Common use
Prozac is used to treat major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder), obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.
Prozac is sometimes used together with another medication called olanzapine (Zyprexa) to treat manic depression caused by bipolar disorder. This combination is also used to treat depression after at least 2 other medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.
Dosage and direction
Take Prozac exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not crush, chew, break, or open a Prozac capsule. Swallow the capsule whole. It may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve. Do not stop using Prozac suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.
Precautions
To make sure Prozac is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: cirrhosis of the liver; urination problems; diabetes; narrow-angle glaucoma; seizures or epilepsy; sexual problems; bipolar disorder (manic depression); drug abuse or suicidal thoughts; or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Ask your doctor about taking this medicine if you are pregnant. Taking an SSRI antidepressant during late pregnancy may cause serious medical complications in the baby. If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor if you notice agitation, fussiness, feeding problems, or poor weight gain in the nursing baby.
Contraindications
You should not use Prozac if you are allergic to fluoxetine, if you also take pimozide or thioridazine.
Do not use Prozac if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you take fluoxetine. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine before you can take thioridazine or an MAOI.
Possible side effect
Common side effects of Prozac may include: sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams; headache, dizziness, drowsiness, vision changes; tremors or shaking, feeling anxious or nervous; pain, weakness, yawning, tired feeling; upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; dry mouth, sweating, hot flashes; changes in weight or appetite; stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat, flu symptoms; or decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
Drug interaction
Tell your doctor about all other antidepressants you take, especially Celexa, Cymbalta, Desyrel, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Oleptro, Paxil, Pexeva, Symbyax, Viibryd, or Zoloft.
Ask your doctor before taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. Using an NSAID with Prozac may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Missed dose
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention.
Storage
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep away from children.
