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Drug Uses
Fluoxetine is employed as part of a treatment program for depression and premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, as well as bulimia nervosa, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and various other syndromes. It is a psychotropic medication which is usually intended for oral administration. As part of a drug class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it influences and regulates the amount of certain chemicals within the patient’s brain.
How to Take Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine is normally ingested once or twice per day, usually at the same approximate times each day. As a treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder, the regular dose of the drug is once a day during your period, or at least two weeks before you anticipate your monthly period. It should take about a month before you actually feel the benefits of the drug, but its effects can last for approximately nine months following a three-month therapy. As a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, its full benefits may be obtained after five weeks of regular intake.
Drug Precautions
You may develop suicidal tendencies after initial use of Fluoxetine, particularly if you are below 24 years of age. Your treatment should be monitored by a physician, at least for the first three months of using the antidepressant. The drug may cause severe or life-threatening lung disorders in a newborn infant if the mother takes it during her pregnancy, although there is a possibility that the depression will worsen if you discontinue its use. If you are planning on conceiving, do not discontinue it without prior medical advice to do so.
Drug Interactions
Medications which are administered for arthritis, inflammation, and pain management may interact with Fluoxetine in such a way that you may incur a tendency to bleed and bruise more often. Such drugs include nabumetone, etodolac, aspirin, piroxicam, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac. Other medications can also influence the potency of Fluoxetine: vinblastine, tryptophan, digitoxin, and alprazolam; haloperidol, clozapine, phenytoin and carbamazepine, flecainide, and blood thinners like warfarin; frovatriptan, sumatriptan, rizatriptan, almotriptan, naratriptan, and zolmitriptan; and other antidepressants with similar potencies.
Side Effects
If you notice the presence or development of any abnormal symptoms, such as inability to sleep, impulsiveness, depression, mental and physical hyperactivity, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, panic attacks, agitation, hostility, or suicidal tendency, seek medical advice at once. If you develop an allergy, or if you incur convulsive episodes, blisters, muscle spasms, coordination problems, or a rapid heartbeat, seek medical help immediately.
Missed Dose
Fluoxetine doses are usually taken once a day. If you miss an intake, make sure that you make up for it well within the 24-hour intervals between doses. Otherwise, skip the dose completely and take the next one as scheduled.
Overdose
An intake of Fluoxetine which exceeds the prescribed amount can be fatal, and combining it with other medications can cause symptoms similar to an overdose. If you suspect that you have taken too much of the drug, seek for medical aid immediately.
Storage
Store Fluoxitine in a dry area, within normal room temperatures.
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