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| Pronunciation |
|
 (floo
OKS e
teen) |
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| Brand Names |
|
| Prozac®; Prozac®
Weekly™; Sarafem™ |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Fluoxac (Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Antidepressant, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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|
- If you have an allergy to fluoxetine or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (isocarboxazid,
phenelzine, tranylcypromine) in the last 14 days.
- If you are taking
thioridazine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used for depression, eating disorders, premenstrual
mood disorder(premenstrual dysphoric disorder), and impulse control disorder.
- Other uses include treatment of alcoholism, attention deficit
hyperactivity disorders, anxiety disorders, and some sleep disorders.
- It is used to treat geriatric depression in patients at least 65 years
of age.
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| How does it work? |
|
|
- Fluoxetine increases activity of a chemical in the brain called
serotonin. In depression, sleep and appetite may improve quickly. Other symptoms
may take up to 4-6 weeks to improve.
- The increase in serotonin is likely associated with improvements in
all the conditions fluoxetine
treats.
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| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Take in the morning or follow healthcare provider's directions.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- A liquid (solution) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given.
|
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- Do not use if you are taking thioridazine. May cause dangerous
problems.
- If you are 65 or older, you may have anxiety, be unable to sleep, or
not feel hungry.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Separate monoamine oxidase inhibitors (eg, isocarboxazid, phenelzine,
and tranylcypromine) from this medicine. Do not take together.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen;
wear protective clothing and eyewear.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are taking any herbal products.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Nausea or dry mouth. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care,
sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Feeling tired, weak, or dizzy. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or
activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects
you.
- Lack of appetite.
- Inability to sleep. Take in the morning.
- Anxiety or nervousness.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Change in sexual ability or desire. This can return to normal after
medicine is stopped. Talk with healthcare provider about other medicines without
this side effect.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Very nervous and excitable.
- No improvement in condition or feeling worse after 4-6 weeks of
treatment.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
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- Store capsules or tablets at room temperature.
- Store liquid (solution) in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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