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Fluoxetine 20mg Capsule
Fluoxetine, which is a common antidepressant of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class, is widely used to treat severe cases of Major Depressive Disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and certain eating disorders like Bulimia. Fluoxetine by regulating the levels of serotonin in the brain assists in mood enhancement, proper sleep, and emotional stability while reducing symptoms of fear, nervousness, and tension.
Therapeutic Indications
Depressive Disorders: Squashes the crushing despair, severe fatigue, and total abandonment that one fells.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Intervenes in the momentum of repetitive thoughts or acts.
Panic Disorder: Lessening those sudden, intense frights with their accompanying physical symptoms.
Bulimia Nervosa: Just a little helping along of control of the adult bingeing experience including purge.
From treating severe physical and emotional symptoms associated with PMDD
How it works
Fluoxetine works by reducing the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. When one nerve cell is signaling chemical messages to another, serotonin comes into play. The Fluoxetine, by creating more serotonin in the synaptic gap, brings improvement to the neurotransmission. This stabilizes mood, leading to a more effective emotional processing system going on in the brain.
Making Use
Method of Administration: Swallow the capsules whole with fruit juice and not fruit smoothies. It can be taken with or without food.
Timing: Take Fluoxetine in the morning. Occasionally, if taken at night, it may sap your sleep.
Regular Intervals: Take it few hours earlier than your routine bedtime.
The medication needs to be given for at least 2–4 weeks to show benefits. Do not discontinue the medication without first consulting with your physician, even if you feel your condition has improved.
Side Effects
As soon as the body adjusts, for some time the side effects usually go. Some of the most common include:
Nausea or disturbed stomach
Dry mouth
Insomnia or sleep disturbances
Loss of appetite or weight changes
Excessive sweating or shakiness
Loss or changes in sex drive inhibitions, sometimes delayed ejaculation
Warning: Call your doctor straight away and tell him if you are feeling your mood change suddenly or if you are experiencing great agitation or having thoughts of suicide, especially in the first weeks of therapy.
Precautions and Warnings
Alcohol: Do not take alcohol with Fluoxetine, as alcohol’s co-grouping can lead to extreme drowsiness and testing of judgment.
Serotonin Syndrome: You must tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications together like Tramadol, related to SSRIs; Triptans compromised with SSRIs; herbal drug like St. John’s Wort compromised with SSRIs. This kind of combination might result in serotonin overactivation causing serotonin syndrome.
Medical History: If you have experienced any seizure in your life, whether it is a single seizure not considered to be a series of epileptic attacks of idiopathic basis or afebrile convulsions, please provide the date:
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: It is advisable to use this medication during pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the risks and the medication is prescribed by a specialist. The medication is known to pass into the breast milk. Ask your doctor for any substitute medication you can employ.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the effect of Fluoxetine on the habit component?
There are no apparent addictive effects such as habits with Fluoxetine, as one would observe with Barbiturates or Benzodiazepines leading to drug-seeking behavior. Regardless, immediate halting from this medication can definitely give you back as many devastating withdrawals (discontinuation syndrome), so, your Doctor will advise on the gradual reduction of the dose.
Q. Can you drive on Fluoxetine?
Fluoxetine causes dizziness or blurred vision when administered to some individuals. Which is why you’re not advised to take part in any heavy machinery or operate vehicles until you know how it affects your responses.
A: Is weight gain seen with Fluoxetine?
Weight loss is the usual prescriptive side effect for Fluoxetine compared to other antidepressants, particularly initially—only very seldom is weight gain seen with the specific pill.
Q: What do I do when I miss a dose?
If you forget to take one, take it as soon as you know; however, if it is getting close to the next dose, skip the one you have missed. Never double up on the dose to make up for the missed pill.
Q: For how long am I required to take this drug?
With the first episode if depression, the general advice from physicians is to continue treatment for 6–9 months after feeling better in order to prevent relapse and recurrence. In the case of chronic cases, sometimes long-term care will be in order.
