Prozac: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Use

What is prozac used for?

Prozac is a brand of oral medicine in the form of a capsule with the main active ingredient fluoxetine. This drug belongs to the class of drugs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are drugs that work by increasing serotonin production.

Serotonin is a natural chemical found in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.

This medication is used to help treat several mental health conditions, such as:

• Depression, which is characterized by feeling sad, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating or experiencing sleep disturbances, dizziness, and unreasonable pain in the body
• Bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by vomiting after eating
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder, namely someone who is often disturbed by his own thoughts. Sometimes patients who suffer from this disease also do things that are not according to their wishes.

This drug is included in the class of prescription drugs, so you can only buy it at a pharmacy if it is accompanied by a prescription from your doctor.

How do I use Prozac?

The procedure for using this drug must be obeyed. Steps that must be taken when using this drug include:

• Use this drug as written on the doctor's prescription.
• The doctor may change the dose given to you at any time according to your health condition.
• Do not use this medication less or more or for longer than recommended by your doctor.
• To take this drug, don't forget to swallow it whole, don't crush, chew, or open the capsule first.
• This medicine is usually taken once and taken in the morning. But if you take this drug twice a day, your doctor may instruct you to take it in the morning and during the day.
• It may take up to 4 weeks for you to recover from any health problems if you are using this medicine. Use this medication regularly and if your condition does not improve, contact your doctor immediately.
• If your doctor has instructed you to stop using the drug, do not stop using it suddenly. This, if done, can cause side effects. Talk to your doctor about how to safely end this drug.
• Use this drug regularly to get the maximum benefits. To make it easier for you to remember when to take your medication, take this medication every day at the same time.

How do I store prozac?

As with other medicines, prozac also has a drug storage regimen. Some of the following are things you should pay attention to in order to store this drug.

• Keep this medication out of reach of children and pets.
• Store this medication in its container when not in use, at room temperature.
• Keep this medication away from exposure to sunlight or direct light.
• Do not put this drug in damp places. We recommend that you store in a dry place.
• Do not store prozac in the bathroom.
• Do not also store and freeze in the freezer.

If this medicine has expired or you no longer use it, discard this medicine immediately. However, follow the correct rules for disposing of the drug. Do not flush it down the toilet or other drains. Do not also mix it with household waste.

If you don't know how to dispose of your medicine, ask your pharmacist or local waste disposal agency. That way, you can protect the environment.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of prozac for adults?

Adult dosage for depression

• Recommended dosage: 20 milligrams (mg) per day. However, if your condition does not improve or if the dose is not working, it is possible that you will increase your dose to 60 mg daily.
• Maximum dose: 60 mg per day
• Patients with depression should take this drug for up to 6 months to ensure that they are completely cured and are free of any symptoms.

Adult dosage for obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Initial dose: 20 mg per day
• This medication may be used for more than 10 weeks given this condition is a serious mental health problem.

Adult dosage for bulimia nervosa

• 60 mg / day in the morning.

Adult dosage for panic disorder

• Initial dose: 10 mg / day.
• After one week of use, the dose is increased to 20 mg / day.
• Although in some patients the dose may be increased to 60 mg, the ideal dose is 20 mg / day.

What is the dose of prozac for children?

Children's dosage for depression

• Initial dose: 10 mg per day.
• The new dose may be added after several weeks of use up to 20 mg per day.

Children's dosage for obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Initial dose: 10 mg per day.
• After two weeks of use, the dose can be increased to 20 mg / day. Increase the dose only after a few weeks if there is no significant change in the patient's condition.

In what dosages is prozac available?

Prozac is available in doses of 10 mg, 20 mg

Side effects

What are the possible side effects of using prozac?

There are several side effects that may occur when using this drug, both mild and serious side effects. Although it rarely happens, if you experience the following serious side effects, stop using the drug immediately and get medical attention right away.

• You have thoughts of hurting yourself or even committing suicide
• You experience an allergic reaction including itchy skin, swollen lips or tongue, shortness of breath
• Can not stand still, as if he wanted to move on
• Your skin turns red or starts to peel
• Heart rate problems such as a faster heart rate
• It's easy to feel faint and have a headache when standing up

Meanwhile, there are side effects that are milder but more frequent, such as:

• Nausea
• Dizzy
• Headache
• Anxious
• Panic
• Easily sleepy
• Insomnia
• Tired
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Sweating frequently

Generally, these side effects go away easily on their own. However, if it turns out that these side effects still appear and do not go away immediately, contact your doctor immediately.

Warnings & Precautions

What to know before using Prozac?

Before deciding to use this drug, there are a number of things you should know first, as follows.

• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to this medication, or the active ingredients in it, such as fluoxetine.
• Tell your doctor if you have allergies to other medicines, foods, preservatives, dyes and animals.
• Tell your doctor if you have certain health problems, such as heart disease, a history of frequent fainting, or a family history of heart attack under the age of 50.
• Tell your doctor about any medicines you have used, are currently using or intend to use.
• Using this medicine could cause you to develop glaucoma. Therefore, before using this medicine, it is better if you do an eye exam first to determine whether your eyes are at risk of developing glaucoma.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
• Because this drug can cause persistent drowsiness, do not operate heavy machinery, do activities that require high concentration, or drive while using this medicine.

Is prozac safe for use by pregnant and lactating women?

It is not certain whether this drug has a bad effect for pregnant and lactating women. However, at least one in 100 babies are born and develop heart defects or abnormalities if the mother takes prozac early in her pregnancy.

This drug is also included in pregnancy risk category C by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) in Indonesia.

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A: No risk,
• B: No risk in some studies,
• C: May be risky,
• D: There is positive evidence of risk,
• X: Contraindicated,
• N: Not known

Interaction

What medicines can interact with prozac?

There are several types of drugs that can interact with prozac. The interactions that occur can increase the risk of side effects from using the drug or change how the drug works. However, there are also drug interactions that may be the best type of treatment for your medical condition. Therefore, record all the types of drugs you want to use, and consult your doctor whether using these drugs together with prozac is safe or vice versa.

The following are some types of drugs that interact with prozac can increase the risk of drug side effects and should be avoided. Among them:

• alfentanyl
• almotriptan
• amitriptyline
• busporine
• ceritinib
• citalopram
• desipramine
• dofetilide
• efavirenz
• fentanyl
• gatifloxacin
• ibutilide
• iohexol
• iopamidol
• linezolid
• lithium
• maprotiline
• moxifloxacin

Meanwhile, here are some examples of drugs that can interact with prozac. The interactions that occur may increase the risk of drug side effects, but in some cases, the interactions between the two types of drugs are the best type of treatment for you.

• abarelix
• beripedin
• chlorothiazide
• dacomitinib
• epirubicin
• famotidine
• ginkgo
• goserelin
• heparin
• heroin
• insulin
• labetalol

What foods and alcohol can interact with prozac?

There are several types of drugs that should not be taken with food. This is because alcoholic food or drinks can increase the risk of side effects from using drugs. In this case, you should not drink alcohol while using prozac because it can increase the risk of some side effects, especially drowsiness, inability to concentrate, and dizziness in the head.

What health conditions can interact with prozac?

Prozac can also interact with several types of diseases or health conditions that you are experiencing, some of which are as follows:

• Depression
• Diabetes
• Hyponatremia
• Glaucoma
• Liver disorders
• Mania, which is a bipolar disorder
• The kidneys don't function
• Weight loss drastically
• Seizure disorders
• Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH), which is a syndrome that affects the balance of water and minerals in the body.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118/119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose signs may appear after overuse of prozac, such as:

• Dizzy
• Nausea
• Seizures
• The heart beats fast
• Heart attack
• Lung problems
• Coma

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a missed dose, let it go. Continue to take the next dose at the time that suits your usual medication schedule. Do not double up on doses or take two different doses at the same time.