Role
of Fluoxetine
Among the drugs that are used
to treat, Fluoxetine is one.
Doctors usually recommend Fluoxetine
to deal with symptoms such as
depression, panic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorders,
bulimia, etc. Fluoxetine is
also prescribed for symptoms
that occur in premenstrual dysphoric
disorder (PMDD). This means
that the medication is capable
of dealing with mood swings,
tension, and irritability.
In addition to this, Fluoxetine
is capable of dealing with swelling
and breast tenderness. These
are usually symptoms that occur
before a woman’s menses. You need to follow directions
for taking Fluoxetine strictly.
If your doctor recommends it
for you, you need to follow
his or her instructions carefully.
You may consume Fluoxetine with
a glass of water. You have a
choice whether or not to take
food along with this medication.
You need to take Fluoxetine
at the same time everyday. This
enables the most beneficial
effects to take place. If you
take the medication weekly,
you should take it on the same
day and time of the week. In order to experience effects
of Fluoxetine, you need to give
the medication a few weeks to
act. Doctors like to monitor
your progress when you take
Fluoxetine and observe the gradual
changes. This is a safe ploy
because of the fact that it
can be determined how much improvement
there is.
Side
Effects:
Severe Side effects of using
Fluoxetine include the following:
• an irregular heartbeat
or pulse;
• an allergic reactions
include:
• difficulty breathing,
• swelling of parts of
your face,
• closing of the throat
• hives
• low blood pressure characterized
by dizziness and weakness
• high blood pressure
marked by headache and vision
problems
• shivers or fever;
• bleeding or bruising;
• rashes
• hives.
You need immediate medical
attention if you experience
any of the above.
In addition to the above side
effects, other more common ones
include:
• headache,
• dry mouth,
• appetite or weight changes;
• tremor,
• nervousness,
• or anxiety;
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• inability to focus
If any of these side effects
persist, you need to tell your
doctor.
Precautions:
Due to Fluoxetine causing dizziness,
you need to be careful with
your everyday life. You are
advised not to drive vehicles
or handle machinery. This is
because these activities and
others require your total concentration.
If you are dizzy, you are likely
to faint and lose control, thereby,
endangering your life.
Do not consume alcoholic beverages.
This is because alcohol and
Fluoxetine can enhance drowsiness.
You need to be aware of whatever
medication you have been on
in the past couple of weeks.
You should not take Fluoxetine
if you have been on a Monoamine
Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Examples
of these medications are:
• isocarboxazid (Marplan),
• phenelzine (Nardil),
• tranylcypromine (Parnate)
In addition to avoiding MAOIs,
you should also avoid taking
thioridazine (Mellaril). In
fact, you should not take Fluoxetine
if you have been on thioridazine
(Mellaril) in the last five
weeks or so.
In addition to being aware of
medications, you should also
inform your doctor about any
health conditions. In particular,
if you have diabetes; have had
kidney disease; suffer from
seizures; or mania or even have
thoughts about suicide, you
need to tell your doctor.
If you are pregnant, you need
to talk to your doctor first
before taking Fluoxetine. If
you plan a pregnancy or are
breast feeding, you need to
tell your doctor.
If you miss out on a dose,
do not try and make up for it
by taking an extra dose. You
should skip the missed dose
and move on to the next scheduled
dose.
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