Prozac

Learn More About Prozac

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), also known as an antidepressant. Fluoxetine affects chemicals in the brain which become unbalanced in people with depression, panic disorder, anxiety, or obsessive compulsive disorder. Prozac is also used to treat major depressive disorder and bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder).

USP is an oral SSRI medicine which is administered for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which in medical terms is known as sarafem fluoxetine hydrochloride. The Prozac capsule is a white or off-white crystalline solid used to treat this condition, and is soluble in 14mg/mL of water.

Risk Factors Relating to Prozac

Antidepressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults. Studies have not expressed an increased risk of suicidal behavior among the patients aged 24 and above; for this group, risky thoughts and suicidal behavior are reduced with the antidepressant.

Most patients who start an antidepressant therapy are closely monitored for negative behavior and worsening condition due to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Prozac should not be used if you have taken pimozide or thioridazine, and you cannot take it if you are being treated with injections of methylene blue.

Do not use Prozac if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection or phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

In this case, wait 14 days before you start taking Prozac. Wait five weeks after you stop taking fluoxetine before taking thioridazine or an MAOI.

Before taking the medicine:

• Do not take Prozac if you are allergic to fluoxetine or if you have taken pimozide or thioridazine.
• Avoid Prozac if you are being treated with methylene blue injections.
• Talk to your doctor about other antidepressants you have been taking, such as Celexa, Cymbalta, Desyrel, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Oleptro, Paxil, Pexeva, Symbyax, Viibryd, or Zoloft.
• Do not take Prozac without medical consultation. Taking medicines that can interact with fluoxetine  might cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
• Make sure your doctor is aware of all medicines you are taking.
• Ask your doctor before deciding about any changes in how often or when you take the medication. 

Inform your doctor about any health conditions you have, such as:

• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Bipolar disorder (manic depression)
• Diabetes
• Narrow-angle glaucoma
• Seizures or epilepsy
• Kidney disease
• A history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts

Your doctor should monitor your progress on regular basis, so be sure to visit them regularly.

It also helps to keep family members or caretakers informed about any changes in mood or symptoms.

Prozac cannot be given during pregnancy, as it can cause serious lung problems or unnecessary complications in pregnant woman and the baby. Relapses of depression occur when you stop taking the antidepressant. Consult your doctor immediately and inform them of your pregnancy, and never take any medicine without the doctor’s permission.

Ask for doctor’s advice about required medicines and follow their instructions strictly.

Fluoxetine can pass through breast milk and may harm the baby while nursing, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.

Prozac is not approved for patients  18 years or under.

How Should You Take Prozac?

When taking Prozac, you should follow your doctor’s instructions without deviation. Your doctor will observe the condition and change the medicine when necessary. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

While taking the medicine, never bite, crush, chew, or break the capsule. The entire capsule needs to be swallowed whole as per doctor’s prescription.

The treatment lasts about four weeks and should be taken for the specified period.

Talk to your doctor about your progress as well as any health issues or if you do not feel any improvement.

Do not start or stop Prozac suddenly; always talk to your doctor first.

Take a missed dose as soon as you remember, but skip the dose if it is near enough to the next one.

Never take an extra dose to make up for a missed one.

If an overdose occurs, call emergency help or get immediate medical attention.

Avoid drinking alcohol, as it can increase the side effects of the medicine and reduce the effect of Prozac completely.

Consult your doctor before consuming a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling, as well as medicines including aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. Using an NSAID with Prozac can cause major or minor harm or bleeding.