What you should know

about Prozac Capsules

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take your medicine. It does not contain all the information about your capsules that you may need to know, so please ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. The leaflet only applies to Prozac capsules.

What is in your medicine?

Your medicine is called Prozac. Its active ingredient is fluoxetine hydrochloride. Each capsule has 20mg of fluoxetine in it. It also contains the inactive ingredients maize starch and dimethicone. The capsule is green and white.
 

 

Prozac is one in a group of medicines called antidepressants that may relieve the symptoms of depression.

Prozac is made by Dista Products Limited, Kingsclere Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 2XA. They also hold the product licence.

Why Prozac?

Prozac is usually used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat the eating disorder, bulimia nervosa. If your doctor gives you this medicine for anything else, ask him or her if you have any questions about it.

Before taking your medicine

Make sure it is safe for you to take Prozac.

If you answer YES to any of the following questions, or you are not sure, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Have you ever had a rash or an allergic reaction to Prozac or fluoxetine hydrochloride? (An allergic reaction may include rash, itching, or shortness of breath.)
  • Do you have kidney or liver trouble?
  • Are you pregnant or could you be?
  • Are you breast-feeding?
  • Are you taking, or have you recently been taking, any medicines known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOls)? MAOls include phenelzine, such as Nardil, tranylcypromine, such as Parnate or Parstelin and isocarboxazid, such as Marplan.

    • Do you have epilepsy or diabetes?
    • Are you taking, or have you recently taken, tryptophan?
    • Are you taking, or have you recently taken, any other medicines?

    Antidepressants can affect your judgement or co-ordination. Do not drive or use machinery unless you are sure that you are not affected.

    • MAOls and Prozac do not mix. So if you are taking any MAOI or stopped taking them within the last 2 weeks, you must not take Prozac.
    • Do not take any MAOls for at least 5 weeks after stopping Prozac.

    If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

     

    Please read the back of this leaflet

    What you should know about Prozac Capsules - Continued

    Taking your medicine

    Follow your doctor's instructions. Check the label for how many capsules to take and how often to take them.

    Usual Doses

    • Depression: Take one 20mg capsule each day.
    • Bulimia: Take three 20mg capsules each day.

    If you are not sure how many capsules to take, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
    • Swallow the capsules whole with a drink of water.
    • Antidepressants may not make you feel any better for the first 2 weeks or more, so keep taking them until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop without telling your doctor first.
    • Do not take more capsules than your doctor tells you to. If you take too many capsules, or if a child has taken any, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately.
    • If you miss a dose, take one as soon as you can. Then go on as before.

     

    While taking your medicine

    Prozac capsules may cause side-effects. These include:

    • Nervous system - headache, nervousness, sleeplessness, muscle tremor, anxiety, drowsiness.
    • Digestive system - nausea, diarrhoea.
    • Skin - sweating, itching. If you get a skin rash, stop taking the capsules at once and tell your doctor.
    • Whole body- weak feeling.
    • Respiratory system - shortness of breath.
    • Poor sexual performance.

    These are usually nothing to worry about and go away after the first few weeks while you are taking Prozac. If you have any of these symptoms, and are worried by them, tell your doctor.

    • You may lose a little weight while taking Prozac.

    If you have any other ill-effects, tell your doctor. He or she has more information about Prozac and will tell you what to do.

    How to store your medicine

    • Do not take Prozac after the 'Use Before' date.
    • Keep your capsules at room temperature in a dry safe place and where children cannot see or reach them. Your capsules could harm them.
    • If your doctor tells you to stop taking the capsules, we suggest that you take any capsules you have left back to the pharmacist who will dispose of them safely. Only keep the capsules if your doctor tells you to.

    REMEMBER: This medicine is for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give it to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

     

    'Prozac' is a registered trademark of Dista Products Limited.

    Date of Leaflet Preparation: October 1993.

    © Dista Products Limited, 1993.