Prozac (Fluoxetine)

Prozac is used for treating depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children. It is used to treat bulimia nervosa and panic disorder in adults. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Use Prozac as directed by your doctor.

• Take Prozac by mouth with or without food.
• Taking Prozac at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
• Continue to take Prozac even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• They may include mental or mood changes, numbness or tingling of the skin, dizziness, confusion, headache, trouble sleeping, or unusual tiredness. You will be closely monitored when you start Prozac and whenever a change in dose is made.

Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by restoring the balance of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain, which helps to improve certain mood problems.

If you miss a dose of Prozac, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Store Prozac at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep Prozac out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Do not use Prozac if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Prozac;
• you are taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (e.g., phenelzine), selegiline, or St. John's wort within the last 14 days;
• you are taking a fenfluramine derivative (e.g., dexfenfluramine), an H1 antagonist (e.g., astemizole, terfenadine), nefazodone, pimozide, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) (e.g., venlafaxine), sibutramine, thioridazine, or tryptophan.

• Prozac may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Take Prozac with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Check with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (e.g., sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are taking Prozac ; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Children, teenagers, and young adults who take Prozac may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch all patients who take Prozac closely. Contact the doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behavior occur. Contact the doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur.
• Diabetes patients - Prozac may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Serotonin syndrome is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Prozac . Your risk may be greater if you take Prozac with certain other medicines (e.g., triptans, MAOIs). Symptoms may include agitation; confusion; hallucinations; coma; fever; fast or irregular heartbeat; tremor; excessive sweating; and nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.
• If your doctor tells you to stop taking Prozac, you will need to wait for several weeks before beginning to take certain other medicines (e.g., MAOIs, nefazodone, thioridazine). Ask your doctor when you should start to take your new medicines after you have stopped taking Prozac.
• Prozac may rarely cause a prolonged, painful erection. This could happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it could lead to permanent sexual problems such as impotence. Contact your doctor right away if this happens.
• Use Prozac with caution in the elderly; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially low blood sodium levels.
• Prozac should be used with extreme caution in children younger than 7 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• Prozac may cause harm to the fetus if it is used during the last 3 months of pregnancy. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Prozac while you are pregnant. Prozac is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Prozac.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

• anxiety; decreased sexual desire or ability; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; stomach upset; trouble sleeping; weakness.

• severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre behavior; black or bloody stools; chest pain; confusion; exaggerated reflexes; excessive sweating; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; increased urination; joint or wrist aches or pain; loss of coordination; new or worsening agitation, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, exaggerated feeling of well-being, restlessness, or inability to sit still; persistent or severe ringing in the ears; persistent, painful erection; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe or persistent anxiety or trouble sleeping; significant weight loss; stomach pain; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual hoarseness; unusual or severe mental or mood changes; unusual swelling; vision changes; worsening of depression.

Prozac is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.