Prozac
Generic Name: fluoxetine (floo OX e teen)
Brand Names: Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Rapiflux, Sarafem
What is Prozac?
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Feedback for Prozac information from Drugs.com
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Prozac is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Prozac affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Prozac is used to treat major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder) obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Prozac may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Important information about Prozac
Do not take Prozac together with pimozide (Orap), thioridazine (Mellaril), or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment with Prozac.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. SSRI antidepressants may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking Prozac, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor.Before taking Prozac
Do not use Prozac if you are using any of the following drugs:-
pimozide (Orap);
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thioridazine (Mellaril); or
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an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam).
Before taking Prozac, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- kidney disease;
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diabetes;
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seizures or epilepsy;
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bipolar disorder (manic depression); or
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a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Prozac, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment with Prozac, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. SSRI antidepressants may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking Prozac, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor. Prozac can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give Prozac to anyone younger than 18 years old without a doctor's advice. Prozac is the only antidepressant that is FDA-approved for use in children with depression.How should I take Prozac?
Take Prozac exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from the medication.
Do not break, chew, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.Measure the liquid form of Prozac with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.
It may take 4 weeks or longer before you start feeling better. Do not stop using Prozac without first talking to your doctor. You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.To treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder, the usual dose of Prozac is once daily while you are having your period, or 14 days before you expect your period to start. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Store Prozac at room temperature away from moisture and heat.What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
If you miss a dose of Prozac Weekly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember and take the next dose 7 days later. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled weekly dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed.Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much of this medication. Overdose may include nausea, vomiting, fever, sleepiness, rapid or uneven heartbeat, confusion, fainting, seizures, or coma.What should I avoid while taking Prozac?
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Prozac. This medicine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Prozac.
Prozac side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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seizure (convulsions);
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tremors, shivering, muscle stiffness or twitching;
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a red, blistering, peeling skin rash;
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problems with balance or coordination; or
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agitation, confusion, sweating, fast heartbeat.
Less serious Prozac side effects may include:
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drowsiness, dizziness, weakness;
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runny nose, sore throat, headache, flu symptoms;
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nausea, diarrhea, changes in appetite;
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weight changes;
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decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm; or
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dry mouth, increased sweating.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect Prozac?
Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others. Taking any of these drugs with Prozac may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Before taking Prozac, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:
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alprazolam (Xanax);
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clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo);
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digitoxin (Crystodigin);
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flecainide (Tambocor);
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haloperidol (Haldol);
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seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or carbamazepine (Tegretol);
- tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan);
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vinblastine (Velban);
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
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any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), escitalopram (Lexapro), imipramine (Tofranil), sertraline (Zoloft), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Prozac. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about Prozac.
What does my medication look like?
Fluoxetine is available with a prescription generically and under the brand names Prozac, Rapiflux and Sarafem. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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Anxiety and Stress, Bulimia, Depression, Fibromyalgia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Vulvodynia
