What is Generic Prozac (Fluoxetine)?
Generic Prozac is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Generic Prozac affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
What is Generic Prozac (Fluoxetine) used for?
Generic Prozac is used to treat major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder) obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Prozac may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Generic Prozac (Fluoxetine) Facts
Active Ingredients: fluoxetine hydrochloride.
Other Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, crospovidone, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, and yellow iron oxide.
Class and Mechanism: The mechanism of action of fluoxetine is unknown. It is widely believed to work by inhibiting CNS reuptake of serotonin. Recent research indicates that fluoxetine may increase the production of new neurons (brain cells) in adult brain (adult neurogenesis) and that it interacts with the system of "clock genes",the transcription factors involved in drug abuse and possibly obesity.
Generic Prozac (Fluoxetine) Storage
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
How to take Generic Prozac (Fluoxetine)?
Generic Prozac should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Take Prozac tablets or capsules by mouth. Swallow with a drink of water. You can take Prozac with or without food. Do not break, chew, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.
Prozac 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.
If OVERDOSE: 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. Common symptoms of Prozac overdose include: nausea, rapid heartbeat, seizures, sleepiness, vomiting. Other symptoms of Prozac overdose include: coma, delirium, fainting, high fever, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, mania, rigid muscles, sweating, stupor.
What to do if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
If you miss a dose of Prozac Weekly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember and take the next dose 7 days later. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled weekly dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Who should not take Generic Prozac (Fluoxetine)?
Do not take Generic Prozac (fluoxetine) if you are allergic to fluoxetine or any other medications.
Do not take fluoxetine if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks. Do not take fluoxetine with thioridazine (Mellaril).
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you or anyone in your family has thought about or attempted suicide. Also tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack and if you have or have ever had diabetes, seizures, or liver or heart disease.
You should know that fluoxetine may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
FOR WOMEN: The effects of Prozac during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. This medication appears in breast milk, and breastfeeding is not recommended while you are taking Prozac.
What side effects may occur?
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: nervousness; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; upset stomach; dry mouth; sore throat; drowsiness; weakness; shaking hands that you cannot control; loss of appetite; weight loss; changes in sex drive or ability; excessive sweating.
Some side effects can be serious.
The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them call your doctor immediately: skin rash; hives; fever; joint pain; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; difficulty breathing or swallowing; seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating); seizure.
Generic Prozac (Fluoxetine) Drug Interactions
Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others. Taking any of these drugs with Prozac may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Before taking Prozac, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines: alprazolam (Xanax); clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo); digitoxin (Crystodigin); flecainide (Tambocor); haloperidol (Haldol); seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or carbamazepine (Tegretol); tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan); vinblastine (Velban); a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), or sertraline (Zoloft).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Prozac, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Prozac. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Additional Information
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication.
Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
