Prozac Generic (Fluoxetine): Uses, Precautions, Dosage, Side Effects, and Drug Interactions

Fluoxetine produced under the brand name Prozac; it is an oral medication that belongs to the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Discovered in 1972 by Eli Lilly and Company, Prozac Generic is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicine - the most effective and safe medicines needed in the health industry. In fact, it's the antidepressant of choice due to its efficiency and tolerance, especially in pregnant women.

Like most SSRIs, it's used for the treatment of bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This drug has also been used to treat autism spectrum disorder in adults with minimum success.

This medication has been linked with an increase in suicidal tendencies in adolescents, young adults, and those above 65 years old, especially when they start or increase the dose. Families and caregivers are advised to monitor suicidal tendencies in the users closely. Fluoxetine works by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain hence reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and major depressive disorder. Prozac Generic is often used with Olanzapine to treat manic depression triggered by bipolar disorder. Mind you, you should always consult your doctor before combining both drugs.

Precautions: Important to Know

Every medication comes with a set of guidelines and prescriptions that must be followed to the detail. For this reason, always update your doctor of any change in medication and it's side effects. For instance, a small number of children, adolescents, and young adults developed suicidal tendencies after using this drug. You should know that your mental health may become unpredictable when you take Prozac Fluoxetine. You may become suicidal at the beginning of the treatment.

So, you should contact your doctor or caregivers if you experience such tendencies. This medication may improve your appetite, sleep, energy levels, and mood. It may also decrease unwanted thoughts, fear, anxiety, panic attacks, and reduce the urge to perform repeated tasks that interfere with daily activities. This drug may also reduce pre-menstrual symptoms, such as increased appetite, irritability, and depression.

Do not take Prozac Fluoxetine with MAOIs. In fact, do not use this medicine if you have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors in the past two weeks. This could lead to dangerous side effects. You must also wait for five weeks after stopping Prozac Generic before you can use MAOIs or Thioridazine. Pregnant women should exercise caution when using this medication. Taking this drug during pregnancy may cause severe complications in the baby. It's preferable to notify your doctor once you get pregnant. Do not stop or start this medicine during pregnancy without informing your physician.

Furthermore, Prozac Fluoxetine may pass through breast milk and may harm the baby. Inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Lastly, notify your physician if you have kidney disease, cirrhosis of the liver, bipolar disorder, seizures or epilepsy, a history of suicidal tendencies, or drug abuse.

Instructions on Taking

It's advisable to take Prozac Fluoxetine as prescribed by your doctor. The physician might prescribe larger or smaller doses, and do not take this medication longer than specified. Do not crush, chew, or break a delayed-release Prozac capsule, since it might reduce its efficiency.

It might take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms reduce, and keep using the drug as directed if your symptoms do not improve. Consult your doctor on how to safely stop using this medication. Sudden withdrawal can lead to severe side effects.

Take your Prozac Generic weekly as soon as you remember, and skip the treatment if it's close to your next scheduled dose. Remember, avoid taking extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

Avoid drinking alcohol with this drug, since it increases its side effects. Furthermore, consult your doctor before taking a non-steroid antiinflammatory drug for swelling, fever, pain, arthritis. Lastly, be careful when driving or doing activities that require you to be alert, since Prozac may impair your reactions or thinking.

Dosage

The dosage of Prozac Fluoxetine is dependent on one's response to treatment and medical conditions. The initial dosage for adults suffering from the major depressive disorder is 20mg per day in the morning. Although, a dose increase is considered if insufficient clinical improvement is observed after weeks of treatment. The maximum Prozac dose should not exceed 80mg per day.

The initial dose for children suffering from the major depressive disorder is 10mg. It is then increased to 20mg per day after a week of administering 10mg. An increase in dosage should only be considered when there's little clinical improvement in symptoms. The weekly dosage of Prozac Fluoxetine is initiated seven days after the last daily dose.

Side Effects of Prozac Fluoxetine

Prozac Fluoxetine comes with side effects ranging from mild to severe. Get medical help if you develop allergies like skin rashes, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the legs, face, tongue, lips, and other parts of the body. You should also report any worsening or new symptom, such as changes in mood or behavior, panic attacks, or if you feel irritable, impulsive, and aggressive. Contact your doctor if you have blurred vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.

You should also watch out for the following adverse effects caused by high level of serotonin in the body, such as agitation, overactive reflexes, nausea, fast heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting, hallucinations, and fever. It can also cause severe nervous system reactions, such as high fever, rigid muscles, fast or uneven heartbeat, confusion, and tremors.

Interactions with other drugs

Many drugs interact with Prozac Fluoxetine, and it's best if you consult your physician before combining your medications. Combining other medicines with Prozac Generic can lead to drowsiness and severe side effects. You should avoid using other antidepressants with this drug unless specified by your doctor.

Prozac Fluoxetine interacts with blood thinners to cause severe side effects like hypertension. Avoid taking this drug with medications used to treat anxiety, mental illness, and mood disorders. Prozac Generic interacts with narcotic pain medicines, such as Tramadol and Fentanyl. Mind you, the list of drugs that interact with Prozac Fluoxetine is endless, and that's why it's vital to update your physician about your recent medications.