How should this medicine be used?
Fluoxetine comes as a capsule, tablet, and liquid to take
by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day and may be
taken with or without food. Follow the directions on your
prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or
pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take
fluoxetine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it
or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Fluoxetine oral liquid comes with a specially marked
dropper for measuring the dose. Ask your pharmacist to show
you how to use the dropper. Dilute the liquid in 4 ounces (120
ml) of water, apple juice, or Gatorade just before taking it.
Continue to take fluoxetine even if you feel well. Do not
stop taking fluoxetine without talking to your doctor,
especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Your
doctor probably will want to decrease your dose gradually.
This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its
full effect is felt.
Other uses for this medicine
Fluoxetine also is used occasionally to treat alcoholism,
some eating disorders, attention-deficit disorders, borderline
personality disorders, sleep disorders, headaches,
premenstrual syndrome, irregular heartbeat, schizophrenia,
Tourette's syndrome, anxiety, and phobias. Talk to your doctor
about the possible risks of using this drug for your
condition.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking fluoxetine,
* tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to
fluoxetine or any other drugs.
* tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and
nonprescription drugs you are taking or have taken within the
last 2 weeks, especially anticoagulants [warfarin (Coumadin)];
antidepressants; antihistamines; antipsychotics such as
haloperidol (Haldol) or clozapine (Clozaril); buspirone (BuSpar);
carbamazepine (Tegretol); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
levodopa (Larodopa, Sinemet); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
MAO inhibitors [phenelzine (Nardil); medication for anxiety,
diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, Parkinson's disease,
asthma, colds, or allergies; muscle relaxants; phenytoin (Dilantin);
phentermine; pimozide (Orap); sedatives; sleeping pills;
sumatriptan (Imitrex); thioridazine (Mellaril); thyroid
medications; tranylcypromine (Parnate)]; tranquilizers;
tryptophan; and vitamins. You should not take phenelzine (Nardil),
tranylcypromine (Parnate), or thioridazine until at least 5
weeks after you stop taking fluoxetine.
* tell your doctor if you have or have ever had glaucoma, an
enlarged prostate, difficulty urinating, seizures, diabetes,
an overactive thyroid gland, or liver or heart disease.
* tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become
pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while
taking fluoxetine, call your doctor immediately.
* if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell
the doctor or dentist that you are taking fluoxetine.
* you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not
drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug
affects you.
* remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by
this drug.
* tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette
smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you take several doses per day, take the missed dose as
soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that
day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if it is almost time
for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your
regular dosing schedule.
If you take fluoxetine once a day at bedtime and do not
remember to take it until the next morning, skip the missed
dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Side effects from fluoxetine are common:
* upset stomach
* drowsiness
* weakness or tiredness
* excitement or anxiety
* insomnia
* nightmares
* dry mouth
* skin more sensitive to sunlight than usual
* changes in appetite or weight
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do
not go away:
* constipation
* difficulty urinating
* frequent urination
* blurred vision
* changes in sex drive or ability
* excessive sweating
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call
your doctor immediately:
* jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
* slow or difficult speech
* shuffling walk
* persistent, fine tremor or inability to sit still
* fever, chills, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms
* difficulty breathing or swallowing
* severe skin rash or hives
* yellowing of the skin or eyes
* irregular heartbeat
