Uses:
Fluoxetine is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and bulimia (binge eating and purging). Fluoxetine is also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms of which occur in the week or two before a woman's menstrual period and commonly include irritability, mood swings, and tension as well as the physical symptoms of bloating and breast tenderness.

Do not stop taking fluoxetine without first talking to your doctor. It may take several weeks before you to start feeling better.

How To Take This Medication:
Take each dose with water. • To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the oral solution with a dose-measuring cup or spoon, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. • Fluoxetine may be taken with or without food. • Try to take fluoxetine at the same time each day. • Take Fluoxetine weekly on the same day each week as directed by your doctor. • Do not stop taking fluoxetine without first talking to your doctor. It may take several weeks before you to start feeling better. • Take fluoxetine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. • Store fluoxetine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Who Should Not Take Fluoxetine:

• Patients with kidney or liver disorders should consult with a physician before beginning.
• Patients who are currently taking or have stopped within the last 14 days taking MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have occurred when these medicines have been used together. Also, do not take fluoxetine if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril). Dangerous, even fatal irregular heartbeats may occur if these medicines are taken together. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine before taking thioridazine (Mellaril). • Before taking fluoxetine, tell your doctor if you · have liver disease, · have kidney disease, · have diabetes, · suffer from seizures, or · suffer from mania or have suicidal thoughts. • You may not be able to take fluoxetine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. • Fluoxetine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether fluoxetine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take fluoxetine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. • Fluoxetine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take fluoxetine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Side Effects:
The most common side effects of Prozac® include effects on sleep and eating habits. Some patients are made drowsy while others experience insomnia. Some patients have an increased appetite while others have a decreased appetite. In clinical trials, these side effects were mild and decreased as the patient continues treatment. Talk to your physician if these side effects are bothersome.

Drug Interactions:
Do not take fluoxetine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have occurred when these medicines have been used together. Also, do not take fluoxetine if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril). Dangerous, even fatal irregular heartbeats may occur if these medicines are taken together. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine before taking thioridazine (Mellaril). • Before taking fluoxetine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: · a benzodiazepine including diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others; · a tricyclic antidepressant including amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others; · St. John's wort; · a phenothiazine including chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), and others; · lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others) or haloperidol (Haldol); · sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); · carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin); · warfarin (Coumadin); or · digoxin (Lanoxin). • You may not be able to take fluoxetine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above. • Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with fluoxetine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

If You Take Too Much:
Seek emergency medical attention. • Symptoms of a fluoxetine overdose include nausea, vomiting, tremor, agitation, seizures, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and enlarged pupils.

Missed Dosage:
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Storage:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.