• Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and an antidepressant
• Fluoxetine works by affecting the chemicals in the brains of those with depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms
• Fluoxetine is used to treat: Major Depressive Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
• Sometimes, fluoxetine is used in conjunction with olanzapine to treat manic depression caused by bipolar disorder. This combination is used after at least 2 other medications have been tried without success.
• If you also take olanzapine, do be aware of olanzapine guidelines, patient warnings, and side effects

• Always follow the medication guidelines, your doctor's instructions, and your dosage amount instructions exactly
• Do not crush/break/chew/open a delayed-release capsule
• Measure liquid medication with dosing device provided
• Usual dosing for PDD is is once daily during your period, or 14 days before your period begins; consult with your doctor
• It may take 4 weeks for symptoms to improve; keep using fluoxetine as directed
• Inform your doctor if symptoms do not improve
• Do not stop taking fluoxetine suddenly; it may cause withdrawal symptoms
• Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat
• If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible, but if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose
• Do not take more than one dose at once
• If you miss a dose of Prozac Weekly, take the missed dose as soon as possible, but take the next dose 7 days later; however, if it is almost time for the weekly dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed

Always inform your doctor of all known medications, medical conditions, and allergies prior to taking a new drug, including over-the-counter drugs, herbs, supplements, and vitamins.

General precautions:

• Be aware of your mood or symptoms; some young people report thoughts of suicide when they first begin an antidepressant
• Be cautious when driving or operating machinery
• Report worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood/behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep troubles, impulsiveness, irritability, agitation, hostility, aggression, restlessness, increased depression, thoughts of suicide, thoughts of self-harm
• Fluoxetine is not approved for use of those under 18 years of age
• During pregnancy, fluoxetine may cause serious lung problems and complications to the baby

Inform your doctor if you:

• Use other antidepressants
• Have cirrhosis of the liver
• Have kidney disease
• Have diabetes
• Have narrow-angle glaucoma
• Experience seizures or epilepsy
• Have bipolar disorder (manic depression)
• Have a history of drug abuse and suicidal ideation
• Are being treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Are pregnant, breastfeed, or plan to

Do not use this medication if you:

• Are allergic to it
• Used a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days
• Also take pimozide, thioridazine, or methylene blue injection

Drug interactions:

• Some medications may interact with fluoxetine and cause serotonin syndrome, a serious condition
• Other antidepressants may interact with fluoxetine
• St. John's Wort
• trytophan/L-trytophan
• Blood thinner medications
• Medications that treat anxiety, mood disorder, thought disorder, or other mental illness
• Medications that treat ADHD and narcolepsy
• Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin
• Migraine medication
• Narcotic painkillers
• Do not take this medication if you have taken a MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days
• If you stop taking fluoxetine, you must also wait before you can take MAO inhibitors again; consult your physician for guidance

Please note that the precautionary information, interactions, and side effects listed on this webpage are not exhaustive. Other effects may occur. Please consult with your doctor about the relevance of this information to your personal case.

Always inform your doctor of all known medications, medical conditions, and allergies prior to taking a new drug, including over-the-counter drugs, herbs, supplements, and vitamins.

Occasionally, some young people will report thoughts of suicide when they first begin an antidepressant. 

Common side effects:

• Insomnia, strange dreams
• Headache, vision changes, dizziness
• Tremors, anxiety
• Pain, weakness, fatigue
• Upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Sweating, dry mouth, hot flashes
• Congestion, sinus pain, flu symptoms, sore throat
• Decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, difficulty achieving orgasm

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as: rash, hives, difficulty breathing, swellign of face/lips/tongue/throat
• Blurred or tunnel vision, eye pain, eye swelling, seeing halos around lights
• Symptoms of excessive serotonin, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, rapid heartrate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting
• Symptoms of low sodium: headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, loss of coordination, unbalanced, severe weakness
• Stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, uneven/rapid heart rate, dizziness/fainting, tremors
• Symptoms of a serious skin reaction; fever, sore throat, swelling on face/tongue, burning in eyes, pain on skin, followed by red/purple rash that spreads and causes blisters and peeling
• Thoughts of suicide, hurting yourself, or hurting someone else

Inform your doctor if you experience:

• Worsening of symptoms, such as: mood/behavior changes, anxiety, trouble sleeping, panic attacks, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, restlessness, thoughts of suicide

Please note that the precautionary information, interactions, and side effects listed on this webpage are not exhaustive. Other effects may occur. Please consult with your doctor about the relevance of this information to your personal case.