Prozac instructions

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Patient Education Monograph Fluoxetine HCl Tablets (flew-OX-uh-teen HIGH-droe-KLOR-ide)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Prozac, Sarafem

The following product information is not intended to replace the physician's or manufacturer's instructions.

Prozac common medical uses:
This medicine is in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Prozac, an antidepressant (mood elevator), is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and some eating disorders. Prozac also is used occasionally to treat alcoholism, some eating disorders, attention-deficit disorders, borderline personality disorders, sleep disorders, headaches, premenstrual syndrome, irregular heartbeat, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome, anxiety, and phobias.

Prozac contraindications:
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to this medicine; you are currently taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor within the past 14 days; you are taking or have taken thioridazine within the past 5 weeks.

How to use Prozac:
How much medicine you take and how often you take it depends on many factors, including the condition being treated, your age, and weight. Do not take more or less medication than prescribed and follow your doctor's instructions carefully. It is usually taken once or twice a day and may be taken with or without food. Continue to take Prozac even if you feel well. Do not stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.

Prozac side effects:
Every medicine can cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.
Side effects from Prozac are common:

• upset stomach
• drowsiness
• weakness
• tiredness
• anxiety
• insomnia
• nightmares
• changes in appetite or weight
• dry mouth
• skin more sensitive to sunlight than usual.

If any of the following side effects continue or become bothersome, contact your doctor:

• constipation
• frequent urination
• difficulty urinating
• blurred vision
• excessive sweating
• changes in sex drive or ability.

Stop taking Prozac and call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

• jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
• slow or difficult speech
• shuffling walk persistent
• fine tremor or inability to sit still
• fever, chills, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• severe skin rash
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• irregular heartbeat

Prozac precautions:
Before using this medication, tell your doctor about any of the following: if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding; if you are taking or stop taking any prescription or nonprescription medication; if you have any medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma, an enlarged prostate, difficulty urinating, seizures, diabetes, an overactive thyroid gland, or liver, kidney, or heart disease. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that cause drowsiness (eg, sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking this medicine. Remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by Prozac. This medication may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Use with caution while driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness, coordination, or physical dexterity. Tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.

Drug interactions:
The best way to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking. Do not take Prozac if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have occurred when these medicines have been used together. Also, do not take Prozac if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril). Dangerous, even fatal irregular heartbeats may occur if these medicines are taken together. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping Prozac before taking thioridazine (Mellaril).
Before taking Prozac, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• benzodiazepine (diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others)
• tricyclic antidepressant (mitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others)
• St. John's wort
• phenothiazine (chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), and others)
• l ithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others) or haloperidol (Haldol)
• almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin)
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Prozac.

Missed dose:
If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up, unless advised by your doctor. If more than one dose is missed, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose:
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include: irregular heartbeat, fainting, severe dizziness or lightheadedness.

Storage:
Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.

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