Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about taking this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I taking PROZAC?
PROZAC contains the active ingredient fluoxetine hydrochloride. PROZAC is used to
treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
(PMDD).
2. What should I know before I take PROZAC?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to PROZAC or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines,
or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with PROZAC and affect how it works.
4. How do I take PROZAC?
Your doctor will tell you how much PROZAC you need to take each day.
5. What should I know while taking PROZAC?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking PROZAC.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking PROZAC.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have thoughts about harming or killing yourself
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop taking this medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Do not take the herbal remedy St. John’s Wort while you are being treated with PROZAC.
Do not give PROZAC to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
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Driving or using machines
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Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how PROZAC affects you.
PROZAC may cause impaired judgement, reduced coordination, or drowsiness in some people.
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Drinking alcohol
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Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
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Looking after your medicine
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Keep your capsules in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Common side effects include fatigue, weakness, diarrhoea, chills, headache, nausea,
vomiting, weight loss, dry mouth, trouble sleeping, anxiety, abnormal thoughts/dreams,
drowsiness, dizziness, sweating, twitches, rash, itch, sexual disturbances, frequent
urination, changes in taste and changes in vision. Serious side effects may include:
serious allergic reactions, muscle spasms, tremors, seizures, fast, irregular heartbeat,
ECG changes, abnormal bleeding/bruising, sudden mood swings, confusion, loss of coordination,
increased risk of breaking a bone, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme and
serotonin syndrome.
Active ingredient:
fluoxetine hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about taking PROZAC. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about taking PROZAC.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking PROZAC?
PROZAC contains the active ingredient fluoxetine hydrochloride. PROZAC belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs). SSRIs are thought to work by their action on brain chemicals called amines
which are involved in controlling mood.
PROZAC is used to treat:
• depression
• obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
2. What should I know before I take PROZAC?
Warnings
Do not take PROZAC if:
you are allergic to fluoxetine hydrochloride, or any of the ingredients listed at
the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can take this
medicine.
you are taking another medicine for depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) or have been taking a MAOI within the last 14 days.
you are taking another medicine called pimozide to treat disturbances in thinking,
feelings and behavior.
Check with your doctor if you:
have any other medical conditions, such as:
liver problems
heart conditions
raised eye pressure
kidney problems
seizures or fits
diabetes
bleeding disorders
any other mental condition
have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
had a recent bone fracture or were told you have osteoporosis or risk factors for
osteoporosis
take any medicines for any other condition
drink alcohol.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor
will discuss the risks and benefits of taking PROZAC during pregnancy. When taken
during pregnancy, particularly in the last 3 months of pregnancy, medicines like PROZAC
may affect your newborn baby and they may experience irritability, constant crying,
feeding difficulties, vomiting, fluctuating temperature, seizures or fits, tremors,
jitteriness, bluish appearance (cyanosis), breathing interruptions, low blood sugar,
muscle stiffness, muscle weakness, or over responsive reflexes, These symptoms are
uncommon and may be due to the effect of PROZAC or the discontinuation of PROZAC.
When used during pregnancy, particularly in late pregnancy, medicines like PROZAC
may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies called persistent pulmonary
hypertension (PPHN) which may cause the baby to breathe faster and appear bluish.
If this happens to your baby, you should contact your doctor and/or go straight to
the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
If you take PROZAC near the end of your pregnancy, there may be an increased risk
of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after birth. Tell your doctor or midwife if you
are taking PROZAC so that they can advise you.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Breastfeeding
while on PROZAC is not recommended.
Use in children
PROZAC is not recommended for use by children under the age of 18 years
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some combinations of medicines may increase the risk of serious side effects and are
potentially life threatening.
Some medicines may be affected by PROZAC or may affect how well it works. These include:
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), medicines used to treat some types of depression.
You should stop taking MAOIs at least two weeks before starting PROZAC. If you do
take PROZAC while you are taking a MAOI, you may experience elevated body temperature,
muscle stiffness, involuntary muscle jerking, fluctuations of vital signs (blood pressure,
heart rate, breathing rate) and mental state from extreme agitation progressing to
confusion and coma (a condition called serotonin syndrome).
tamoxifen, a medicine used to treat breast cancer
lithium, a medicine used to treat mood swings and some types of depression
serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants
and other medicines for depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or premenstrual
dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
sleeping tablets or sedatives
medicines used to relieve anxiety
medicines used to treat certain mental and emotional conditions, also called antipsychotics
medicine used to treat disturbances in thoughts, feelings and behaviour, such as pimozide
medicines used to control seizures, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine
medicines used to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin
flecainide, a medicine used to treat some heart conditions
tryptophan
St John's Wort
medicines used to relieve pain, such as tramadol
triptan medicines used to treat migraine, such as sumatriptan .
Do not start taking other medicines for depression without checking with your doctor.
Do this even if you have already stopped taking PROZAC.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect PROZAC.
4. How do I take PROZAC?
How much to take
The usual dose for PROZAC is one capsule taken once a day. Your doctor may increase
or decrease your dose depending on your condition.
For premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), PROZAC may be prescribed to be taken every
day or only during a certain part of the month. Your doctor will prescribe the dosing
schedule that is right for you.
Follow the instructions provided and use PROZAC until your doctor tells you to stop.
When to take PROZAC
PROZAC should be taken as a single morning dose.
If your doctor tells you to take PROZAC twice a day, take a dose in the morning and
at noon. Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
How to take PROZAC
Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water
It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.
How long to take PROZAC
Continue to take PROZAC for as long as your doctor recommends.
The length of treatment with PROZAC will depend on how quickly your symptoms improve.
Most medicines of this type take time to work so don't be discouraged if you do not
feel better right away. While some symptoms will be relieved sooner than others, PROZAC
commonly takes two to four weeks before improvement is really apparent.
If you do not start to feel better in about four weeks, check with your doctor.
If you forget to take PROZAC
PROZAC should be taken regularly at the same time each day.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take too much PROZAC
If you think that you have taken too much PROZAC, you may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, seizures or fits,
fast or slow heartbeat or change in heart rhythm, breathing difficulty, altered level
of alertness from excitation to coma.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while taking PROZAC?
Things you should do
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or start breastfeeding while taking PROZAC.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking PROZAC during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
The symptoms of depression or other psychiatric conditions may include thoughts of
harming yourself or suicide. These symptoms may continue or get worse during the first
one or two months of treatment until the full antidepressant effect of PROZAC becomes apparent. This
is more likely to occur in young adults under 25 years of age.
If you or someone you know is demonstrating any of the following warning signs, call
your doctor straight away or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital:
worsening of your depression
thoughts or talk of death or suicide
thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
any recent attempts at self-harm
increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or any other unusual changes in behaviour
or mood
All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking PROZAC. If
you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist
that you are taking PROZAC.
Things you should not do
Do not stop taking this medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Suddenly stopping PROZAC may cause symptoms such as dizziness, sleep disturbance,
headache, irritability, anxiety, agitation, nausea, confusion, weakness, and tingling
or numbness in the hands or feet. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the
amount of PROZAC you are taking before stopping completely
Do not take the herbal remedy St. John's Wort while you are being treated with PROZAC.
If you are already taking the herbal remedy, stop taking St. John's Wort and mention
it to your doctor at your next visit.
Do not give PROZAC to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not let yourself run out of PROZAC over the weekend or on holidays.
Do not take PROZAC to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not take PROZAC if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or the capsules
do not look quite right.
Driving or using machines
Do not drive or use any machines or tools until you know how PROZAC affects you.
PROZAC may cause impaired judgement, reduced coordination, or drowsiness in some people.
Drinking alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
Although drinking alcohol is unlikely to affect your response to PROZAC, your doctor
may suggest avoiding alcohol while you are being treated for depression.
Looking after your medicine
Keep your capsules in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Keep your capsules in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do
not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to take this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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Gastrointestinal:
nausea, vomiting
upset stomach, diarrhoea
loss of appetite, weight loss, changes in taste, dry mouth
Nervous system:
drowsiness
flushing
nervousness, anxiety
dizziness
Abnormal thoughts
headache
Sleep related:
trouble sleeping, unusual dreams
Skin related:
itch
rash
sweating
Eye related:
changes in vision.
Muscle related:
twitches
General symptoms:
fatigue, weakness
yawning
allergic reactions
chills
sexual disturbances (decreased sexual drive, problems with orgasm, ejaculation or
erection). In some cases, these symptoms have continued after stopping treatment
more frequent urination
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
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Serious side effects
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Serious side effects
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What to do
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Serious allergic reaction:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty
breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, or rash,
itching or hives on the skin.
Nervous system:
muscle spasms
tremors
seizures or fits
loss of coordination
confusion
feeling confused, feeling restless, agitation, mood swings, sweating, shaking, diarrhoea,
shivering, tremor, loss of coordination, overactive reflexes, hallucinations, sudden
jerks in your muscles or a fast heart beat (these may be symptoms of a rare condition
called serotonin syndrome)
sudden switches of mood to one of overactivity and uninhibited behaviour
Heart related:
fast, irregular heartbeat
ECG changes
Bone and muscle related:
Increased risk of breaking a bone
General symptoms:
abnormal bleeding or bruising
a widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly around the mouth, nose,
eyes and genitals (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
severe skin rash, which may blister and looks like small targets (central dark spots
surround by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge) (erythema multiforme)
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people. Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What PROZAC contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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fluoxetine hydrochloride
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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pre-gelatinized maize starch
dimeticone 350
gelatin
iron oxide yellow
patent blue V
titanium dioxide
edible black ink.
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Potential allergens
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Contains sulfites
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
PROZAC capsules are gluten free.
What PROZAC looks like
PROZAC capsules are coloured green and off-white and are marked with "Lilly" and "3105"
(Aust R 14653).
PROZAC capsules 20 mg are available in packs of 28.
Who distributes PROZAC
Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd
Level 9, 60 Margaret Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Eli Lilly and Company (NZ) Limited
PO Box 109 197, Newmarket
Auckland
Telephone (09) 523 9300
This leaflet was prepared in July 2024.
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