Sarafem

GENERIC NAME(S): Fluoxetine

Uses

Fluoxetine, sold under the brand names Sarafem among others. Sarafem is used to treat severe forms of depression, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, a definite eating disorder (Bulimia) and premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual disorders).

This medicine can improve your mood, sleep, hunger and energy levels and help you restore your interest in daily life. It can reduce the number of fears, anxiety, unwanted thoughts and panic attacks. This can reduce the urge to perform repetitive tasks (compulsions such as hand washing, counting and checking) that interfere with daily life. Sarafem can reduce premenstrual symptoms like irritation, increase in appetite and depression. It can reduce bulging and bulging behavior.

How To Use Sarafem

Before starting the use of Sarafem, read the medication guide provided by your pharmacist and every time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medicine from mouth, as directed by your doctor, usually once in the morning. If you are taking this medicine twice a day, then your doctor can direct you to take it in the morning and afternoon.

If you are taking Sarafem for premenstrual problems, then your doctor can give you the instructions that you take it every day of the month or 2 weeks before your period during the first full day of your period. To help you remember, mark your calendar.

If you are using the liquid form of this drug, then carefully measure the dose using special measurement equipment / spoon. Do not use domestic spoon because you can not get the right dose.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and treatment response. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication on low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit of it. To help you remember, take it at the same time every day.

It is important to continue this medication, even if you feel OK. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor first. Some conditions may get worse when the drug is stopped suddenly. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

You should see some improvement in 1 to 2 weeks. It may take 4 to 5 weeks to realize full benefits.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Side Effects

See also the warning section.

Nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, sleepiness, lack of appetite, fatigue, sweating, or yawning. If any of these effects persists or worsens, tell your doctor immediately.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this drug because he or she has decided that the benefit is higher than the risk of side effects. Many people using this drug do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these are unlikely but serious side effects: changes in abnormal or serious mental / mood (such as movement, unusual high energy / stimuli, thoughts of suicide), easy injury / bleeding, muscle weakness / Cramps, shuddering, decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual capacity, abnormal weight loss

Get medical help immediately if you have a very serious side effect, including: bloody / black / terry stool, vomiting that looks like a coffee ground, fast / irregular heartbeat, fainting, seizures, signs of kidney problems ( Such as change in the amount of urine), eye pain / swelling / redness, wide mannequin, change in vision (such as seeing rainbow around nightlight, blurred vision).

If you have diabetes, Sarafem or Fluoxetine can affect your blood glucose levels. Regularly monitor your blood glucose and share the results with your doctor. When you start or stop Sarafem, your doctor may need to adjust your medication, diet and exercise.

This drug can increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition, which is called serotonin syndrome / toxicity. The risk increases if you are taking other medicines that increase the serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines that you take (see the drug interaction section). Get medical help immediately when some of the following symptoms develop: Fast heartbeats, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea / vomiting / diarrhea, muscle shaking, unexplained fever, abnormal movement or restlessness

Rarely, men can have painful or longer build for 4 or more hours. If this happens, stop using this medicine and get medical help immediately, or there may be permanent problems.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, if you see symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, get medical help immediately, including: granular, itching / swelling (especially the face / tongue / throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you do not list other effects above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In America – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can notify the FDA of side effects on 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report the health effects of Canada on 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking Sarafem or Fluoxetine, tell your doctor or pharmacist whether you are allergic to it; Or if you have any other allergens. This product can have passive elements, which can cause allergic or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, in particular: personal or family history of bipolar / manic-depressive disorder, personal or family history of suicide attempts, liver problems, diabetes, blood In low sodium (such as may occur while taking “water pills” – diuretics) may occur while taking water, body water (dehydration), seizures, stomach / intestinal ulcers. personal or family history of glaucoma (angle-closure type).

Sarafem may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or deaf. Unless you can safely do it, do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires caution. Avoid alcoholic beverages. If you are using marijuana, talk to your doctor.

Sarafem can cause a condition that affects the rhythm of the heart (Qt prolonged). Prolonged Qt can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast / irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, unconsciousness) that require immediate medical attention.

If you have some medical conditions or Qt may be causing prolonged other medications, the QT can increase the risk of prolonging. Before using Sarafem, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines that you take and if you have any of the following conditions: fixed heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeats, EKG QT prolonged), family history of some heart problems (Qt) longevity in EKG, sudden cardiac death).

Lower levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood can also increase the risk of QT being long. If you use certain medications (such as diuretic / “water pills”) or if you have a condition like severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting, then this risk may increase. Talk to your doctor about using this medicine safely.

This drug contains alcohol in liquid form. If you have diabetes, dependence on alcohol or liver disease, then caution is recommended. Some medicines (such as metronidazole, disulfiram) can cause serious reactions when combined with alcohol. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely.

Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products that you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and herbal products).

Older adults may be more susceptible to the side effects of this drug, especially the length of bleeding and QT (see above). Older adults also have less chances of developing low sodium in the blood, especially if they are taking “water pills” (diuretics).

During pregnancy, this drug should be used only when it is clearly necessary. It can harm an unborn child. Also, mothers who have used this medicine during the last 3 months of pregnancy, children born in them may rarely develop symptoms of withdrawal such as feeding / difficulty breathing, visits, muscles Cramping or crying constantly. If you see any of these symptoms in your newborn, then tell the doctor immediately.

Since untreated mental / mood problems (such as depression, panic attack, obsessive compulsive disorder) can be a serious condition, do not stop taking this medicine until your doctor prescribes it. If you are planning a pregnancy, become pregnant, or think that you may be pregnant, discuss the benefits and risks of using your medicine right away during your pregnancy.

This medicine passes in breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions can change how your medicines work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescriptions / non-prescription medicines and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change any drug supplements without the approval of your doctor.

Sarafem can last up to several weeks after your last dose in your body and can interact with many other medicines. Before using any medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist whether you have taken Sarafem in the last 5 weeks.

Some products that can interact with this drug include: drugs removed from your body by certain liver enzymes including vinblastine, antiarrhythmics such as propafenone/flecainide, tricyclic antidepressants such as desipramine/imipramine, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, “blood thinners” such as warfarin.

Taking an MAO inhibitor with your medicine can be a cause of serious (possibly fatal) drug interactions. During treatment with this drug, avoid taking the MAO inhibitor (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine). Most MAO inhibitors should not be taken with this drug before 2 weeks of treatment and for at least 5 weeks. Ask your doctor when to start or stop this medication.

Many drugs besides Sarafem may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including pimozide and thioridazine, among others.

Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this drug. However, if your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for the prevention of heart attack or stroke (usually on a diet of 81-325 mg in a day), then you should continue it when Until your doctor does not give you directions.

If you are taking other medicines that increase serotonin then the risk of serotonin syndrome / toxicity increases. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/”ecstasy,” St. John’s wort, certain antidepressants (including other SSRIs such as citalopram/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), tryptophan, among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome / toxicity can be higher when you start or increase the dose of these medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist whether you are taking other products including alcohol, marijuana, antihistamines (such as cetirizine,  diphenhydramine), sleeping or anxiety medicines (such as  alprazolam,  diazepam,  zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine). Check the label on all your drugs (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products), because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

This drug can interfere with some medical / laboratory tests (including brain scans for Parkinson’s disease), possibly the result of a wrong test. Ensure that the lab staff and all your doctors know that you use this medicine.

Over Dose

If someone is treated and has serious symptoms like having trouble going out or breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call the Poison Control Center immediately. US residents can call their local venom control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canadians can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness, unconsciousness

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Keep all regular medical and psychiatric appointments.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, then as soon as you remember, take it. If it is near the next dose time, then leave the thesis supplement and start your normal dose program again. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Until instructed not to do so, do not flush the medicines in the toilet and do not drain in the drain. When this period expires or does not need it, then properly release this product. Consult your drug dealer or local waste disposal company to get more information about safely terminating your product.

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.