General Information on Prozac
Prozac is a brand name medication containing the active ingredient Fluoxetine. It is a drug that belongs to the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This drug affects chemical in brain that are either unbalanced or cause depression, pain and anxiety.
Prozac is used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, major depressive disorders and panic disorder.
Prozac is used along with olanzapine to treat depression that is caused by bipolar or manic depression.
You require a valid prescription from your doctor to buy Prozac online.
Side effects of Prozac
The patient should get an immediate medical help if the following allergic reaction signs occurs with use of Prozac:
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Anxiety, pain attacks, or restless
- Severe peeling, blistering and red skin rash
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of coordination
-
- Swelling of mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat
- Memory problems, hallucinations, seizure and fainting
Less serious Prozac side effects are :
- Cold symptoms like sneezing, sore throat, stuffy nose
- Dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness
- Mild nausea, constipation, stomach upset
- Weight changes, increased appetite
- Insomnia
- Impotence, decreased sex drive, difficulty having an orgasm
- Dry mouth
Side effects of Prozac categorized by body system include :
- Genitourinary system – sexual dysfunction, clitoral enlargement, prolonged penile erection
- Psychiatric – hypomania, transient psychosis, paranoid reactions and delusions
- Central nervous system – headache, anxiety, insomnia, tremor, fatigue, dizziness and jitteriness
- Cardiovascular – bradycardia and hypotension
- Gastrointestinal – upper GI bleeding, nausea, constipation, stomatitis
- Hematologic – increased bleeding times, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, epistaxis
- Dermatologic – severe hair loss, excessive sweating, alopecia
- Ocular – provokes reversible narrow-angle glaucoma
- Hepatic – hepatotoxicity and asymptomatic increase in values of liver enzymes
Dosage of Prozac
Prozac has to be taken as prescribed by doctor since the dose will be changed to achieve best results. However, intake of smaller or larger amounts should be avoided. The instructions on the prescription label are to be followed.
The extended-release capsule of Prozac is not to be crushed, chewed, or opened. It should be swallowed whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of this drug released at a time.
It may take 21 days or longer for patient to feel better. This drug should be taken with the advice of the doctor.
For treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder, the usual dose of Prozac is Prozac 20mg once daily, 14 days before commencement of periods.
In case of a missed dose, the patient can take it as soon as he or she remembers. However, two doses of this drug must not be taken together, as it may lead to an overdose. An overdose of Prozac may lead to nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, coma, seizure, fainting and rapid heartbeat.
Prozac is to be avoided during pregnancy. It harms the fetus and is excreted in breast milk.
Alcohol should be totally avoided while taking this medication, because it can impair patient’s thinking.
Interactions
A total of 784 drugs covering 4512 brand and generic names are known to interact with Prozac out of which 202 are major, 545 moderate and 37 minor. It is best to check with your doctor about taking common medications in combination with this drug.
