Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesBefore TakingDosageSide EffectsWarnings and Interactions

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Warnings and Interactions

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What is the most important information I should know about Prozac?You should not take Prozac if:you have recently taken or are currently taking an MAOI medication; oryou have a known hypersensitivity to fluoxetine or any other ingredients in Prozac.

What is the most important information I should know about Prozac?

You should not take Prozac if:you have recently taken or are currently taking an MAOI medication; oryou have a known hypersensitivity to fluoxetine or any other ingredients in Prozac.

You should not take Prozac if:

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a type of medication used to treat depression and depressive symptoms. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). SSRIs are also used to treat anxiety disorders including panic disorder, bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, among other conditions.

Prozac is also available in a generic formulation called fluoxetine HCL. It is available as a capsule, delayed-release capsule, tablet, and a solution.

Prozac Uses

The FDA approves Prozac for several mental illnesses and it is use off-label for several conditions.

Major Depressive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition, that occurs when a person experiences unwanted and recurrent thoughts. They typically also experience compulsions which are repetitive behaviors intended to help them deal with their obsessive thoughts.

Bulimia

Panic Disorder

Treatment-Resistant Depression

Prozac in combination with Zyprexa (olanzapine) has an indication for treatingtreatment-resistant depression.

Acute Depressive Episodes Associated With Bipolar 1 Disorder

The same Prozac/Zyprexa combination also has an indication for people who have depressive episodes as a result of bipolar 1 disorder.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Prozac is sometimes used to treat women who experience severe depressive symptoms just before their menstrual period begins.

Off-Label Uses

Before Taking Prozac

Before taking Prozac talk through the list of active and inactive ingredients with your doctor to ensure that you aren’t allergic to any ingredients in the medication.

Signs of an allergic reaction include rash, difficulty breathing and swelling of the face, tongue, or throat. If you suspect that you’re having an allergic reaction, get medical help immediately.

It’s a good rule of thumb to disclose to your doctor any other medication, vitamins, and supplements you might be taking to ensure they don’t interact with the medication prescribed to you. Taking medications or supplements that also increase serotonin levels can increase your risk of developing serotonin syndrome.

If you have a history of any other medical conditions, especially liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and other mental health conditions you should also discuss this with your doctor.

Precautions and Contraindications

If you become pregnant while already on Prozac disclose this to your doctor to figure out the next steps. If you are breastfeeding, discuss the risks and benefits of Prozac use with your doctor.

You shouldn’t discontinue Prozac without consulting your doctor as this might worsen your symptoms or cause a relapse. If your doctor asks you to discontinue Prozac suddenly, you might experience withdrawal symptoms like nausea and insomnia, although given Prozac’s long half-life, this is less common than with other antidepressants.

Prozac Dosages

However, the manufacturer of this medication typically recommends the following doses for these conditions.

Modifications

Children with major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are typically given an initial dose of 10 mg. Elderly people and people who have a hepatic impairment are also prescribed lower dosages.

While administering Prozac to pregnant women is avoided if possible, especially in their last trimester, your doctor might carefully weigh the pros and cons and decide to prescribe Prozac.

How to Take and Store

Prozac can be taken with or without food. It should be stored at room temperature and kept away from direct sunlight. Don’t store this medication in your bathroom because bathrooms tend to be moist which is not an ideal environment for storage.

Like with most SSRIs, it might take several weeks before you start seeing positive effects from Prozac. Don’t discontinue it even if you feel you aren’t getting better yet or if you feel you don’t need it anymore.

Side Effects of Prozac

Prozamight cause some side effects, these effects typically go away with time. However, if you experience persistent, bothersome, or worsening side effects, you should tell your doctor about it.

Common

Some common but mild side effects of using Prozac include:

Some of these symptoms will pass shortly after you start using the medication. However, if you experience any new side effects or if any old side effects start to worsen, then you should report it to your medical doctor.

Severe

Some people might experience more severe side effects while using Prozac. In rare cases, Prozac could also cause a rare condition known as serotonin syndrome, particularly if used in combination with other medications that impact serotonin.

This condition occurs when there’sexcessive serotoninin your body, and can cause symptoms of fever, nausea, hallucinations, agitation, and coordination problems.

If you suspect you are someone you know is showing signs of serotonin syndrome, contact your doctor immediately.

If you are on any monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) like Marplan, you shouldn’t be taking Prozac. Prozac is typically not prescribed to people who have been taking am MAOI for at least 14 days. MAOIs are also typically not prescribed to people who have been on Prozac or who have stopped taking Prozac less than five weeks before their consultation.

People with major depressive disorder who are already prone to experiencing suicidal thoughts might sometimes experience the development of suicidal thoughts or a worsening of suicidal thoughts while taking Prozac.

It’s important to watch out for any sudden or unusual changes in their behavior, especially during the first couple of months of use. Teenagers and young adults who are aged between 18 and 24 are particularly at risk.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus drug information.Fluoxetine.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.Harvard Health Publishing.Will Prozac help my premenstrual depression?.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).NPS Medicinewise.Prozac (Fluoxetine)Wenthur CJ, Bennett MR, Lindsley CW.Classics in chemical neuroscience: fluoxetine(Prozac).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2013;5(1):14-23.Additional ReadingU.S. Food and Drug Administration.Fluoxetine (marketed as Prozac) Information.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus drug information.Fluoxetine.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.Harvard Health Publishing.Will Prozac help my premenstrual depression?.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).NPS Medicinewise.Prozac (Fluoxetine)Wenthur CJ, Bennett MR, Lindsley CW.Classics in chemical neuroscience: fluoxetine(Prozac).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2013;5(1):14-23.Additional ReadingU.S. Food and Drug Administration.Fluoxetine (marketed as Prozac) Information.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

MedlinePlus drug information.Fluoxetine.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.Harvard Health Publishing.Will Prozac help my premenstrual depression?.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).NPS Medicinewise.Prozac (Fluoxetine)Wenthur CJ, Bennett MR, Lindsley CW.Classics in chemical neuroscience: fluoxetine(Prozac).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2013;5(1):14-23.

MedlinePlus drug information.Fluoxetine.

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Prozac (fluoxetine capsules) for oral use.

Harvard Health Publishing.Will Prozac help my premenstrual depression?.

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Fluoxetine (Prozac).

NPS Medicinewise.Prozac (Fluoxetine)

Wenthur CJ, Bennett MR, Lindsley CW.Classics in chemical neuroscience: fluoxetine(Prozac).ACS Chem Neurosci. 2013;5(1):14-23.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Fluoxetine (marketed as Prozac) Information.

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