Fluoxetinehydrochloride

Fluoxetine20mgcapsules
Whenusedinobsessivecompulsivedisorder
Fluoxetinehydrochloride(Floooxeteenhidroh
clorride)isamedicinewhichisusedinbulimia
nervosa,depressionandobsessivecompulsive
disorder.

InformationLeafletthatcomeswiththismedicineor
onthemedicinelabel.Youcanalsoaskyourdoctor
orpharmacistforinformationaboutwhentotake
yourmedicine.

Yourmedicine

Howtotakeyourmedicine

Fluoxetinehydrochlorideisusedtotreatavarietyof
mentalhealthproblems.ItisthoughtthatFluoxetine
hydrochlorideincreasestheactivityandlevelsof
certainchemicalsinthebrain.Thiscanimprove
symptomssuchasdepressionandanxiety.

Somemedicineshavespecificinstructionsabout
howtotakethem.Thisisbecausetheyworkbetter
whentakencorrectly.Theseinstructionscaninclude
gettingtherightdoseandspecialinstructionsfor
preparingthemedicine.

IntheearlystagesoftakingFluoxetine
hydrochloride,suicidalthoughtsandbehaviourmay
beseeninsomepeople.Thesepeoplehavean
increasedriskofselfharmorsuicideintheearly
stagesoftakingFluoxetinehydrochloride.As
Fluoxetinehydrochloridestartstoworktheserisks
decrease.

SpecificinformationonhowtotakeFluoxetine
hydrochloridecanbefoundinthePatient
InformationLeafletthatcomeswiththismedicineor
onthemedicinelabel.Alternatively,youcanrequest
informationabouthowtotakeyourmedicinefrom
yourdoctororpharmacist.

IfyouaretakingFluoxetinehydrochloride,oryou
careforsomeonewhoistakingFluoxetine
hydrochloride,youneedtolookoutforchangesin
thoughtsorbehaviourthatcouldbelinkedtoself
harmorsuicide.
Ifyounoticeanyofthesechangesorareworried
abouthowFluoxetinehydrochlorideisaffectingyou
orsomeoneyoucarefor,youshouldcontactyour
prescriber,amentalhealthprofessionalorcall111
assoonaspossible.

Ifyouarehavingproblemstakingthisformof
Fluoxetinehydrochloride,youshouldtalktoyour
prescriberorpharmacist.Theymaybeabletogive
youadviceonotherwaystotakeyourmedicineor
otherpreparationsthatareeasierforyoutotake.
Takingtoomuchofyourmedicine

Itisimportantthatyoudiscusswithyourprescriber
howlongitwilltakebeforeyoucanexpecttofeel
anybenefitsfromtakingFluoxetinehydrochloride.

Takingextradosesofsomemedicinescanbe
harmful.Insomecasesevenoneextradosecan
causeyouproblems.Ifyoutakeextradosesofyour
medicine,youmustgetmedicaladviceimmediately.
Youmayneedatesttoassesstheeffectoftaking
extradoses.Thisisbecausetheeffectsoftaking
toomuchmedicineareverycomplexsoitisvery
importantthatyouseekmedicaladvice.

Donotshareyourmedicinewithotherpeople.It
maynotbesuitableforthemandmayharmthem.

Contactyourprescriber,pharmacist,specialistclinic
orcall111foradvice.

Thepharmacylabelonyourmedicinetellsyouhow
muchmedicineyoushouldtake.Italsotellsyou
howoftenyoushouldtakeyourmedicine.Thisis
thedosethatyouandyourprescriberhaveagreed
youshouldtake.Youshouldnotchangethedoseof
yourmedicineunlessyouaretoldtodosobyyour
prescriber.

Makesureyoutakeallofyourmedicinecontainers
withyouifyouareadvisedtogotohospital.

Ifyoufeelthatthemedicineismakingyouunwellor
youdonotthinkitisworking,thentalktoyour
prescriber.
Whentotakeyourmedicine
Somemedicinesworkbestiftheyaretakenata
specifictimeofday.Gettingthemostbenefitfrom
yourmedicinecanalsobeaffectedbywhatyoueat,
whenyoueatandthetimesatwhichyoutakeother
medicines.
SpecificinformationonwhentotakeFluoxetine
hydrochloridecanbefoundinthePatient
Providedbywww.medicines.org.uk/guides

Stoppingyourmedicine
Ifyouarenothavinganyproblemstakingthis
medicinethendonotstoptakingit,evenifyoufeel
better,unlessadvisedtodosobyyourprescriber.If,
however,youfindthatthismedicineiscausingyou
problemsthenyoushouldtalktoyourprescriber
aboutyourconcerns.
Ifyourmedicalteamdecidesthatitisbestthatyou
donottakethismedicineanymore,theymay
advisethatyoudonotstopFluoxetinehydrochloride
abruptly.Thisisbecause,insomeinstances,
stoppingFluoxetinehydrochlorideabruptlycan
causewithdrawalsymptomsorcauseyouroriginal
conditiontoreturn.Intheseinstances,reducingthe
doseofFluoxetinehydrochloridegraduallyovertime
mayreducethechancesofhavingtheseproblems.

Ifyouareinanydoubt,contactyourprescriber,
pharmacist,specialistclinicorcall111.
Lookingafteryourmedicine
Theinstructionsonhowyoushouldkeepyour
medicineareonthepharmacylabel.Itisagood
ideatokeepyourmedicineintheoriginalcontainer.
Thiswillhelptokeepyourmedicineinthebest
conditionandalsoallowyoutocheckthe
instructions.Donottakethemedicineifthe
packagingappearstohavebeentamperedwithorif
themedicineshowsanysignsofdamage.Make
surethatthemedicineisoutofthesightandreach
ofchildren.
SpecificinformationonhowtolookafterFluoxetine
hydrochloridecanbefoundinthePatient
InformationLeafletthatcomeswiththismedicineor
onthemedicinelabel.Alternatively,youcanrequest
informationabouthowtolookafteryourmedicine
fromyourdoctororpharmacist.
Youmustnottakethemedicineaftertheexpirydate
shownonthepackaging.Ifyouhaveanyunused
medicine,returnittoyourpharmacistwhowill
disposeofitsafely.
Whetherthismedicineissuitableforyou

haveriskfactorsfordevelopingcertaintypes
ofheartproblemssuchasmetabolic
problems,slowerhearrateorheartattack
Furthermoretheprescribermayonlyprescribethis
medicinewithspecialcareormaynotprescribeitat
allforchildwhoisundereightyearsofage.
Aspartoftheprocessofassessingsuitabilityto
takethismedicineaprescribermayalsoarrange
tests:

tocheckthatthismedicineisnothavingany
undesiredeffects

todeterminewhetherornotthemedicineis
suitableandwhetheritmustbeprescribed
withextracare
OvertimeitispossiblethatFluoxetinehydrochloride
canbecomeunsuitableforsomepeople,orthey
maybecomeunsuitableforit.Ifatanytimeit
appearsthatFluoxetinehydrochloridehasbecome
unsuitable,itisimportantthattheprescriberis
contactedimmediately.
Sideeffects
Amedicineisonlymadeavailabletothepublicifthe
clinicaltrialshaveshownthatthebenefitsoftaking
themedicineoutweightherisks.

Fluoxetinehydrochlorideisnotsuitableforeveryone
andsomepeopleshouldneveruseit.Otherpeople
shouldonlyuseitwithspecialcare.Itisimportant
thatthepersonprescribingthismedicineknows
yourfullmedicalhistory.

Onceamedicinehasbeenlicensed,informationon
themedicine'seffects,bothintendedand
unintended,iscontinuouslyrecordedandupdated.

Yourprescribermayonlyprescribethismedicine
withspecialcareormaynotprescribeitatallifyou:

areelderly

haveliverproblems

haveepilepsy

havekidneyproblems

areallergicorsensitivetoorhavehada
reactiontoanyoftheingredientsinthe
medicine

aretakingmonoamineoxidaseinhibitorsor
havetakenthemwithinthelasttwoweeks

havediabetes

haveorhavehadmania

haveorhavehadthoughtsofcommitting
suicide

haveorhavehadbleedingproblems

haveorhavehadseizures

arehavingelectroconvulsivetherapy

areatriskofnarrowangleglaucoma

haveraisedpressureintheeye

haveorhaveafamilyhistoryofheart
problems

Everyone'sreactiontoamedicineisdifferent.Itis
difficulttopredictwhichsideeffectsyouwillhave
fromtakingaparticularmedicine,orwhetheryou
willhaveanysideeffectsatall.Theimportantthing
istotellyourprescriberorpharmacistifyouare
havingproblemswithyourmedicine.

Page1of3

Somesideeffectsmaybeseriouswhileothersmay
onlybeamildinconvenience.

Verycommon:Morethan1in10peoplewhotake
Fluoxetinehydrochloride

diarrhoea

difficultysleeping

headaches

nausea

tiredness

weakness
Common:Morethan1in100peoplewhotake
Fluoxetinehydrochloride

bleedingproblemsinwomen

blurredvision

chills

concentrationproblems

decreasedlibido

drymouth
Lastupdated30Oct14
Copyright2010Datapharm

Fluoxetinehydrochloride
Fluoxetine20mgcapsules
Whenusedinobsessivecompulsivedisorder

ejaculationproblems
erectiledysfunction
feelinganxious
feelingdizzy
feelingjittery
feelingnervous
feelingrestless
feelingsoftension
flushing
hotflushes
increasedsweating
indigestion
jointpain
lethargy
lossofappetite
palpitations
sedation
skinrashorrashes,urticaria,itchingyouor
yourcarermustseekmedicaladviceifyou
getrashesurticariaoritching

sleepiness

sleepingproblemsincludingabnormal
dreamsornightmares

tastechanges

tremors

urinatingmoreoften

vomiting

weightloss

yawning
Uncommon:Morethan1in1000peoplewhotake
Fluoxetinehydrochloride

abnormallaboratorytestresults

abnormalmusclemovementsorproblems
controllingmusclemovement

abnormalorgasmincludinginabilitytohave
anorgasm

abnormalthoughtsorfeelings

balanceorcoordinationproblems

behaviouralproblemsorworseningof
behaviouralproblemssuchasfeelingsof
hostility,anger,aggression,thoughtsof
committingsuicideorsuicidaltendencies
youoryourcarermustseekmedicaladviceif
youhavebehaviouralchanges,thoughtsof
committingsuicideorhaveattemptedto
commitsuicide

bleedinggums

bloodystools

breathingdifficulties

coldsweats

depersonalisation

easybruisingoftheskin

enlargementofthepupil

euphoria

feelingcold
Providedbywww.medicines.org.uk/guides

feelinghot

gastrointestinalorrectalbleeding

generalfeelingofbeingunwell

hairloss

loweredbloodpressure

melaena

memoryproblems

moodchanges

muscletwitching

nosebleed

painfulurination

psychomotorhyperactivity

sexualdysfunction

swallowingdifficulties

teethgrinding

tinnitus

vomitingblood
Rare:Morethan1in10,000peoplewhotake
Fluoxetinehydrochloride

anaphylacticreactionsyouoryourcarer
mustseekmedicaladviceifyouget
anaphylacticreactions

angioedemayouoryourcarermustseek
medicaladviceifyoudevelopangioedema

bleedingfrommucousmembranesorthe
skin

bruising

confusion

convulsions

ECGchanges

endocrineproblems

erythemamultiformethiscouldleadto
StevensJohnsonsyndromeortoxic
epidermalnecrolysis

feelingagitated

feelingrestlessandinabilitytositstill

galactorrhoea

hallucinations

heartproblems

liverproblems

lungproblems

maniaormanialikebehaviouryouoryour
carermustimmediatelyseekmedicaladvice
ifyoudevelopsymptomsofmania

metabolicproblems

musclepainortenderness

oesophagealpain

panicattacks

pharyngitis

photosensitivity

priapism

seizuresyouoryourcarermustseek
immediatemedicaladviceifyouhave
seizuresorifseizuresoccurmorefrequently

serotoninorneurolepticmalignanttype
syndromethismaybefatal.Youoryour
carermustseekimmediatemedicalhelpif
yougetthesesymptoms:abnormallyhigh
bodytemperature,rigidity,muscletwitchesor
suddenjerks,mentalchangesincluding
confusion,irritability,agitation,deliriumor
coma

serumsickness

speechproblems

tardivedyskinesia

thrombocytopenia

unexplainedoreasybruisingoftheskinor
mucousmembranes

urinaryproblems

urinaryretention

vasculitis

vasodilatation
Thefrequencyofthesesideeffectsisunknown

bloodsugarcontrolchangesindiabetics

bonefractures

otherbleedingproblems

withdrawalsymptomscanoccurwhenthis
medicineisstoppedabruptly.Theseinclude
dizziness,sensorychangessuchas
paraesthesiae,weakness,increased
agitation,anxiety,sleepingproblems
includingsleepdisturbancesorintense
dreams,nausea,vomiting,tremorsor
headaches
Thefollowingsideeffectshavealsobeenreported
inchildrenandadolescentswhotakemedicines
similartoFluoxetinehydrochloride.Thefrequency
ofthesesideeffectsisunknown

delayintheonsetofpubertyand
developmentofsexualorgans

feelingsofhostility

growthsuppressionorreducedweightgain
Ifyoufeelunwellorifyouhaveconcernsabouta
sideeffect,youwillneedtoseekadvice.Ifyoufeel
veryill,getmedicalhelpstraightaway.Contactyour
prescriber,pharmacist,nurseorcall111.
Takingothermedicines
Ifyouaretakingmorethanonemedicinetheymay
interactwitheachother.Attimesyourprescriber
maydecidetousemedicinesthatinteract,inother
casesthismaynotbeappropriate.
Thedecisiontousemedicinesthatinteractdepends
onyourspecificcircumstances.Yourprescribermay
decidetousemedicinesthatinteract,ifitisbelieved
thatthebenefitsoftakingthemedicinestogether
outweightherisks.Insuchcases,itmaybe

Page2of3

necessarytoalteryourdoseormonitoryoumore
closely.
Tellyourprescriberthenamesofallthemedicines
thatyouaretakingsothattheycanconsiderall
possibleinteractions.Thisincludesallthemedicines
whichhavebeenprescribedbyyourGP,hospital
doctor,dentist,nurse,healthvisitor,midwifeor
pharmacist.Youmustalsotellyourprescriberabout
medicineswhichyouhaveboughtoverthecounter
withoutprescriptions.
Thefollowingmedicinesmayinteractwith
Fluoxetinehydrochloride:

warfarin

flecainide

encainide

carbamazepine

moclobemide

clozapine

aspirin

tramadol

lithium

tryptophan

selegiline

phenytoin

insulin

tamoxifen

linezolid

methylthioniniumchloride

pimozide

sparfloxacin

haloperidol

moxifloxacin

erythromycinwheninjectedintothevein

pentamidine

halofantrine

astemizole

mizolastine
Thefollowingtypesofmedicinemayinteractwith
Fluoxetinehydrochloride:

oralanticoagulants

tricyclicantidepressants

medicinesthataremetabolisedbythe
cytochromeP450system

phenothiazines

nonsteroidalantiinflammatories

serotonergics

monoamineoxidaseinhibitors

triptans

diuretics

medicinesthataffectplateletfunctionor
bleeding

hypoglycaemics

atypicalantipsychotics

medicinesthatprolongtheQTcinterval
Lastupdated30Oct14
Copyright2010Datapharm

Fluoxetinehydrochloride
Fluoxetine20mgcapsules
Whenusedinobsessivecompulsivedisorder

antiarrhythmics

antimicrobialagents

antimalarials

antihistamines
IfyouaretakingFluoxetinehydrochlorideandone
oftheabovemedicinesortypesofmedicines,make
sureyourprescriberknowsaboutit.
Complementarypreparationsandvitamins
Medicinescaninteractwithcomplementary
preparationsandvitamins.
Makesureyoutellyourprescriberthenamesofall
thecomplementarypreparationsandvitaminsthat
youaretakingorareplanningtotake.
Yourprescribercanthendecidewhetheritis
appropriateforyoutotakecombinationsthatare
knowntointeract.
InthecaseofFluoxetinehydrochloride:

thismedicineinteractswithSt.John'sWort
IfyouhavebeenprescribedFluoxetine
hydrochlorideyoushouldonlytakesomethingon
theabovelistonthespecificadviceofyour
prescriberorpharmacist.
Drivingandoperatingmachinery
Whentakinganymedicineyoushouldbeawarethat
itmightinterferewithyourabilitytodriveoroperate
machinerysafely.
InthecaseofFluoxetinehydrochloride:

thismedicinecouldaffectyourabilitytodrive
oroperatemachinery
Youshouldseehowthismedicineaffectsyou
beforeyoujudgewhetheryouaresafetodriveor
operatemachinery.Ifyouareinanydoubtabout
whetheryoushoulddriveoroperatemachinery,talk
toyourprescriber.
Diet
Medicinescaninteractwithcertainfoods.Insome
cases,thismaybeharmfulandyourprescribermay
adviseyoutoavoidcertainfoods.
InthecaseofFluoxetinehydrochloride:

therearenospecificfoodsthatyoumust
excludefromyourdietwhentaking
Fluoxetinehydrochloride
Alcohol
Alcoholcaninteractwithcertainmedicines.
InthecaseofFluoxetinehydrochloride:

thismedicinemayinteractwithalcohol

Youshouldseekadvicefromyourprescriberasto
whetheryoumaydrinkalcoholwhiletakingthis
medicine.
Familyplanningandpregnancy
Mostmedicines,insomeway,canaffectthe
developmentofababyinthewomb.Theeffecton
thebabydiffersbetweenmedicinesandalso
dependsonthestageofpregnancythatyouhave
reachedwhenyoutakethemedicine.
InthecaseofFluoxetinehydrochloride:

youshouldonlytakethismedicineduring
pregnancyifyourdoctorthinksthatyouneed
it

ifyoutakethismedicineduringpregnancy,
particularlyduringthelatestagesofyour
pregnancyorjustbeforelabourstarts,your
babymayhavesomeproblemsafterbirth.
Also,yourbabymayhavewithdrawal
symptomsfromFluoxetinehydrochloride
afterbirth
Youneedtodiscussyourspecificcircumstances
withyourdoctortoweighuptheoverallrisksand
benefitsoftakingthismedicine.Youandyourdoctor
canmakeadecisionaboutwhetheryouaregoingto
takethismedicineduringpregnancy.

Weareunabletolistalloftheingredientsforyour
medicinehere.Forafulllist,youshouldrefertothe
patientinformationleafletthatcomeswiththis
medicine.Youshouldcheckthatyouareableto
taketheingredientsofyourmedicine,especiallyif
youhaveanyallergies.Youshouldalsocheck
whetheranyoftheseingredientsareknowntohave
sideeffects.
Ifyouarenotabletotakeanyoftheingredientsin
yourmedicine,talktoyourprescriberorpharmacist
toseeiftheycansuggestanalternativemedicine.If
youhavereactedbadlytoFluoxetinehydrochloride
before,donottakeFluoxetinehydrochloride.Talkto
yourprescriber,pharmacistornurseassoonas
possible.

Ifthedecisionisthatyoushouldnothave
Fluoxetinehydrochloride,thenyoushoulddiscuss
whetherthereisanalternativemedicinethatyou
couldtakeduringpregnancy.
Breastfeeding
Certainmedicinescanpassintobreastmilkand
mayreachyourbabythroughbreastfeeding.
InthecaseofFluoxetinehydrochloride:

thismedicinepassesintobreastmilk
Beforeyouhaveyourbabyyoushoulddiscuss
breastfeedingwithyourdoctorormidwife.Theywill
helpyoudecidewhatisbestforyouandyourbaby
basedonthebenefitsandrisksassociatedwiththis
medicine.Youshouldonlybreastfeedyourbaby
whiletakingthismedicineontheadviceofyour
doctorormidwife.
Ingredientsofyourmedicine
Medicinescontainactiveingredients.Theymayalso
containother,additionalingredientsthathelpensure
thestability,safetyandeffectivenessofthe
medicine.Theyarealsoaddedtoimprovethe
medicine'stasteandappearanceandtomakeit
easiertotake.Somemaybeusedtoprolongthelife
ofthemedicine.
Thismedicinecontainsfluoxetinehydrochloride.

Providedbywww.medicines.org.uk/guides

Page3of3

Lastupdated30Oct14
Copyright2010Datapharm