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Precautions
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, to allow changes in your dose and help reduce any side effects.
If you develop a skin rash or hives, stop taking fluoxetine and check with your doctor as soon as possible.
Fluoxetine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these unwanted effects, tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away.
Do not stop suddenly taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. If you have been instructed to stop taking fluoxetine, ask your doctor how to slowly decrease the dose. This is to decrease the chance of having symptoms such as agitation, breathing problems, chest pain, confusion, diarrhea, dizziness or lightheadedness, a fast heartbeat, headache, increased sweating, muscle pain, nausea, restlessness, runny nose, trouble with sleeping, trembling or shaking, unusual tiredness or weakness, vision changes, or vomiting.
Do not take fluoxetine within 2 weeks of taking an monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (e.g., isocarboxazid [Marplan®], phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], or tranylcypromine [Parnate®]). Do not take an MAO inhibitor for at least 5 weeks after taking fluoxetine. If you do, you may develop extremely high blood pressure or seizures.
Do not take thioridazine (Mellaril®) while you are taking fluoxetine or less than 5 weeks after you have stopped taking fluoxetine. You should not use pimozide (Orap®) while you are taking this medicine. Using these medicines together can cause very serious heart problems.
You should not take other medicines that also contain fluoxetine. This includes Symbyax®, Sarafem®, or Prozac Weekly®. Using these medicines together may increase your chance for more serious side effects.
Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines you are using. Fluoxetine may cause serious conditions such as serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)-like reactions when taken with certain medicines such as linezolid [Zyvox®], lithium, tryptophan, St. John's Wort, or some pain medicines (e.g., tramadol [Ultram®], sumatriptan [Imitrex®], zolmitriptan [Zomig®], or rizatriptan [Maxalt®]). Check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using aspirin, NSAIDS (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, or Motrin®), or a blood thinner (e.g., warfarin [Coumadin®]). Fluoxetine may increase your risk of having bleeding problems especially when taken together with these medicines.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking fluoxetine.
Do not breastfeed while you are using this medicine.
For diabetic patients:
- This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.
This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less able to think clearly, or to have poor muscle control. Make sure you know how you react to fluoxetine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert and well able to control your movements.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
