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How should you take this medication?
Prozac comes as a capsule, tablet, and liquid to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day and may be taken with or without food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefull
y, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Prozac exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Continue to take Prozac even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Prozac without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Your doctor probably will want
to decrease your dose gradually. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.
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Overdose
Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. An overdose of Prozac can be fatal. In addition, combining Prozac with certain other drugs can cause symptoms of overdose. If you suspect
an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
Common symptoms of Prozac overdose include:
Nausea, rapid heartbeat, seizures, sleepiness, vomiting
Other symptoms of Prozac ov
erdose include:
Coma, delirium, fainting, high fever, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, mania, rigid muscles, sweating, stupor
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Other medical problems
Breast-feedingˇXProzac passes into breast milk. A study of 11 breast-fed babies whose mothers were taking Prozac found no effect on the babies. However, another baby whose mother was taking this medic
ne had vomiting, watery stools, crying, and sleep problems. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.
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Special Wanring
Neurologic:
Frequent: Headache, tremor, dizziness or lightheadedness, asthenia.
Infrequent: Abnormal gait, ataxia, akathisia, buccoglossal syndrome, hyperkinesia, hypertonia, incoordinat
ion, neck rigidity, extrapyramidal syndrome, convulsions, photophobia, myoclonus, vertigo, migraine, tinnitus, hypesthesia, neuralgia, neuropathy, acute brain syndrome.
Rare: Dysarthria, dys
tonia, torticollis, decreased reflexes, nystagmus, paralysis, paresthesia, carpal tunnel syndrome, stupor, coma, abnormal EEG, chronic brain syndrome, dyskinesia and other movement disorders (includin
g worsening of preexisting conditions or appearance in patients with risk factors neuroleptic malignant syndrome-like events.
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Drug Interactions
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])ˇX Do
ot take fluoxetine while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking an MAO inhibitor. If you do, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal problems, sudden high body te
mperature, extremely high blood pressure, and severe convulsions. At least 14 days should be allowed between stopping treatment with an MAO inhibitor and starting treatment with fluoxetine.
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Why is this drug prescribed?
Prozac is used to treat mental depression. It is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Prozac also may be used for other cond
itions as determined by your doctor.
Prozac belongs to a group of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medicines are thought to work by increasing the act
ivity of a chemical called serotonin in the brain.
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