Prozac (fluoxetine) for Depression.
The following information is intended to supplement, not
substitute, the expertise and judgment of your physician,
pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be
construed to indicate that using Prozac is safe or appropriate for
you.
People seeking depression relief should carefully evaluate Prozac
information and side effects before deciding to take Prozac.
Consult your healthcare professional before using Prozac.
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What is Prozac used for? Prozac is in a class of drugs
called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Fluoxetine is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive
disorders (OCD), panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric
disorder (PMDD). Fluoxetine 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.
General Prozac Precautions:
_ Prozac may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid
driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous
activities.
_ Rise slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position to
prevent dizziness or possible falls.
_ Do not take Prozac if you have taken a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days. A dangerous drug
interaction can occur if fluoxetine is combined with MAO
inhibitors.
_ Dangerous, even fatal, irregular heartbeats may occur if
fluoxetine is taken with thioridazine. You must wait 5 weeks after
stopping fluoxetine before taking thioridazine.
_ Tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Prozac if you are
having surgery, including dental surgery.
_ It is not known whether Prozac will harm an unborn baby or a
nursing baby.
_ Prozac may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients
using fluoxetine should exercise caution until they have adapted
to therapy.
_ If you skip the missed dose and take only the next one as
directed. Do not take a double dose. Overdose is possible.
FDA Warnings for Prozac:
The FDA issued a public health alert for Prozac in March 2004
warning that Prozac can lead to deeper depression and suicide. The
FDA recommends that health care providers warn patients, their
families and their caregivers to be alert for agitation,
irritability, suicide and worsening depression while using fluoxetine. The FDA also recommends that health care providers
closely monitor adult and children treated with fluoxetine for
worsening of depression or suicidal tendencies, especially at the
beginning of therapy or when the dose either increases or
decreases.
The FDA issued a Public Health Advisory in October 2003 about
increased reports of suicidal thinking, suicide attempts,
hostility and self-harm in children using Prozac. The FDA urges
that Prozac be used with caution in children. It should be noted
that in clinical trials, only Prozac (fluoxetine) has been found
effective for children.
Prozac can cause serious side effects. Prozac can cause serious
side effects.
Weight gain and
sexual dysfunction
are common Prozac side effects. Prozac can also cause addiction
and subsequent withdrawal symptoms.
Prozac has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease and drug-induced
stuttering.
Only you can decide if Prozac is the best means
of treating depression symptoms. It is important for people
currently taking Prozac to discuss side effect concerns with their
physician. It is important for people currently taking Prozac to
discuss side effects with their physician. People wishing to avoid
the side effects of pharmaceutical antidepressants have choices
for safe and effective
natural antidepressants.
Prozac Side Effects:
_ Agitation.
_ Irritability.
_ Deepened depression.
_ Increased risk of suicide.
_ Nausea.
_ Nervousness.
_ Insomnia or sleeplessness.
_ Nightmares.
_ Constipation or diarrhea.
_ Ejaculation problems.
_ Impotence.
_ Changes in sex drive or ability.
_ Difficulty reaching orgasm.
_ Decreased libido.
_ Weakness.
_ Drowsiness.
_ Anxiety.
_ Dry mouth.
_ Changes in appetite or weight.
_ Headache.
_ Frequent urination or difficulty urinating.
_ Tremors.
_ Chills or fever.
_ Skin rash or hives.
_ Irregular heartbeat.
_ Increased sweating.
_ Low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness).
_ High blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision).
_ Unusual bleeding or bruising.
_ Difficulty concentrating.
_ Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms.
_ Slow or difficult speech.
_ Shuffling walk.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience: An
allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives). Stop taking
Prozac and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency
medical treatment if you also experience a fast or irregular
heartbeat, low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness), high blood
pressure (severe headache, blurred vision), chills or fever, skin
rash or hives or unusual bleeding or bruising. Contact your doctor
immediately if you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaw,
neck or back muscle spasms, shuffling walk, slow or difficult
speech, persistent fine tremor or inability to sit still.
Before taking Prozac, tell your doctor if you have or ever had:
_ Seizures.
_ Liver disease.
_ Kidney disease.
_ Suicidal thoughts.
_ Mania.
_ Diabetes.
_ Glaucoma.
_ Enlarged prostate.
_ Difficulty urinating.
_ Overactive thyroid gland.
What should I avoid while taking Prozac?
_ Use alcohol cautiously while taking Prozac. Alcohol may increase
drowsiness and dizziness.
_ Cigarette smoking and tobacco products may decrease the
effectiveness of this drug.
_ Prozac may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Avoid
unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Symptoms of overdose may include: Symptoms of a Prozac
overdose include dizziness, drowsiness, coma, nausea, tremors,
seizures, blurred vision, enlarged pupils, hyperactivity,
agitation, unconsciousness, unsteadiness, confusion and
hallucinations.
What other drugs will affect fluoxetine? Prozac can
increase the effects of many other drugs, leading to serious side
effects. If taking Prozac, talk to your doctor and pharmacist
before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Do
not take fluoxetine with the following medicines without your
doctor’s approval:
_ Benzodiazepine such as diazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide,
clorazepate, temazepam or triazolam.
_ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).
_ Other antidepressants.
_ Phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine,
perphenazine prochlorperazine.
_ Warfarin.
_ Lithium or haloperidol.
_ Digoxin.
_ Seizure medications containing carbamazepine (Tegretol) or
phenytoin (Dilantin).
_ Almotriptan.
_ Frovatriptan.
_ Sumatriptan.
_ Naratriptan.
_ Rizatriptan.
_ Zolmitriptan.
_ Thioridazine.
_ Cisapride.
_ Pimozide.
_ St. John's wort.
_ Buspirone.
_ Cyclosporine.
_ Levodopa.
Also talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking medication
for anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, Parkinson's
disease, asthma, colds, allergies, muscle relaxants, sedatives,
sleeping pills, thyroid medications, tranquilizers,
antihistamines, antipsychotics, tryptophan, and vitamins. Drugs
other than the above listed may also interact with Prozac. Talk to
your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription,
over-the-counter medicines or natural supplements.
*This antidepressant drug
information does not endorse Prozac, diagnose patients or
recommend therapy. The information contained herein is not
intended to cover all possible warnings, uses, precautions, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse side effects of
Prozac. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your health care provider or pharmacist. The
information provided should not be construed to indicate that
Prozac is safe, effective or appropriate.
Do not stop taking Prozac without first talking to your doctor.
Your doctor may need to gradually reduce the dose before stopping
Prozac completely. Suddenly stopping fluoxetine may cause
unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.
