Prozac FAQ
Q: What is Prozac?
A: Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride) is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia nervosa, and panic disorder. Prozac is in a class of medicines called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Prozac is made by Eli Lilly and Company and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987.
Q: Are there any special instructions for taking Prozac?
A: Prozac is taken by mouth, with or without food, as prescribed by your healthcare professional. Take the weekly version of Prozac only once a week. Do not start taking the weekly version of Prozac until 7 days after you've taken the last dose of the daily Prozac.
Q: Has there been any recent news about Prozac?
A: Over the last few years, the FDA has worked closely with the manufacturers of all marketed antidepressants (including Prozac) to fully evaluate the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and adults treated with these medications. Prozac-maker Eli Lilly and Company added a black box warning to Prozac's prescribing information describing the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents taking antidepressants. Click here for more information.
In July 2006, the FDA issued two alerts related to Prozac. The first FDA alert states that a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome can occur when SSRIs (such as Prozac) and medicines used to treat migraine headaches known as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists (triptans), are taken together. Click here for more information on this FDA alert.
The second FDA alert announced the results of a study concerning the use of antidepressant medicines during pregnancy in mothers of babies born with a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Click here for more information on this FDA alert.
Page 1 of 3
Next Page
Most content above from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
