Before taking Fluoxetine 20mg, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using Fluoxetine 20mg, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: personal or family history of bipolar/manic-depressive disorder, personal or family history of suicide attempts, liver problems, diabetes, low sodium in the blood, severe loss of body water (dehydration), seizures, stomach/intestinal ulcers.
Fluoxetine 20mg may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
If you have diabetes, Fluoxetine 20mg may affect your blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar regularly and share the results with your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your medication, diet, and exercise when you start or stop Fluoxetine 20mg. Liquid forms of this product may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.
Caution is advised when using this product in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects. The elderly are more likely to lose too much salt (hyponatremia), especially if they are also taking "water pills" (diuretics) with Fluoxetine 20mg.
During pregnancy, Fluoxetine 20mg should be used only when clearly needed. It may harm an unborn baby. Also, babies born to mothers who have used Fluoxetine 20mg during the last 3 months of pregnancy may infrequently develop withdrawal symptoms such as feeding/breathing difficulties, seizures, muscle stiffness, or constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms in your newborn, tell the doctor promptly.
Since untreated depression can be a serious condition, do not stop taking Fluoxetine 20mg unless directed by your doctor. If you are planning pregnancy, become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, immediately discuss the benefits and risks of using Fluoxetine 20mg during pregnancy with your doctor.
Fluoxetine 20mg may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using Fluoxetine 20mg. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.
Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Different brands may have different storage instructions. Check the product label or ask your pharmacist how to store your particular product.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start using Fluoxetine 20mg and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Take Fluoxetine 20mg by mouth with or without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. Fluoxetine 20mg may make you either sleepy or wakeful. Therefore, depending on how Fluoxetine 20mg affects you, your doctor may direct you to take the entire dose once daily in either the morning or evening. If you are taking Fluoxetine 20mg twice a day, your doctor may direct you to take it in the morning and at noon.
If you are taking Fluoxetine 20mg for premenstrual problems, your doctor may direct you to take it every day of the month or just for the 2 weeks before your period through the first full day of your period. To help you remember, mark your calendar.
If you are using the liquid form of Fluoxetine 20mg, measure the dose carefully using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Do not take more or less medication or take it more frequently than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. Use Fluoxetine 20mg regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.
It is important to continue taking Fluoxetine 20mg as prescribed even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Fluoxetine 20mg without first consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
You should see some improvement in 1 to 2 weeks. It may take several weeks before you feel the full benefit.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.
See also Warning section.
Nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weakness, tiredness, sweating, or yawning may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed Fluoxetine 20mg because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using Fluoxetine 20mg do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: unusual or severe mental/mood changes ( such as agitation, unusual high energy/excitement, thoughts of suicide), uncontrolled movements (for example, movements of the lips/tongue), shakiness (tremor), restlessness, inability to keep still, decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual ability, blurred vision, numbness/tingling.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: bloody/black/tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, easy bruising/bleeding, fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness/spasm, seizures, change in amount of urine.
Fluoxetine 20mg may rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome. The risk increases when Fluoxetine 20mg is used with certain other drugs such as "triptans" used to treat migraine headaches (including sumatriptan, eletriptan), certain antidepressants including other SSRIs (such as citalopram, paroxetine) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine, venlafaxine), lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, or a certain drug to treat obesity (sibutramine). See also Drug Interactions section. Before taking Fluoxetine 20mg, tell your doctor if you take any of these medications. Serotonin syndrome may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of any of these medications. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop some of the following symptoms: hallucinations, unusual restlessness, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, severe dizziness, unexplained fever, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitchy muscles.
Rarely, males may have a painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 or more hours. If this occurs, stop using Fluoxetine 20mg and seek immediate medical attention, or permanent problems could occur.
A very serious allergic reaction to Fluoxetine 20mg is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.
If you miss a dose of Fluoxetine 20mg, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Fluoxetine 20mg can stay in your body for many weeks after your last dose and may interact with many other medications. Before using any medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have taken Fluoxetine 20mg in the previous 5 weeks.
Certain medications taken with Fluoxetine 20mg could result in serious (rarely fatal) drug interactions. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) with Fluoxetine 20mg for 2 weeks before, during treatment, and at least 5 weeks after your last dose of Fluoxetine 20mg. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for additional information.
The following medications should not be used with Fluoxetine 20mg and for 5 weeks after your last dose of Fluoxetine 20mg because very serious (possibly fatal) interactions may occur: pimozide, sibutramine, thioridazine.
If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting Fluoxetine 20mg.
Before using Fluoxetine 20mg, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: drugs removed from your body by certain liver enzymes including carbamazepine, cimetidine, phenytoin, vinblastine, drugs for anxiety such as alprazolam and diazepam, antipsychotics such as aripiprazole/clozapine/haloperidol/perphenazine, antiarrhythmics such as propafenone/flecainide, TCA antidepressants such as desipramine/imipramine), fosamprenavir/ritonavir, metoprolol, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide), drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including aspirin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, "blood thinners" such as heparin/warfarin).
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with Fluoxetine 20mg (see above). If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Also tell your doctor if you take any other drugs that increase serotonin, such as bromocriptine, buspirone, dextromethorphan, lithium, meperidine, propoxyphene, phentermine, SSRIs, SNRIs, tryptophan, St. John's wort, drugs used to treat migraines such as "triptans" and dihydroergotamine, street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," amphetamine. (See also Side Effects section.)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness, such as certain antihistamines including diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (such as carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety such as lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine), psychiatric medicines (such as chlorpromazine, quetiapine, nortriptyline, trazodone).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Dextromethorphan is a commonly used cough medication and may interact with Fluoxetine 20mg. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Cimetidine is a nonprescription drug that is commonly used to treat extra stomach acid. Because it may cause undesirable interactions when used with Fluoxetine 20mg, ask your pharmacist about other products to treat stomach acid.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet.