by others who may suffer severe consequences when withdrawing from similar medications. Her disclosure points to broader concerns about mental health care practices, the need for ongoing patient support, and appropriate evaluation of medication necessity, particularly for long-term users. The complexity of her situation underscores the challenges individuals may face in navigating mental health treatment, balancing the need for support with the risks posed by long-term dependency on pharmaceuticals like Prozac.

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