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Fluoxetine
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About fluoxetine
| Type of medicine | Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant |
| Used for | Depression Bulimia nervosa Obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| Also called | Oxactin®, Ranflutin®, Prozep®, Prozac®, Prozit® |
| Available as | Capsules and oral liquid |
Certain chemicals in our brain control how we feel. It is thought that low levels of a chemical called serotonin can lead to depression and other conditions. Fluoxetine works by helping to regulate serotonin levels in our body, easing the symptoms of depression, the eating disorder bulimia nervosa, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Before taking fluoxetine
Before taking fluoxetine make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
- If you suffer from heart, liver or kidney problems.
- If you are under 18 years of age.
- If you suffer from epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (increased eye pressure), or a bleeding disorder.
- If you have ever suffered from mania (great excitement, hallucinations, difficulty in concentrating or staying still).
- If you are being treated with ECT (electroconvulsive therapy).
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine.
- If you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant within the last two weeks.
- If you are taking any other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
How to take fluoxetine
- Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
- Take fluoxetine exactly as you have been directed by your doctor.
- Try to avoid missing any doses. If you do forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose. Do not take two doses on the same day to make up.
- You may have to take fluoxetine for several weeks before you feel the full effect.
- Do not stop taking fluoxetine without speaking to your doctor first. Your doctor will want to reduce your dose gradually as stopping suddenly can cause problems.
Getting the most from your treatment
- Fluoxetine may slow your reactions. Make sure your reactions are normal before driving or doing any other tasks that would be dangerous if you were not fully alert.
- Avoid drinking alcohol whilst you are taking fluoxetine.
- Fluoxetine may cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than it usually is. Avoid sunbeds and try to avoid sunlight or use a suncream higher than factor 15 until you know how your skin reacts.
- If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking fluoxetine.
- Keep your regular doctor's appointment so your progress can be monitored.
- If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with fluoxetine.
Can fluoxetine cause problems?
Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects, which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome.
| Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine | What can I do if I experience this |
| Feeling or being sick, diarrhoea | Eat little and often. Try simple foods such as dry toast and drink plenty of water to replace any lost fluids |
| Constipation | Try to eat a well-balanced diet containing plenty of fibre and drink 6-8 glasses of water each day |
| Dry mouth | Try chewing sugar-free gum, pieces of ice or sugar-free sweets |
| Headache | Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable pain-killer. If the headache continues, speak with your doctor |
| Sleepiness, dizziness (especially when standing or sitting up), weakness | Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert |
| Indigestion, abdominal pain, flushing, difficulty breathing, sore throat, chills, changes in taste, yawning, confusion, poor concentration, hair loss, reduced appetite, weight loss, joint or muscle pain, nervousness, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, shakiness, sexual difficulties, difficulty or frequency urinating (passing water), sweating, mood changes, and unusual movements | Speak with your doctor if any of these become troublesome |
Important: If you have any thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life whilst you are taking fluoxetine, tell your doctor straight away.
If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store fluoxetine
- Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Important information about all medicines
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References
- Manufacturer's PIL, Fluoxetine Capsules, Actavis UK Ltd, electronic Medicines Compendium. Revised March 2007, accessed 17 July 2008.
- Manufacturer's PIL, Prozac® Liquid, Eli Lilly and Company Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated June 2008, accessed 17 July 2008.
- British National Formulary; 55th Edition (March 2008) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (link to current BNF).
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