Generic Prozac

How does Prozac work?

Prozac fluoxetine increases the production of serotonin in the brain, a substance naturally produced to maintain a balance in the mental faculties of the brain.

How should I take the product?

Prozac fluoxetine may be taken orally in solid (as a capsule or tablet, or a delayed-release capsule) and liquid (as a solution) form. It can be taken on an empty stomach or together with food. The capsule and tablet forms including the liquid solution are taken once daily or at the most, twice daily. The delayed-release type is prescribed for once weekly doses. For best results, it is advisable to take fluoxetine on a regular scheduled time every day. Your doctor will give specific instructions on the dosage and intake and these instructions must be adhered to strictly. They conform to the dosage instructions on the prescription labels of the medication. It will be up to your doctor to determine whether to start you off on a full dose or start with a lower dose and slowly work you to a full dosage.
The effect of fluoxetine may not be that evident quickly and it may take weeks before you even feel those effects taking place. However, even if the effect of the medication kicks in at once and you may be feeling better than before, it is not a guarantee that you are already cured and you can stop the medication. The full prescription must be finished and you should not stop taking fluoxetine unless your doctor says so. Also, increasing or decreasing the dose is not advisable. If you miss a scheduled dose, you should not double the upcoming dose to compensate for the missed one. Just skip the missed dose and proceed to the next regular upcoming dose. It is possible to overdose on Prozac so be careful of the dosages you take. When you are well on your way to treatment, it will be your doctor’s call again to slowly take you off the medication, maybe decreasing your doses gradually. This is so that you will not suffer the withdrawal symptoms associated with sudden fluoxetine medication release.

Precautions

It is imperative that you inform your doctor if you have had any allergic reaction to fluoxetine or to other drugs before. You may be taking or are planning to take other prescription or over-the-counter drugs including vitamins and mineral supplements or herbal products and these should be relayed to your doctor, too. Other conditions that you should make your doctor aware of include treatment with electroshock as therapy for mental illness, recent heart attack, diabetes, seizure bouts, liver disease, and heart disease. Fluoxetine effect on pregnant women is also a matter of concern so if you are pregnant or are planning to conceive soon, or if you recently gave birth and are still breast-feeding, you should let your doctor know of these circumstances.

Side effects

Some of fluoxetine’s more common side effects are unusual nervousness, a dry mouth and a sore throat, drowsiness, lack of energy and weakness, nausea and vomiting, involuntary shakes in some parts of the body, appetite loss, weight changes, lack or loss of sex drive, and profuse sweating. Other more serious indicators of side effects that you should let your doctor know about are rashes and hives, fever, muscle and joint pains, swelling in the face and mouth areas and in the extremities, breathing difficulties, throat constriction and swallowing difficulties, seizures and hallucinations. Medical authorities have issued special warnings on the use of fluoxetine due to the suicidal tendencies believed to the induced by the use of anti-depressants. It is noteworthy that mental health may be affected with the use of fluoxetine or any other anti-depressant so that any symptoms of worsening depression should be relayed to your doctor, too.

What should I avoid while taking Prozac?

One of the side effects of Prozac fluoxetine is that it induces drowsiness. As such, it is best that you refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery and complicated equipments while using fluoxetine. Combining fluoxetine with alcohol may increase the drowsiness-inducing effect so try to avoid alcohol intake together with fluoxetine.

Drug interactions

Take note of the following drugs and substances that fluoxetine may react or interact with variedly: pimozide, thioridazine, MAO inhibitors, and tranylcypromine, alprazolam, anti-coagulants or blood thinners, anti-depressants, aspirin and other NSAIDs, diazepam, digoxin, diuretics or water pills, insulin and other diabetes medications, anti-anxiety drugs, mental health drugs, migraine medications, anti-seizure drugs, sedatives or sleeping pills, and tranquilizers.