U.S. Brand Names

Prozac®; Prozac® Weekly™; Sarafem®; Selfemra™

Canadian Brand Names

Apo-Fluoxetine®; CO Fluoxetine; Dom-Fluoxetine; Fluoxetine; FXT 40; Gen-Fluoxetine; Mylan-Fluoxetine; Novo-Fluoxetine; Nu-Fluoxetine; PHL-Fluoxetine; PMS-Fluoxetine; PRO-Fluoxetine; Prozac®; ratio-Fluoxetine; Riva-Fluoxetine; Sandoz-Fluoxetine; ZYM-Fluoxetine

Mexican Brand Names

Symbyax

Pharmacologic Category

Antidepressant, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?

The desire to harm yourself is a serious symptom of depression. It may last until your depression is completely treated. If you are planning on harming yourself, call the emergency department right away.

There is a risk of serotonin syndrome when using a migraine medicine with this medicine. The syndrome is caused by too much serotonin in the body. Signs include: agitation, changes in blood pressure, diarrhea, fast heartbeat, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting, significant change in balance, and significant change in thinking clearly and logically. Talk with healthcare provider.

This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.

Please read the medication guide.

Reasons not to take this medicine

• If you have an allergy to fluoxetine or any other part of this medicine.

• 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, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• If you have taken isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine in the last 14 days. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (eg, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine) must be stopped 14 days before this medicine is started. Taking the two together could cause dangerously high blood pressure.

• If you are breast-feeding.

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to relieve chronic pain conditions.

• This medicine is used to treat addiction disorder.

• This medicine is used to treat anxiety.

• This medicine is used to treat attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity.

• This medicine is used to treat depression.

• This medicine is used to treat eating disorders.

• This medicine is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• This medicine is used to treat panic attacks.

• This medicine is used to treat premature ejaculation.

• This medicine is used to treat premenstrual mood disorder.

• This medicine is used to treat sleep disorders.

• This medicine is used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

How does it work?

• Fluoxetine increases chemicals in the brain.

• In depression, sleep and appetite may improve quickly. Other depressive symptoms may take up to 4-6 weeks to improve.

How is it best taken?

• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.

• Take this medicine in the morning.

• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

• Take long-acting products once a week.

• Long-acting products: Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

• 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.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.

• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with caution. You could have more side effects.

• If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.

• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have seizures or are on seizure medicine, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have bleeding problems, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• 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) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.

• Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin, aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.

• If you are taking any natural products, talk with healthcare provider.

• You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Nervous and excitable.

• Headache.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Not hungry.

• Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Diarrhea.

• Change in sexual ability or desire. This is usually reversible.

• Inability to sleep.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• Dry mouth may cause an increase in cavities. Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• If you are planning to harm yourself or the desire to harm yourself increases.

• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.

• Significant change in balance.

• Agitation, twitching, sweating, or muscle stiffness.

• Very nervous and excitable.

• Fast heartbeat.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Severe diarrhea.

• Unusual bruising or bleeding.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect liquid (solution) from light.

• Protect capsules and tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements

• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.

• 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.

• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.

• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.

• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

Created: 2005-04-07 16:42:48.0

Modified: 2009-12-09 09:08:23.0

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