People's Pharmacy

Prozac

Generic Name:fluoxetine

Revised:4/1/2000

Table of Contents

Side Effects and Interactions

Side effects associated with Prozac include headache, nervousness, agitation, insomnia, tremor, fatigue, rash, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dizziness, depersonalization, nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, sweating and dry mouth.

Somewhat less common adverse reactions include impaired concentration and memory, weird dreams, lowered libido, loss or delay of orgasm, abnormal ejaculation, dry skin, constipation, hair loss and itching. Report any symptoms to your physician promptly.

Uncommon but very serious side effects to be alert for are rash with flulike symptoms such as chills, fever or sore throat, anemia, breathing problems, severe allergy, or seizures.

Prozac interacts with a number of other medications. Anyone taking other antidepressants, especially drugs such as Nardil, Marplan or Parnate should stop such a medicine at least two weeks before starting on Prozac.

If Prozac was taken first, five weeks should elapse before starting on one of these other medicines, because Prozac can last in the body a long time.

Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil or Tofranil and even Anafranil for obsessive-compulsive disorder may have stronger actions and more pronounced toxicity when they are combined with Prozac.

If such a combination is prescribed, the physician should monitor blood levels of the medications.

The same is true of the antipsychotic drug Haldol.

If the amino acid tryptophan ever becomes available in this country again, it should not be taken with Prozac, as it may increase the potential for adverse reactions.

Other compounds that could cause complications in combination with Prozac include lithium, Coumadin, Lanoxin and Valium (or similar medications such as Dalmane, Halcion or Klonopin).

Interactions between the herb St. John's wort and Prozac are possible. Switching between antidepressants and herbal treatment calls for medical guidance (physicians can find a suggested protocol for gradual substitution of St. John's wort in Hyla Cass's book, St. John's Wort: Nature's Blues Buster).

Check with your pharmacist and physician before taking any other medicines or herbs.