Prozac (Fluoxetine)

Drug Info

• Brand name: Prozac;
• Active ingredient: Fluoxetine;
• Manufacturer: Eli Lilly.

Prozac and its drug substance Fluoxetine

Fluoxetine, the active ingredient of Prozac, was discovered in 1972 by Eli Lilly and Company. It has been used in medicine since 1986. The drug is included in the World Health Organization list of essential medicines for the treatment of depression with motor retardation and increased drowsiness.

Prozac is an antidepressant that works by reuptake of serotonin.

Serotonin is an important brain neurotransmitter that helps regulate the sleep and wake cycles of the body and is responsible for mood and emotional stability.

The pharmacological action of Fluoxetine is aimed at increasing the level of serotonin in brain structures. This contributes to an increase in the duration of the stimulating effect of serotonin on the CNS and a decrease in the symptoms of depression.

Indications for use

All serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including Prozac, are most effective in depression and anxiety disorders.

Prozac is recommended for use with:

• Depression;
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder;
• Bulimia nervosa;
• Anxiety disorder;
• Emergency treatment for panic disorder.

Prozac in combination with Olanzapine is prescribed for treatment of depression associated with bipolar I disorder.

Due to a wide range of pharmacological action, Fluoxetine can be used as prescribed by a doctor, in:

• Premature ejaculation;
• Migraine;
• Diabetic neuropathy (a condition resulting from the lack of treatment or late detection of diabetes, which manifests in a degenerative lesion of all elements of the nervous system);
• Fibromyalgia (a disease that causes pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons).

Prozac buying options

You can buy Prozac in two ways:

• You can do it in a classic way, that is you can visit a doctor, get a prescription and buy the drug at a pharmacy;
• You can order the drug online and have it delivered to your home.

The first option is more familiar to most people but is accompanied with additional expenses. You have to pay for a doctor’s consultation and buy Prozac at a higher price at a local drug store.

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• The price of pills at an online pharmacy will be 3-4 times lower than at a city pharmacy.

Treatment regimens and dosages

Each diagnosis requires an individual approach to selection of a treatment regimen and dosage. So, if you decide to start taking this drug for the first time, you should consult your doctor and get individual recommendations.

Prozac dosage for bulimia nervosa:

Adult patients are prescribed 1 tablet of Prozac 60 mg once a day in the morning.

In the absence of contraindications, children are prescribed 10 mg (1 tablet) per day and, depending on the results, the dose can be increased to 20 mg or 40 mg.

Prozac dosage for depression:

The standard adult dosage is 1 tablet of Prozac 20 mg once a day in the morning. Dosage is adjusted as needed.

Children of 8 years of age and older are prescribed Prozac 10 mg or Prozac 20 mg once a day in the morning.

Prozac dosage for obsessive-compulsive disorder:

The starting dose is 20 mg once a day. The maximum daily dose is 80 mg (divided into 4 doses).

For children 7 of years of age, the starting dose of Prozac is 10 mg once a day in the morning. Children are not recommended to take more than 60 mg per day.

Prozac dosage for panic disorder:

The starting dose of Prozac for adults is 10 mg once a day in the morning.

Recommendations for use

The full therapeutic effect of Prozac is achieved within a few weeks of use. Most doctors prescribe Prozac for at least six months. For severe clinical depression, you can take Fluoxetine for more than 1 year, under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

You should begin your treatment with the lowest recommended dose. Every 2 weeks it is necessary to conduct an examination and evaluate the dynamics of therapy. In the absence of positive dynamics, the dose is increased.

It is not recommended to take more than 80 mg of Prozac per day, as this can provoke an overdose.

After achieving the result, the patient is transferred to a maintenance dose of 20 mg per day. The dose reduction usually lasts 4 weeks, but the doctor may suggest to decrease the dose gradually over 6–8 weeks to lower the risk of withdrawal syndrome.

Missed dose

If you sometimes forget to take the medication, don't worry. Take the next dose of the drug the following day at the usual time. Don't take the medicine twice a day to make up for a missed dose.

Precautions

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

There are a number of chronic diseases, in which taking Prozac (Fluoxetine) is contraindicated:

• Liver cirrhosis;
• Problems with urination;
• Diabetes;
• Kidney failure;
• Severe cardiovascular diseases;
• Glaucoma;
• Seizures or epilepsy;
• Bipolar disorder (manic depression);
• Drug abuse or suicidal behavior.

According to studies, in elderly patients Prozac can cause hyponatremia (fluid retention in the body, which leads to a sharp decrease in the volume of blood sodium to the critical level, below 135 mmol/l).

In turn, this can cause swelling, nausea, and other dangerous side effects. For this reason, elderly patients may require dose adjustment and special monitoring by a doctor. If swelling occurs, stop taking the tablets.

Use of Prozac during pregnancy

If you get pregnant while taking Prozac, tell your doctor. Taking Fluoxetine may be related with an increased risk for the development of fetus. So, you should stop taking the drug.

During clinical studies, it has been found out that Fluoxetine excretes with breast milk. For this reason, when taking the drug during lactation, it is necessary to transfer the child to artificial feeding.

Possible side effects

Fluoxetine is one of the safest antidepressants in modern medical practice. It rarely causes side effects due to selective action. In spite of this, in rare cases, patients experience unwanted symptoms.

The list of common side effects while taking Prozac include:

• Insomnia or vice versa drowsiness;
• Headache and dizziness;
• Anxiety or nervousness, fatigue;
• Dizziness or clouded consciousness;
• Stomach upset, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• Dry mouth, sweating;
• Weight or appetite change;

Most often, mild side effects do not require medical assistance. But if they bother you, consult a healthcare professional.

Prozac: interaction with other drugs

Prozac may cause blood thinning or bruising when taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as:

• Aspirin;
• Ibuprofen;
• Naproxen;
• Celebrex;
• Diclofenac and other medicines.

You may need to adjust your Fluoxetine dosage, if you take medicines from the enlisted drug groups:

• Drugs for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder;
• Drugs for treatment of mental disorders and diseases;
• Drugs for treatment of narcolepsy;
• Drugs for headache and migraine;
• Narcotic painkillers.

You should not use Prozac if you take antipsychotic drugs, such as Pimozide or Thioridazine.

Storage

Store out of the reach of children at a temperature from +15 °C to +30 °С.

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