The fluoxetine is a medicine that belongs to the family of antidepressants, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a substance present in neurons and that performs the function of neurotransmitter. We popularly know it as Prozac, a drug used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders.
The drug must be prescribed by a specialist, who must periodically monitor the patient to determine its level of effectiveness and the appearance of possible side effects. When and how should we take fluoxetine?
What is fluoxetine for?
Fluoxetine is an antidepressant known mostly to treat depression, whether of a mild or serious nature. However, it is also frequently used for anxiety treatment and obsessive disorders. Even, sometimes, in certain Eating disorder.
As with other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, their job is to help restore chemical balance in the brain to prevent the symptoms of depression from appearing.
It is a rather delicate drug, so its free commercialization is totally prohibited and it is only possible to access it by prescription.
How to take this medicine?
From here we will explain when and how to take fluoxetine, although it is important to note that the doctor should be solely responsible for determining the necessary dose depending on the case in question.
Fluoxetine comes in different formats, although its administration is always orally. In the market it is possible to find it in capsules, tablets or dispersible tablets. In these cases, the patient will swallow the drug with the help of a glass of water or dissolved in liquid, but you should never chew or crush them.
It is usual to take it in the morning, starting with one small dose that will increase according to what the doctor determines. Sometimes, it is possible to divide the intake into several doses. The patient does not have to take it on an empty stomach, he can also do it while eating breakfast, although it is not advisable to take it before going to sleep, as it can disturb sleep.
What dose is necessary?
The dose to be taken will depend on some important aspects, such as the type of disease to be treated, the age of the patient or how severe the symptoms are, and it will always be the doctor who prescribes the best option for each patient. It is usually presented in 20 milligram capsules and is used in doses ranging from 20 to 60 milligrams a day.
How long does this drug take to work?
Normally, the effects of fluoxetine start to be seen after three weeks, although it may vary from person to person. As a general rule, depression will begin to subside after the first few 14 days of treatment, until the drug reaches its greatest effectiveness, around the 4 or 8 weeks.
Benefits and positive effects of fluoxetine
Fluoxetine can slow down anxiety, make depression go away, or decrease the intensity of compulsive or obsessive disorders. When the drug is given to people affected by depression, the drug works against depression, sadness, malaise, helplessness, or irritability.
Its prolonged action also intervenes in the restoration of the natural level of neurotransmitters that take care of the proper functioning of the brain. And it is that it has been shown that one of the causes that can explain depression would be related to its imbalance. It is also used in people who have anxiety or sleeping problems.
Fluoxetine has effective properties that improve the mood of the patient, while eliminating or reduce symptoms caused by OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder. Likewise, fight some eating disorders as is bulimia nervosa.
It can also be used in a combinatorial therapy. This means that a patient may need to take it with other medications. In fact, doctors assure that this drug is very useful for people who present a picture of different symptoms, including depression, panic attacks, concentration problems, inability to fall asleep, appetite problems, and so on.
In the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder, the drug affects the thinking of the patient to prevent their obsessions from appearing, at the same time that it controls compulsive actions. In panic attacks in which fear, anguish and worry take over for no reason to explain it, fluoxetine is also very helpful.
Contraindications and interactions
We have tried to explain in the simplest way when and how to take fluoxetine, but it is also convenient that you know what their contraindications and possible effects.
This drug does not pose a risk of addiction for the patient, although precautions should be taken in the case of people with bipolar disorder, children and adolescents. It is a drug that the body tolerates well, but you have to pay attention and be careful if it is combined with others.
Fluoxetine can interact severely with other antidepressant drugs such as moclobemide or selegiline. In the same way you can do it with other medicines such as flecainide, carbamazepine, tramadol or phenytoin. Also, fluoxetine may reduce the effect of contraceptives or some drugs such as antiaggregants, responsible for altering or modifying blood clotting.
It must be said that fluoxetine itself does not generate any effect on weight. However, it can cause a satiating effect, with the corresponding loss of weight by reducing the amount of food consumed and the frequency of feeding.
The use of this medicine is justified in patients suffering from certain psychiatric illnesses, but each situation must be carefully assessed. In the case of pregnant women, it is a possible risk of malformation in the fetus.
In addition, in the last trimester of pregnancy the risk of suffering from pulmonary hypertension, certain cardiovascular disorders and other symptoms such as tremors, irritability, hypotonia, difficulty breastfeeding, constant crying, etc. may slightly increase.
During breastfeeding, fluoxetine is excreted through breast milk. Therefore, if the patient must continue with the treatment, the doctor must assess the …