PROZAC - Fluoxetine HCL

Prozac Used For

Prozac is prescribed for the treatment of major depressive disorders. It is also indicated for the treatment of obsessions and compulsions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and for control of bulimia nervosa and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Directions for Prozac

For depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder & premenstrual dysphoric disorder the normal starting dosage for adults is a single dosage of 20 mg in the morning. Dosage may be increased by doctor depending on results achieved, but usually not more than 80 mg a day. Once your depression is under control, your doctor may wish to change you to a weekly dose. For bulimia nervosa the prescribed starting dosage is 60 mg a day as a single dose in the morning, which gradual increase in dosage as advised by the doctor.

How Prozac drug works

Do not stop taking Prozac suddenly but increase the dosage slowly as per advice from your doctors. Do not take fluoxetine within 2 weeks of taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor since it may lead to extremely high blood pressure and / or convulsions. It is advisable to avoid taking thioridazine during and up to 5 weeks after the treatment of Prozac since a combination of the medications can cause serious heart problems. Fluoxetine may also cause some people to be agitated, irritable or display other abnormal behaviors. It may cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed.

Prozac drug side effects

As with all medicines, Prozac has its own side effects which include but may not be limited to decreased sexual drive or ability, inability to sit still, restlessness, skin rash, hives, or itching, chills or fever and joint or muscle pain. It may also lead to breast enlargement or pain, convulsions (seizures), fast or irregular heartbeat, purple or red spots on skin and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) in rare cases.

Other Prozac medication information

After you stop taking fluoxetine, your body may need time to adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of medicine you were using and how long you used it. It is advisable to regularly consult your doctor regarding any unexpected side effects that you might feel due to stopping the medication.