Fluoxetine (Generic)

Fluoxetine can restore the balance of natural chemicals in the brain to treat depression, eating disorder (bulimia), OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).

Fluoxetine should be taken daily, with or without food. The dosage and individual instructions will depend on your condition and the way your body responds to therapy.

Take Fluoxetine as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking the medication without prior medical consult, even if the symptoms have decreased. It might take up to a month for Fluoxetine to have its full effect.

DO NOT use the medication if you are allergic to it. If you experience any symptoms associated with allergies such as difficulty breathing, hives, swollen tongue etc., stop using the medication and seek urgent medical help.

Contact a medical specialist immediately if you experience any of the following: lack of appetite; severe weight loss; mood swings; tremors; decreased sex desire; fly symptoms such as muscle pain; weakness and chills; sight problems; difficulty swallowing; white patches or swelling in your mouth or tongue; painful and much longer erections; fainting; uneven heartbeat.

Common side effects of using Fluoxetine include nausea, insomnia, headache, sleepiness, perspiration and upset stomach.

Tell your doctor about your medical history, especially if you have high blood pressure, highly active thyroid, diabetes, glaucoma or emotional disorders, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Combining Fluoxetine with alcohol may cause dizziness.

In case of a suspected overdose (nausea, seizures, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, restlessness and loss of consciousness), contact your local emergency room or poison control center.

The medication is not intended for use by children. Contact your doctor for more information.

Combining Fluoxetine with certain medications may lead to fatal results. Do not take MAO inhibitors within 2 weeks and thioridazine within 5 weeks before or after the treatment.

It is not recommended to combine Fluoxetine with weight loss medicine (phentermine, sibutramine), thioridazine, astemizole and terfenadine. Tell your doctor of all prescription and non-prescription drugs you are taking, especially: SSRI antidepressants (citalopram, sertraline), trazodone, nefazodone, venlafaxine, tramadol, "triptan" migraine drugs (sumatriptan, zolmitriptan), tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline), flecainide, haloperidol, propafenone, lithium, clozapine, tryptophan, blood thinners (warfarin), anti-seizure drugs (phenytoin/hydantoins, carbamazepine), herbal/natural products (St John's wort, ayahuasca), medications that case drowsiness such as sleeping pills, tranquilizers, anti-anxiety medications, painkillers (codeine), psychiatric medicine, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, pimozide, dofetilide, sotalol, procainamide, quinidine, sparfloxacin, "water pills". Consult your doctor if you are taking any anti-diabetes drugs, as their dosage might have to be adjusted.

If you have missed your dose of Fluoxetine, make sure to take it as soon as possible. However, two doses should never be taken at the same time, so if the time for the next dose has almost come, DO NOT take the dose you have missed.

Fluoxetine should be stored at room temperatures between 59°F and 86°F (15°C and 30°C) away from moisture and light, out of reach of children and pets.