The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that using Prozac is safe or appropriate for you.

Brand Name: Prozac

Generic Name: fluoxetine

What is Prozac used for? Prozac is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Fluoxetine is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). 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.

FDA Warnings for Prozac: The FDA issued a public health alert for Prozac in March 2004 warning that Prozac can lead to deeper depression and suicide. The FDA recommends that health care providers warn patients, their families and their caregivers to be alert for agitation, irritability, suicide and worsening depression while using fluoxetine. The FDA also recommends that health care providers closely monitor adult and children treated with fluoxetine for worsening of depression or suicidal tendencies, especially at the beginning of therapy or when the dose either increases or decreases.

The FDA issued a Public Health Advisory in October 2003 about increased reports of suicidal thinking, suicide attempts, hostility and self-harm in children using Prozac. The FDA urges that Prozac be used with caution in children. It should be noted that in clinical trials, only Prozac (fluoxetine) has been found effective for children.

General Prozac Precautions:
_ Prozac may cause dizziness. If you experience dizziness, avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities.
_ Rise slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position to prevent dizziness or possible falls.
_ Do not take Prozac if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction can occur if fluoxetine is combined with MAO inhibitors.
_ Dangerous, even fatal, irregular heartbeats may occur if fluoxetine is taken with thioridazine. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine before taking thioridazine.
_ Tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Prozac if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
_ It is not known whether Prozac will harm an unborn baby or a nursing baby.
_ Prozac may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients using fluoxetine should exercise caution until they have adapted to therapy.
_ If you skip the missed dose and take only the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose. Overdose is possible.

Prozac can cause serious side effects. Only you can decide if Prozac is the best means of treating depression symptoms. It is important for people currently taking Prozac to discuss side effect concerns with their physician.

Prozac Side Effects:
_ Agitation.
_ Irritability.
_ Deepened depression.
_ Increased risk of suicide.
_ Nausea.
_ Weakness.
_ Drowsiness.
_ Anxiety.
_ Nervousness.
_ Insomnia or sleeplessness.
_ Nightmares.
_ Dry mouth.
_ Changes in appetite or weight.
_ Headache.
_ Constipation or diarrhea.
_ Ejaculation problems.
_ Impotence.
_ Changes in sex drive or ability.
_ Difficulty reaching orgasm.
_ Decreased libido.
_ Frequent urination or difficulty urinating.
_ Tremors.
_ Chills or fever.
_ Skin rash or hives.
_ Irregular heartbeat.
_ Increased sweating.
_ Low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness).
_ High blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision).
_ Unusual bleeding or bruising.
_ Difficulty concentrating.
_ Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms.
_ Slow or difficult speech.
_ Shuffling walk.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience: An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives). Stop taking Prozac and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment if you also experience a fast or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness), high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision), chills or fever, skin rash or hives or unusual bleeding or bruising. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaw, neck or back muscle spasms, shuffling walk, slow or difficult speech, persistent fine tremor or inability to sit still.

Symptoms of overdose may include: Symptoms of a Prozac overdose include dizziness, drowsiness, coma, nausea, tremors, seizures, blurred vision, enlarged pupils, hyperactivity, agitation, unconsciousness, unsteadiness, confusion and hallucinations.

Before taking Prozac, tell your doctor if you have or ever had:
_ Seizures.
_ Liver disease.
_ Kidney disease.
_ Suicidal thoughts.
_ Mania.
_ Diabetes.
_ Glaucoma.
_ Enlarged prostate.
_ Difficulty urinating.
_ Overactive thyroid gland.

What should I avoid while taking Prozac?
_ Use alcohol cautiously while taking Prozac. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness.
_ Cigarette smoking and tobacco products may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.
_ Prozac may make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight.

What other drugs will affect fluoxetine? Prozac can increase the effects of many other drugs, leading to serious side effects. If taking Prozac, talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines. Do not take fluoxetine with the following medicines without your doctor’s approval:
_ Benzodiazepine such as diazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, temazepam or triazolam.
_ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI).
_ Other antidepressants.
_ Phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, mesoridazine, perphenazine prochlorperazine.
_ Warfarin.
_ Lithium or haloperidol.
_ Digoxin.
_ Seizure medications containing carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin).
_ Almotriptan.
_ Frovatriptan.
_ Sumatriptan.
_ Naratriptan.
_ Rizatriptan.
_ Zolmitriptan.
_ Thioridazine.
_ Cisapride.
_ Pimozide.
_ St. John's wort.
_ Buspirone.
_ Cyclosporine.
_ Levodopa.

Also talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking medication for anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, Parkinson's disease, asthma, colds, allergies, muscle relaxants, sedatives, sleeping pills, thyroid medications, tranquilizers, antihistamines, antipsychotics, tryptophan, and vitamins. Drugs other than the above listed may also interact with Prozac. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription, over-the-counter medicines or natural supplements.

People seeking depression relief should carefully evaluate Prozac information and side effects before deciding to take Prozac. Consult your healthcare professional before using Prozac.

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*This antidepressant drug information does not endorse Prozac, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible warnings, uses, precautions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse side effects of Prozac. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your health care provider or pharmacist. The information provided should not be construed to indicate that Prozac is safe, effective or appropriate.

Do not stop taking Prozac without first talking to your doctor. Your doctor may need to gradually reduce the dose before stopping Prozac completely. Suddenly stopping fluoxetine may cause unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.

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