Fluoxetine - an effective tool for depression treatment!!!

Fluoxetine is a type of antidepressant known as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Fluoxetine is an antidepressant which is used in the treatment of disorders like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. It helps many people recover from depression, and it has fewer unwanted effects than older antidepressants. It is believed that SSRIs work by increasing the activity of certain chemicals working in our brains called neurotransmitters. These pass signals from one brain cell to another. SSRIs are called selective because they only affect serotonin.

How and when to take it

Most people only need one tablet a day, usually taken in the morning. The normal maximum dose is 4 tablets/day .

Fluoxetine is best taken in the morning. Take your dose at the same time each day.

If you are taking capsules, swallow with a glass of water. Do not open or chew.

If you have problems swallowing capsules, let your doctor know as you could be prescribed dispersible tablets which are dissolved in water and then swallowed. 

You can take fluoxetine with or without food but if you think it is upsetting your stomach, try taking it with food. 

If you forget to take your dose, take it if you remember soon after it is due, but if it nearly time for your next dose, just take it then. Do not take double the dose.

Keep taking fluoxetine every day. It may take 4 to 6 weeks before you notice the full benefits.

If you think fluoxetine is not working for you, do not stop taking it suddenly; speak to your doctor or nurse before stopping. 

Interactions

Fluoxetine interacts with many other medications (including pain relief medicines) and herbal supplements so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting fluoxetine or before starting any new medicines.

Treat depression effectively with Fluox (Fluoxetine / Lovan)

Fluox (Fluoxetine / Lovan) 20 mg belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is used for the treatment of depression and helps to elevate mood. Fluoxetine is also used to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as to treat the eating disorder, bulimia nervosa.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work by increasing the amount of a neurotransmitter, called serotonin, which is available in certain parts of the brain. Although you may start feeling better within a few weeks of treatment, the full effects of the medication may not be evident until several weeks of treatment have passed.

How to take fluoxetine?

Take Fluoxetine at the same time each day. It is best taken in the morning.

Swallow the whole capsule with a glass of water. Do not open or chew.

If you have problems swallowing capsules, let your doctor know as you could be prescribed dispersible tablets which are dissolved in water and then swallowed. 

You can take Fluoxetine with or without food.

Limit or avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking Fluoxetine.

If you forget to take your dose, wait until the next day and take your normal dose then. Do not take double the dose.

Keep taking Fluoxetine every day. It may take 4 to 6 weeks before you experience the full benefits of fluoxetine.

Do not stop taking Fluoxetine suddenly; speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before stopping.

Who should NOT take this medication?

Do not take Fluoxetine if you:

- are allergic to Fluoxetine or any ingredients of the medication

- have taken a MAO inhibitor (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine) or thioridazine within the past 14 days

Do not take MAO inhibitors or thioridazine until at least 5 weeks after you stop your treatment with Fluoxetine.

Can I take Prozac with other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) for Depression

SSRIs are the most widely prescribed type of antidepressants. They're usually preferred over other antidepressants, as they cause fewer side effects. An overdose is also less likely to be serious. Fluoxetine is probably the best known SSRI (sold under the brand name Prozac). Other SSRIs include Citalopram (Celexa), Cipralex (Escitalopram) and Zoloft (Sertraline).

How SSRIs Work

Medicines known as reuptake inhibitors increase the amount of particular neurotransmitters in the brain by preventing unused neurotransmitters from moving back into the pre-synaptic neuron. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors - as they are also known - increase the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Serotonin has many roles in the body, including the regulation of your appetite, your sleeping patterns, your body temperature and your memory. It also plays a primary role in regulating your mood, which is the main reason why supplemental serotonin, the most common form of antidepressant, is prescribed for people experiencing anxiety or depression. People of both the male and female gender with anxiety disorders exhibit lower levels of serotonin than normal.

How effective are SSRI antidepressants?

About 5-7 in 10 people with moderate or severe depression have an improvement in symptoms within a few weeks of starting treatment with an antidepressant. However, up to 3 in 10 people improve with dummy tablets (placebos), as some people would have improved in this time naturally. So, if you have depression, you are roughly twice as likely to improve with an antidepressant compared with taking no treatment. But, they do not work in everybody. As a rule, the more severe the depression, the greater the chance that an antidepressant will work well.

People who should take extra care with SSRIs
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have, or have had in the past, any of the following conditions (you might need to take extra precautions, or another medicine might be more suitable):
- epilepsy or reduced seizure threshold
- bipolar disorder
- stomach bleeding
- liver problems
Get advice about the risks of taking antidepressants, directly from your doctor or from a specialist information line, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or thinking about becoming pregnant.