Generic Prozac

Brand name:Prozac
Pronounced: PRO-zak
Generic name: Fluoxetine hydrochloride

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Why is Generic Prozac prescribed?

Prozac is prescribed for the treatment of depression--that is, a continuing depression that interferes with daily functioning. The symptoms of major depression often include changes in appetite, sleep habits, and mind/body coordination; decreased sex drive; increased fatigue; feelings of guilt or worthlessness; difficulty concentrating; slowed thinking; and suicidal thoughts.

Prozac is also prescribed to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. An obsession is a thought that won't go away; a compulsion is an action done over and over to relieve anxiety. Fluoxetine is also used in the treatment of bulimia (binge-eating followed by deliberate vomiting). It has also been used to treat other eating disorders and obesity.

Under the brand name Sarafem, the active ingredient in Prozac is also prescribed for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), formerly known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms of PMDD include mood problems such as anxiety, depression, irritability or persistent anger, mood swings, and tension. Physical problems that accompany PMDD include bloating, breast tenderness, headache, and joint and muscle pain. Symptoms typically begin 1 to 2 weeks before a woman's menstrual period and are severe enough to interfere with day-to-day activities and relationships.

Fluoxetine is a member of the family of drugs called "selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors." Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers believed to govern moods. Ordinarily, it is quickly reabsorbed after its release at the junctures between nerves. Re-uptake inhibitors such as Prozac slow this process, thereby boosting the levels of serotonin available in the brain.

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Most important fact about Generic Prozac

Serious, sometimes fatal, reactions have been known to occur when Prozac is used in combination with other antidepressant drugs known as MAO inhibitors, including Nardil and Parnate; and when Prozac is discontinued and an MAO inhibitor is started. Never take Fluoxetine with one of these drugs or within at least 14 days of discontinuing therapy with one of them; and allow 5 weeks or more between stopping Prozac and starting an MAO inhibitor. Be especially cautious if you have been taking Prozac in high doses or for a long time.

If you are taking any prescription or nonprescription drugs, notify your doctor before taking Fluoxetine.

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How should you take Generic Prozac?

Prozac should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Fluoxetine usually is taken once or twice a day. To be effective, it should be taken regularly. Make a habit of taking it at the same time you do some other daily activity.

It may be 4 weeks before you feel any relief from your depression, but the drug's effects should last about 9 months after a 3-month treatment regimen. For obsessive-compulsive disorder, the full effect may take 5 weeks to appear.

-- If you miss a dose…

Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember. If several hours have passed, skip the dose. Never try to "catch up" by doubling the dose.

-- Storage instructions…

Store at room temperature.

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What side effects may occur?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Fluoxetine.

More common side effects may include:
Abnormal dreams, abnormal ejaculation, agitation, amnesia, anxiety, bronchitis, changeable emotions, chills, confusion, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), cough, decreased sex drive, diarrhea, dilated pupils, dizziness, drowsiness and fatigue, dry eyes, dry mouth, ear pain, flu symptoms, frequent urination, gas, headache, hemorrhage, high blood pressure, impotence, inability to fall or stay asleep, increased appetite, indigestion, intolerance of light, itching, lack or loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness, rash, ringing in the ears, sinus or nasal inflammation, sore throat, sweating, taste alterations, tremors, vision problems, vomiting, weakness, weight gain, yawning

Less common side effects may include:
Abnormal gait, abnormal stoppage of menstrual flow, acne, apathy, arthritis, asthma, bone pain, breast pain, brief loss of consciousness, bursitis, chills and fever, convulsions, dark, tarry stool, difficulty in swallowing, exaggerated feeling of well-being, facial swelling due to fluid retention, fever, fluid retention, hair loss, hallucinations, hiccups, hives, hostility, infection, inflammation of the esophagus, inflammation of the stomach lining, inflammation of the tongue, involuntary movement, irrational ideas, irregular heartbeat, lack of muscle coordination, low blood pressure upon standing, migraine headache, mouth inflammation, muscle spasm, nosebleed, paranoid reaction, pelvic pain, rapid breathing, rapid or throbbing heartbeat, sensitivity to light, severe chest pain, skin inflammation, skin rash, thirst, tooth problems, twitching, uncoordinated movements, urinary disorders, vague feeling of bodily discomfort, vertigo, vision disturbances, vomiting, weight loss

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Rare side effects may include:
Antisocial behavior, belching, bleeding gums, blood clots, blood in urine, bloody diarrhea, breast enlargement, bruising, coma, deafness, decreased reflexes, dehydration, delusions, diabetes, double vision, duodenal ulcer, enlargement of liver, enlargement or increased activity of thyroid gland, excess growth of coarse hair on face, chest, etc., excess uterine or vaginal bleeding, eye bleeding, female milk production, fluid buildup in larynx and lungs, gallstones, glaucoma, gout, heart attack, heart failure, hepatitis, high blood sugar, inability to control bowel movements, increased salivation, inflammation of eyes and eyelids, inflammation of fallopian tubes, inflammation of the intestines, inflammation of tissue below skin, irregular heartbeat, kidney disorders, leg cramps, low blood pressure, menstrual disorders, miscarriage, mouth sores, muscle inflammation, muscle spasms, weakness, or disease, psoriasis, rashes, reddish or purplish spots on the skin, reduction of body temperature, rheumatoid arthritis, salivation, seborrhea, shingles, skin discoloration, skin inflammation and disorders, slowing of heart rate, slurred speech, spitting blood, stomach and intestinal hemorrhage, stomach ulcer, stroke, stupor, suicidal thoughts, taste loss, temporary cessation of breathing, tingling sensation around the mouth, tongue swelling, urinary tract disorders, vomiting blood

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Why should Generic Prozac not be prescribed?

If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to Prozac or similar drugs such as Paxil and Zoloft, you should not take this medication. Make sure that your doctor is aware of any drug reactions that you have experienced.

Do not take Fluoxetine while using an MAO inhibitor. (See "Most important fact about this drug.")

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Special warnings about Generic Prozac

Unless you are directed to do so by your doctor, do not take this medication if you are recovering from a heart attack or if you have liver disease or diabetes.

Prozac may cause you to become drowsy or less alert and may affect your judgment. Therefore, driving or operating dangerous machinery or participating in any hazardous activity that requires full mental alertness is not recommended.

While taking this medication, you may feel dizzy or light-headed or actually faint when getting up from a lying or sitting position. If getting up slowly doesn't help or if this problem continues, notify your doctor.

If you develop a skin rash or hives while taking Fluoxetine, discontinue use of the medication and notify your doctor immediately.

Prozac should be used with caution if you have a history of seizures. You should discuss all of your medical conditions with your doctor before taking Fluoxetine.

The safety and effectiveness of Prozac have not been established in children

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Possible food and drug interactions
Combining Prozac with MAO inhibitors is dangerous.

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication.

If Prozac is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Fluoxetine with the following:

- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Clozapine (Clozaril)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Digitoxin (Crystodigin)
- Drugs that impair brain function, such as Xanax
- Flecainide (Tambocor)
- Haloperidol (Haldol)
- Lithium (Eskalith)
- Other antidepressants (Elavil)
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Pimozide (Orap)
- Tryptophan
- Vinblastine (Velban)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)

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Special information
The effects of Prozac during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Fluoxetine appears in breast milk, and breastfeeding is not recommended while you are taking Prozac.

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Recommended dosage

ADULTS

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The usual starting dose is 20 milligrams per day, taken in the morning. Your doctor may increase your dose after several weeks if no improvement is observed. People with kidney or liver disease, the elderly, and those taking other drugs may have their dosages adjusted by their doctor.
Dosages above 20 milligrams daily should be taken once a day in the morning or in 2 smaller doses taken in the morning and at noon.

The usual daily dose for depression ranges from 20 to 60 milligrams. For obsessive-compulsive disorder the customary range is 20 to 60 milligrams per day, though a maximum of 80 milligrams is sometimes prescribed. For bulimia nervosa, the usual dose is 60 milligrams, taken in the morning. Your doctor may have you start with less and build up to this dosage. The usual dose for premenstrual dysphoric disorder is 20 milligrams a day.

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If you are taking a 20-milligram daily dose of Prozac for depression, the doctor may switch you to a delayed-release formulation called Prozac Weekly. To make the change, you'll be asked to skip your daily dose for 7 days, then take your first weekly capsule.

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Overdosage

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.

Symptoms of Generic Prozac overdose include:
Nausea, rapid hearbeat, seizures, sleepiness, vomiting