Uses and How to Use
Prozac Oral Uses
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression, anxiety disorders (panic attacks), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a certain eating disorder (bulimia), and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
SSRIs work by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain (neurotransmitters such as serotonin). Fluoxetine may improve your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy level and may help restore your interest in daily living. It may decrease anxiety/unreasonable fears, persistent/troubling thoughts (obsessions), and unwanted urges that keep returning (compulsions). It may decrease the number and severity of panic attacks. Fluoxetine may lessen premenstrual symptoms such as irritability, increased appetite, and depression. It may decrease bingeing and purging behaviors in bulimia.
How To Use Prozac Oral
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, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. This medication may make you either sleepy or wakeful. Therefore, depending on how this medication affects you, your doctor may direct you to take the entire dose once daily in either the morning or evening. 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.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Do not take more or less medication or take it more frequently than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.
It is important to continue taking this medication as prescribed even if you feel well. Do not stop taking this medication without first consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
You should see some improvement in 1 to 2 weeks. It may take several weeks before you feel the full benefit.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
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Precautions and Side Effects
Prozac Oral Warning
Antidepressant medications are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental/mood disorders. These medications can help prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts and provide other important benefits. However, studies have shown that a small number of people (especially children/teenagers) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience worsening depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or suicidal thoughts/attempts. Therefore, it is very important to talk with the doctor about the risks and benefits of antidepressant medication (especially for children/teenagers), even if treatment is not for a mental/mood condition.
Tell the doctor immediately if you notice worsening depression/other psychiatric conditions, unusual behavior changes (including possible suicidal thoughts/attempts), or other mental/mood changes (including new/worsening anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, hostile/angry feelings, impulsive actions, severe restlessness, very rapid speech). Be especially watchful for these symptoms when a new antidepressant is started or when the dose is changed.
Prozac Oral Side Effects
See also Warning section.
Nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weakness, tiredness, sweating, or yawning may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:
unusual or severe mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, unusual high energy/excitement, thoughts of suicide)
uncontrolled movements (e.g., of the lips/tongue)
shakiness (tremor)
restlessness
inability to keep still
decreased interest in sex
changes in sexual ability
blurred vision
numbness/tingling
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur:
bloody/black/tarry stools
vomit that looks like coffee grounds
easy bruising/bleeding
fainting
fast/irregular heartbeat
muscle weakness/spasm
seizures
change in amount of urine
This medication may rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome. The risk increases when this medication is used with certain other drugs such as "triptans" used to treat migraine headaches (e.g., sumatriptan, eletriptan), certain antidepressants including other SSRIs (e.g., citalopram, paroxetine) and SNRIs (e.g., duloxetine, venlafaxine), lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, or a certain drug to treat obesity (sibutramine). See also Drug Interactions section. Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you take any of these medications. Serotonin syndrome may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of any of these medications. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop some of the following symptoms:
hallucinations
unusual restlessness
loss of coordination
fast heartbeat
severe dizziness
unexplained fever
severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
twitchy muscles
For males, in the very unlikely event you have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours, stop using this drug and seek immediate medical attention, or permanent problems could occur.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:
rash
itching
swelling
severe dizziness
trouble breathing
If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Prozac Oral Precautions
Before taking fluoxetine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
personal or family history of bipolar/manic-depressive disorder
personal or family history of suicide attempts
liver problems
diabetes
low sodium in the blood
severe loss of body water (dehydration)
seizures
stomach/intestinal ulcers
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any other activity that requires alertness. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
If you have diabetes, fluoxetine may affect your blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar regularly and share the results with your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your medication, diet, and exercise when you start or stop fluoxetine. Liquid forms of this product may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.
Caution is advised when using this product in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects. The elderly are more likely to lose too much salt (hyponatremia), especially if they are also taking "water pills" (diuretics) with this medication.
This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Also, babies born to mothers who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may infrequently develop withdrawal symptoms such as feeding/breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle stiffness, or constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn, tell the doctor promptly.
Since untreated depression can be a serious condition, do not stop taking this medication unless directed by your doctor. If you are planning pregnancy, become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, immediately discuss the benefits and risks of using this medication during pregnancy with your doctor.
This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Prozac Oral Drug Interactions
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Fluoxetine can stay in your body for many weeks after your last dose and may interact with many other medications. Before using any medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have taken fluoxetine in the previous 5 weeks.
Certain medications taken with fluoxetine could result in serious (rarely fatal) drug interactions. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) with fluoxetine for 2 weeks before, during treatment, and at least 5 weeks after your last dose of fluoxetine. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for additional information.
The following medications should not be used with fluoxetine and for 5 weeks after your last dose of fluoxetine because very serious (possibly fatal) interactions may occur:
pimozide
sibutramine
thioridazine
If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting fluoxetine.
Before using fluoxetine, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of:
drugs removed from your body by certain liver enzymes (e.g., carbamazepine, cimetidine, phenytoin, vinblastine, drugs for anxiety such as alprazolam and diazepam, antipsychotics such as aripiprazole/clozapine/haloperidol/perphenazine, antiarrhythmics such as propafenone/flecainide, TCA antidepressants such as desipramine/imipramine)
fosamprenavir/ritonavir
metoprolol
"water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide)
drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (e.g., aspirin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, "blood thinners" such as heparin/warfarin)
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this medication (see above). If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Also tell your doctor if you take any other drugs that increase serotonin, such as bromocriptine, buspirone, dextromethorphan, lithium, meperidine, propoxyphene, phentermine, SSRIs, SNRIs, tryptophan, St. John's wort, drugs used to treat migraines such as "triptans" and dihydroergotamine, street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," amphetamine.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness, such as certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, quetiapine, nortriptyline, trazodone).
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Dextromethorphan is a commonly used cough medication and may interact with fluoxetine. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Cimetidine is a nonprescription drug that is commonly used to treat extra stomach acid. Because it may cause undesirable interactions when used with fluoxetine, ask your pharmacist about other products to treat stomach acid.
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