Prozac and/or Equivalents
| Drug | Related Drug Names |
|---|---|
| Prozac 10mg and/or Equivalents | Fluoxetine, Mylan-Fluoxetine, Prozac |
| Prozac 20mg and/or Equivalents | Fluoxetine, Mylan-Fluoxetine, Prozac |
| Prozac 40mg and/or Equivalents | Fluoxetine |
| Prozac 60mg and/or Equivalents | Fluoxetine |
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Prozac Description
Prozac is the brand name of a drug, which is mostly used as an anti-depressant. The main component of Prozac is fluoxetine. The drug is used to treat symptoms like depression (including depression among children), bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, etc. The drug belongs to the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) class.
The drug works by affecting the chemicals in the brain. It is widely used to treat the above-mentioned symptoms although newer drugs with more or less the same composition have been launched. The drug is manufactured and distributed by Eli Lilly and Company. The drug is available in white colored pellets as well as in a liquid form. Prozac should be stored away from heat and moisture, at room temperature and should be kept away from the reach of children and pets.
Conditions treated by Prozac
The drug is widely used by doctors and pharmacists as an anti-depressant. The drug is used to treat the following symptoms.
- Major depression in both adults as well as children
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Bulimia nervosa
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
The drug is sometimes administered along with another medicine called Zyprexa, which mostly contains olanzapine. The combination of these two drugs is used to treat patients diagnosed with symptoms of depression caused due to bipolar disease or manic depression. The combination is also administered in cases where just one medicine has not been able to give favorable results.
Prozac Dosage information
a.) Typical Dosage Recommendations
Prozac should not be taken without the advice and recommendation of a physician. It is advisable to take the medicine as per the doctor’s prescriptions. The drug should be swallowed with sufficient amount of water and should not be chewed or bit. If you are taking the liquid form of the medicine, make sure that the medicine is measured in a measuring cup and not in a household spoon or cup. The liquid form should be taken as per the doctor’s prescriptions. Doctors usually administer around 20-80mg of this medicine daily to adults and 10-20 mg daily for children. It normally takes about four weeks for the drug to start showing its effects. In case you feel unwell or face any adverse effects after taking this drug, inform your doctor at once. Do not discontinue the use of this drug without seeking your doctor’s permission.
b.) Missing a Dose
If you have realized that you have missed a dose of this drug, make sure you have the missed dose as soon as you remember about it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose of the medicine, you should wait for the next dose and skip the missed dose. There should be a considerable time gap of at least two hours between two doses of the medicine.
In case you have missed a weekly dose of this medicine, make sure you take the missed dose as soon as you remember about it. Take the next dose of the medicine after 7 days. Make sure that there is a gap of 7 days in the weekly doses of Prozac. Never take an extra dose of this drug to make up for the missed dose.
c.) Overdosing
Inform your doctor as soon as possible in case of overdosing of this medicine. Overdosing can cause nausea, respiratory problems, sleepiness, fever, vomiting, fainting, uneven heartbeat, coma, seizures and even coma.
Prozac Warnings
A lot of things need to be kept in mind before taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you are following from the following conditions:
- In case you are allergic to any substance or any drug
- If you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy
- If you are suffering from cirrhosis of liver
- If you have a history of bipolar disorder
- If you have been having suicidal thoughts or tendencies recently
- If you are diabetic
- If you are a patient of epilepsy or suffer from seizures
Apart from the above mentioned medical conditions, also inform your doctor if you are taking drugs which contain any of the following chemicals- thioridazine, pimozide, tranylcypromine, rasagiline, etc. In case you are pregnant or have become pregnant while on this medication, do not stop taking the drug without prior consultation of your doctor. The doctor will be able to give you the best help of how to discontinue this drug in case of a pregnancy. The medicine is not suitable during pregnancy or lactating mothers as it can cause harm to the infant. The drug can get passed onto breast milk tfgherefore, it is not recommended to take this drug during pregnancy.
There have been cases where patients have reported as been suffering from suicidal thoughts and tendencies after being administered with this drug. Therefore, if you have such thoughts after taking this drug, report to your doctor immediately.
Prozac Side effects
The drug has the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions like swelling up of the face, mouth, tongue or lips, skin rash, difficulty in breathing normally
- Behavioral changes- mood swings, panic attacks, anxiety, suicidal tendencies or thoughts, depression, hyperactivity, agitation, etc.
- Severe blisters and peeling of the skin
- Vomiting
- diarrhea
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- Decrease in sex drive, trouble in achieving an orgasm, impotence
- Feeling of dryness in mouth
- Insomnia
- Symptoms of flu and cold- runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, etc.
Possible Drug interactions with Prozac
Prozac can interact with quite a lot of drugs. It is therefore very important to clearly discuss your complete and detailed medical history with your doctor. Inform your doctor if you are already taking medicines for arthritis, fever, pain or swelling. Taking Prozac along with these drugs may cause bleeding. Inform your doctor if you are taking any drugs that make you feel sleepy like drugs for cold, allergy, anxiety, seizures, and muscle relaxers. Having these types of medicines along with Prozac will make you sleepier. Drugs that may have side effects when after interaction with Prozac include:
If you have any questions about buying discount Prozac online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.
Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Prozac and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information
