PROZAC - Medsafe

1 PROZAC . fluoxetine hydrochloride Consumer medicine Information What is in this leaflet Before you take PROZAC Before you start to take it This leaflet answers some common When you must not take it Tell your doctor if you have allergies questions about PROZAC . It does not to any other medicines, foods, contain all the available information. It Do not take PROZAC if you are preservatives or dyes. does not take the place of talking with allergic to your doctor or pharmacist. any medicines containing Tell your doctor if you are pregnant fluoxetine or plan to become pregnant. Your All medicines have risks and benefits. any of the ingredients listed at the doctor will discuss the risks and end of this leaflet. benefits of taking PROZAC during Your doctor has weighed the risks of pregnancy. If PROZAC is taken during you taking PROZAC against the Some of the symptoms of an allergic pregnancy, you should be careful, benefits they expect it will have for reaction may include shortness of particularly at the end of pregnancy.

2 You. breath, wheezing or difficulty Transitory withdrawal symptoms have breathing; swelling of the face, lips, been reported rarely in the newborn If you have any concerns about tongue or other parts of the body; rash, after maternal use in the last 3 months taking this medicine , talk to your itching or hives on the skin. of pregnancy. doctor or pharmacist. Do not take PROZAC if you are Tell your doctor if you are Keep this leaflet with this medicine . taking another medicine for breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed. You may need to read it again. depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have Tell your doctor if you have, or have been taking a MAOI within the last had, any medical conditions, 14 days. Check with your doctor or especially the following: What PROZAC is used pharmacist if you are unsure as to for whether or not you are taking a liver problems MAOI. kidney problems fits PROZAC is used to treat: If you do take PROZAC while you are diabetes taking a MAOI, you may experience a bleeding disorder or a tendency depression shaking (tremor), shivering, muscle to bleed more than usual obsessive compulsive disorder stiffness, fever, rapid pulse, rapid (OCD) breathing or confusion.

3 Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. premenstrual dysphoric disorder Although drinking alcohol is unlikely (PMDD) Do not take PROZAC if you are to affect your response to PROZAC , taking another medicine called your doctor may suggest avoiding Ask your doctor if you have any pimozide to treat disturbances in alcohol while you are being treated for questions about why PROZAC has thinking, feelings and behaviour. depression. been prescribed for you. Your doctor Taking pimozide together with may have prescribed PROZAC for PROZAC may alter the rhythm of If you have not told your doctor another reason. your heart. about any of the above, tell them before you start taking PROZAC . PROZAC belongs to a group of Do not take PROZAC if the medicines called selective serotonin packaging is torn or shows signs of Taking other medicines reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are tampering or the capsules or tablets thought to work by their action on brain do not look quite right.

4 Tell your doctor if you are taking any chemicals called amines which are other medicines, including any that involved in controlling mood. Do not take PROZAC if the expiry you buy without a prescription from date on the pack has passed. If it has a pharmacy, supermarket or health PROZAC is available only with a expired or is damaged, return it to your food shop. doctor's prescription. pharmacist for disposal. Some combinations of medicines may If you are not sure whether you increase the risk of serious side effects PROZAC is not recommended for use should start taking PROZAC , talk to and are potentially life threatening. in children and adolescents under 18 your doctor. years of age. PROZAC AUST 1. Some medicines may be affected by your doctor. Do this even if you have It does not matter if you take this PROZAC , or may affect how well it already stopped taking PROZAC . medicine before or after food. works. These include: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are other medicines How long to take it monoamine oxidase inhibitors used for depression, may interfere with (MAOIs), medicines used to treat PROZAC .

5 You should not start a Continue taking PROZAC for as some types of depression. You MAOI for at least 5 weeks after long as your doctor recommends. should stop taking MAOIs at least stopping PROZAC . The length of treatment with PROZAC . two weeks before starting will depend on how quickly your PROZAC symptoms improve. lithium, a medicine used to treat How to take PROZAC Most medicines of this type take time mood swings and some types of to work so don't be discouraged if you depression Follow all directions given to you by do not feel better right away. While your doctor or pharmacist carefully. some symptoms will be relieved sooner SNRIs, SSRIs and other medicines They may differ from the than others, PROZAC commonly takes for depression, obsessive compulsive information contained in this leaflet. two to four weeks before improvement disorder or premenstrual dysphoric is really apparent. disorder (PMDD) If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your If you do not start to feel better in sleeping tablets or sedatives doctor or pharmacist for help.

6 About four weeks, check with your doctor. medicines used to relieve anxiety How much to take If you forget to take it medicines used to treat certain mental Your doctor will tell you how much and emotional conditions, also called PROZAC you need to take each day. If it is almost time for your next dose, antipsychotics The usual dose for PROZAC is one skip the dose you missed and take capsule or one tablet taken once a day. your next dose when you are meant medicine used to treat disturbances in Your doctor may increase or decrease to. thinking, feelings and behaviour, your dose depending on your condition. such as pimozide Otherwise, take it as soon as you For premenstrual dysphoric disorder remember, and then go back to medicines used to control fits (PMDD), PROZAC may be prescribed taking your medicine as you would to be taken every day or only during a normally. medicines used to prevent blood certain part of the month. Your doctor clots, such as warfarin will prescribe the dosing schedule that Do not take a double dose to make up is right for you.

7 For the dose that you missed. flecainide, a medicine used to treat some heart conditions How to take it If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist. tryptophan Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine , ask your St John's Wort If you cannot swallow the tablets, pharmacist for some hints. medicines used to relieve pain, such disperse them in water. If you take too much (overdose). as tramadol Swirl the tablet in half a glass of Immediately telephone your doctor sumitriptan, a medicine used to treat water until it falls apart, then drink it immediately. or Poisons Information Centre (13 11. migraine. 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if Your doctor can tell you what to do if When to take it you think that you or anyone else you are taking any other medicines. may have taken too much PROZAC . If you are not sure whether you are PROZAC is usually taken as a single Do this even if there are no signs of taking any of these medicines, check morning dose.

8 If your doctor tells you discomfort or poisoning. You may with your doctor or pharmacist. to take PROZAC twice a day, take a need urgent medical attention. dose in the morning and at noon. Your doctor and pharmacist have more If you have taken too much PROZAC , information on medicines to be careful Take your medicine at about the you may feel sick in the stomach, with or avoid while taking PROZAC . same time each day. Taking it at the vomit, feel restless, agitated or excited. same time each day will help you Do not start taking other medicines remember when to take it. for depression without checking with PROZAC AUST 2. Things to be careful of While you are taking Do not be alarmed by the following PROZAC If you experience drowsiness, do not lists of side effects. You may not drive, operate machinery or do experience any of them. anything else that could be Ask your doctor or pharmacist to Things you must do dangerous. answer any questions you may have.

9 If you are about to be started on any Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you new medicine , remind your doctor Things you must NOT do notice any of the following and they and pharmacist that you are taking worry you: PROZAC . Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor. Suddenly stopping nausea, vomiting Tell all doctors, dentists and upset stomach, diarrhoea pharmacists who are treating you PROZAC may cause symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, headache, feeling loss of appetite, weight loss, that you are taking PROZAC . sick, or tingling or numbness of the changes in taste, dry mouth hands or feet. Your doctor may want trouble sleeping, unusual dreams Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking PROZAC . you to gradually reduce the amount of nervousness, anxiety Your doctor will discuss the risks and PROZAC you are taking before drowsiness, weakness benefits of taking PROZAC during stopping completely.

10 Dizziness pregnancy. If PROZAC is used during excessive sweating, flushing, chills pregnancy, you should be careful, Do not take the herbal remedy St. lesions of skin and mucous particularly at the end of pregnancy. John's Wort while you are being membrane Transitory withdrawal symptoms have treated with PROZAC . If you are fever and joint aches been reported rarely in the newborn already taking the herbal remedy, sexual problems after maternal use in the last 3 months stop taking St. John's Wort and more frequent urination of pregnancy. mention it to your doctor at your changes in vision. next visit. Keep all of your doctor's If any of the following happen, tell appointments so that your progress Do not drive or operate machinery your doctor immediately or go to can be checked. until you know how PROZAC affects Accident and Emergency at your you. PROZAC may cause drowsiness nearest hospital: The symptoms of depression or other in some people.