Also known by its generic name,fluoxetine,Prozac is a selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor.Around 1 in 10 people in the United
States are thought to use SSRI medicine, and 1 in 4 women.
Prozac first appeared became one of the most widely prescribed
antidepressants in the country. It remains popular,although newer
medicine are now available,such as sertraline and citalopram.
It is available as a liquid,tablet, capsule,and as a
delayed-release,long-acting capsule.It is suitable for adults and it
can be used in some cases for children over the age of 10 years.
Fast facts on Prozac
● Prozac,or fluoxetine,is a selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor and a widely used antidepressant.
● It is considered safe and effective in treating depression,
anxiety,and obsessive compulsive disorder,and bulimia.
● Adverse effects include an increased risk of suicidal thoughts
in some younger people.
● It should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
and some other medicine
● Anyone who wishes to stop using Prozac should do so
gradually,with a doctor’s help,to prevent adverse reactions.
Side effects
The requires Prozac to come with a black box warning stating that
antidepressants may increase the risk of suicide in people
younger than 25 years. It can lead to suicidal thoughts,or a
worsening of these,in children and young adults.
Other possible side effects include
● decreased libido and sexual dysfunction
● anxiety and nervousness
● abnormal dreams
● sweating
● diarrhea
● asthenia,or lack of bodily strength
● skin rash
● tremor
● flu syndrome
● insomnia, drowsiness,and yawning
● sinusitis,an inflammation of the mucous membrane
● painful or difficult digestion,known as dyspepsia
● dry mouth
● nausea
● vasodilatation,or widening of the blood vessels
medicine-medicine interactions
The manufacturers warn that Prozac should not be taken together
with
● monoamine oxidase inhibitors Pimozide and Thioridazine
●medicine metabolized by
● tricyclic antidepressants
Care should be taken when used with medicine that affect the central
nervous system,such as those belonging to the benzodiazepines
class of medicine.Examples include Diazepam and Lorazepam.It
should be used with care with non-steroidal
anti-inflammatories,aspirin,warfarin and other medicine that affect
blood coagulation,as there is a risk that it could lead to
bleeding.Prozac should not be used with antipsychotics, other
SSRIs and other serotonergic agents,including lithium.John’s
Wort.There is also a chance that fluoxetine may activate mania in
a person who is susceptible.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women should only take Prozac during pregnancy if the potential
benefits outweigh the possible risks to the fetus. that
antidepressants increase the risk of neonatal maladaptation
syndrome.Symptoms include jitteriness,problems with feeding
and breathing, and hypoglycemia,or low blood
sugar.Breastfeeding is not advisedas fluoxetine can pass into the
milk.As with any medicine,there is also a chance that a person may
be allergic to the ingredients.If the patient experiences a rash,
hives,swelling,or difficulty breathing,they should contact a
doctor,as an allergic reaction can become a medical emergency.
How to use Prozac Capsule
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start
using fluoxetine and each time you get a refill.If you have any questions,
ask your doctor or pharmacist.Take this medication by mouth as directed
by your doctor,usually once daily in the morning.If you are taking this
medication twice a day,your doctor may direct you to take it in the
morning and at noon.If you are taking fluoxetine for premenstrual
problems,your doctor may direct you to take it every day of the month or
just for the 2 weeks before your period through the first full day of your
period.To help you remember,mark your calendar.If you are using the
liquid form of this medication,measure the dose carefully using a special
measuring device/spoon.Do not use a household spoon because you may
not get the correct dose.
Why is this medication prescribed?
Fluoxetine is used to treat depression,obsessive-compulsive disorder
bothersome thoughts that won’t go away and the need to perform certain
actions over and over,some eating disorders,and panic attacks
sudden,unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these
attacks.Fluoxetine is used to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual
dysphoric disorder,including mood swings,irritability,bloating,and breast
tenderness.It is also used along with olanzapine to treat depression that
did not respond to other medications and episodes of depression in people
with bipolar I disorder manic-depressive disorder a disease that causes
episodes of depression,episodes of mania,and other abnormal
moods.Fluoxetine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors .It works by increasing the amount of serotonin,a
natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.
How should this medicine be used?
Fluoxetine Prozac comes as a capsule,a tablet,a delayed-release
capsule,and a solution liquid to take by mouth.Fluoxetine may be taken
with or without food. Fluoxetine comes as a capsule to take by
mouth.Fluoxetine capsules,tablets,and liquid are usually taken once a day
in the morning or twice a day in the morning and at noon.Fluoxetine
delayed-released capsules are usually taken once a week.Fluoxetine is
usually taken once a day,either every day of the month or on certain days
of the month.Take fluoxetine at around the same time every day.Follow
the directions on your prescription label carefully,and ask your doctor or
pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take fluoxetine
exactly as directed.Do not take more or less of it or take it more often
than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the delayed-release capsules whole do not cut,crush,or chew
them.Your doctor may start you on a low dose of fluoxetine and gradually
increase your dose.It may take 4 to 5 weeks or longer before you feel the
full benefit of fluoxetine.Continue to take fluoxetine even if you feel
well.Do not stop taking fluoxetine without talking to your doctor.If you
suddenly stop taking fluoxetine, you may experience withdrawal
symptoms such as mood changes,irritability,agitation,dizziness,numbness
or tingling in the hands or
feet,anxiety,sweating,confusion,headache,tiredness,and difficulty falling
asleep or staying asleep.Your doctor will probably decrease your dose
gradually.
Other uses for this medicine
Fluoxetine is also sometimes used to treat alcoholism,attention-deficit
disorder,borderline personality disorder,sleep disorders,headaches, mental
illness,posttraumatic stress disorder Tourette is syndrome, obesity, sexual
problems,and phobias.Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using
this medication for your condition.This medication may be prescribed for
other uses ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What special precautions should I
follow?
Before taking fluoxetine
● tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluoxetine,
any other medications,or any of the ingredients in fluoxetine
preparations.Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
● tell your doctor if you are taking pimozide,thioridazine,or a
monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as isocarboxazid
Marplan,linezolid,methylene blue,phenelzine,selegiline
Eldepryl,Emsam,Zelapar,and tranylcypromine Parnate,or if you
have stopped taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor within the
past 2 weeks.Your doctor will probably tell you that you should
not take fluoxetine.If you stop taking fluoxetine, you should wait
at least 5 weeks before you begin to take thioridazine or a
monoamine oxidase inhibitor.
● tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and
nonprescription medications and vitamins you are taking or plan
to take.Be sure to mention any of the following alprazolam
amiodarone Pacerone,Nexterone certain antibiotics such as
erythromycin,gatifloxacin,moxifloxacin Avelox,and sparfloxacin no
longer available in,Zagam amphetamines such as amphetamine
in Adderall, dextroamphetamine Dexedrine,Dextrostat,in
Adderall,and methamphetamine Desoxyn anticoagulants blood
thinners such as warfarin Coumadin,Jantoven antidepressants
(mood elevators such as amitriptyline
Elavil,amoxapine,clomipramine Anafranil,desipramine
Norpramin,doxepin, imipramine Tofranil,nortriptyline
Pamelor,protriptyline Vivactil, and trimipramine Surmontil aspirin
and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs) such as
ibuprofen Advil,Motrin and naproxen Aleve,Naprosyn buspirone
clopidogrel Plavix diazepam Valium digoxin Lanoxin diuretics
water pills dolasetron Anzemet fentany
Duragesic,Lazanda,Subsys,others flecainide Tambocor insulin or
oral medications for diabetes lithium Lithobid medications for
anxiety and Parkinson is disease medications for mental illness
such as chlorpromazine,clozapine Clozaril,Versacloz,droperidol
Inapsine,haloperidol Haldol,iloperidone Fanapt,and ziprasidone
Geodon methadone Methadose medications for migraine
headaches such as almotriptan Axert,eletriptan
Relpax,frovatriptan Frova, naratriptan Amerge,rizatriptan
Maxalt,sumatriptan Imitrex,and zolmitriptan Zomig pentamidine
Pentam quinidine in Nuedexta procainamide medications for
seizures such as carbamazepine Epitol,Tegretol,Teril and
phenytoin Dilantin, Phenytek sedatives sleeping pills other
selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors such as citalopram Celexa,
fluoxetine Prozac,Sarafem,Selfemra,or fluvoxamine Luvox
serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors medications
desvenlafaxine Khedezla,Pristiq,duloxetine Cymbalta,
levomilnacipran Fetzima,and venlafaxine sotalol Betapace,Sorine
tramadol Ultram tranquilizers and vinblastine.Your doctor may
need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you
carefully for side effects.
● tell your doctor what nutritional supplements and herbal products
you are taking,especially products that contain .John is wort or
tryptophan.
● tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever
had a prolonged interval.A rare heart problem that may cause
irregular heartbeat, fainting,or sudden death.Also tell your doctor
if you have a low level of potassium or magnesium in your blood
or are being treated with electroshock therapy. procedure in
which small electric shocks are administered to the brain to treat
certain mental illnesses.Tell your doctor if you have recently had
a heart attack and if you have or have ever had heart
failure,diabetes,seizures,or liver or heart disease.
● tell your doctor if you are pregnant,especially if you are in the
last few months of your pregnancy,or if you plan to become
pregnant or are breastfeeding.If you become pregnant while
taking fluoxetine, call your doctor.Fluoxetine may cause problems
in newborns following delivery if it is taken during the last months
of pregnancy.
● you should know that fluoxetine may make you drowsy.Do not
drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this
medication affects you.
● remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this
medication.
● you should know that fluoxetine may cause angle-closure
glaucoma.A condition where the fluid is suddenly blocked and
unable to flow out of the eye causing a quick, severe increase in
eye pressure which may lead to a loss of vision. Talk to your
doctor about having an eye examination before you start taking
this medication. If you have nausea,eye pain,changes in vision,
such as seeing colored rings around lights,and swelling or
redness in or around the eye,call your doctor or get emergency
medical treatment right away.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.However,if it is almost
time for the next dose,skip the missed dose and continue your regular
dosing schedule.Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this
medication cause?
● nervousness
● anxiety
● difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
● nausea
● diarrhea
● dry mouth
● heartburn
● yawning
● weakness
● uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
● loss of appetite
● weight loss
● chang
● excessive sweating
● headache,confusion,weakness,difficulty concentrating,or memory problems
