Prozac

This leaflet answers some common questions about PROZAC. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking with your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits.

Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking PROZAC against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

You may need to read it again.

PROZAC is used to treat:

Your doctor may have prescribed PROZAC for another reason.

PROZAC belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are thought to work by their action on brain chemicals called amines which are involved in controlling mood.

PROZAC is available only with a doctor's prescription.

PROZAC is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

If you do take PROZAC while you are taking a MAOI, you may experience shaking (tremor), shivering, muscle stiffness, fever, rapid pulse, rapid breathing or confusion.

If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking PROZAC during pregnancy. If PROZAC is taken during pregnancy, you should be careful, particularly at the end of pregnancy. Transitory withdrawal symptoms have been reported rarely in the newborn after maternal use in the last 3 months of pregnancy. If you take PROZAC near the end of your pregnancy there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after birth, especially if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Your doctor or midwife should be aware that you are taking PROZAC so they can advise you.

Although drinking alcohol is unlikely to affect your response to PROZAC, your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol while you are being treated for depression.

Some combinations of medicines may increase the risk of serious side effects and are potentially life threatening.

Some medicines may be affected by PROZAC, or may affect how well it works. These include:

Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any other medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking PROZAC.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are other medicines used for depression, may interfere with PROZAC. You should not start a MAOI for at least 5 weeks after stopping PROZAC.

Your doctor will tell you how much PROZAC you need to take each day.

The usual dose for PROZAC is one capsule taken once a day. Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose depending on your condition.

For premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), PROZAC may be prescribed to be taken every day or only during a certain part of the month. Your doctor will prescribe the dosing schedule that is right for you.

PROZAC is usually taken as a single morning dose.

Taking it at the same time each day will help you remember when to take it.

The length of treatment with PROZAC will depend on how quickly your symptoms improve.

Most medicines of this type take time to work so don't be discouraged if you do not feel better right away. While some symptoms will be relieved sooner than others, PROZAC commonly takes two to four weeks before improvement is really apparent.

If you have taken too much PROZAC, you may feel sick in the stomach, vomit, feel restless, agitated or excited.

Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking PROZAC during pregnancy.

The symptoms of depression or other psychiatric conditions may include thoughts of harming yourself or suicide. These symptoms may continue or get worse during the first one or two months of treatment until the full antidepressant effect of PROZAC becomes apparent. This is more likely to occur in young adults under 25 years of age.

All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.

Suddenly stopping PROZAC may cause symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, headache, feeling sick, or tingling or numbness of the hands or feet. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount of PROZAC you are taking before stopping completely.

PROZAC may cause drowsiness in some people.

PROZAC may have unwanted side effects in some people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Side effects vary from patient to patient and often lessen with continued use.

The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Headaches are very common side effects.

Weight loss and decreased height gain have been observed in association with the use of PROZAC in children and adolescent patients. This is similar to other medicines that belong to the group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

If you take your capsules out of the blister pack they may not keep as well.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

PROZAC capsules are available in packs of 28.

The capsules are coloured green and off-white and are marked with "Lilly" and "3105".

PROZAC capsules contain 20 mg of fluoxetine as the active ingredient. They also contain:

PROZAC capsules are gluten free.  

PROZAC is a product of:

Eli Lilly Australia Pty Limited

112 Wharf Road

WEST RYDE NSW 2114

 

Eli Lilly and Company (NZ) Limited

PO Box 109 197, Newmarket

Auckland

Telephone (09) 523 9300

PROZAC Capsules 20mg:

AUST R 14653

 

This leaflet was revised in June 2021