"Fluoxetine" is a drug belonging to the group of antidepressants. This drug is intended for the treatment of obsessive and depressive conditions, which are accompanied by anxiety, and in addition, fear. Against the background of systematic use, the drug reduces apathy, reducing the feeling of tension and fear. In addition, the medication significantly improves the mood, appetite and sleep of the patient. In our article, we will consider in detail the instructions for use of this medication, find out what indications are for its use, and in addition, find out whether Fluoxetine tablets can be combined with alcohol.
What is a medicine?
One of the main medical problems today is mental disorders in patients. In addition, people often have problems with the nervous and endocrine systems. Diseases that are associated with such a disorder include bulimia along with bulimic neurosis, which is characterized by an eating disorder, and in addition, a paroxysmal increase in appetite.
Patients often overeat. In turn, overeating can cause a huge number of various health problems. For example, against the background of this, obesity can occur in people, which is associated with the consumption of calories that are many times higher than normal. There may also be weakness, along with pain in the epigastric region. In addition, people are constantly experiencing an uncontrolled feeling of hunger.
Fearing to die of starvation, patients often resort to nightly eating, as they are overtaken by seizures. As a result of all this, a person constantly thinks about food and absorbs food uncontrollably. These patients are especially characterized by weight control. The fact is that, realizing all the negative consequences associated with overeating, a person tries to induce vomiting using forced cleansing of the stomach. Such actions in combination with disorders of the nervous system lead to extremely serious complications, such as neurasthenia, heart failure, apathy, psychological discomfort, and so on.
It is here that the medicine “Fluoxetine” comes to fight depression and bulimic neurosis . Thus, as part of the treatment of such ailments, this drug managed to prove itself well, and at the same time, many positive reviews can be read about it, which only confirms its effectiveness in the treatment of neurosis and depression.
This drug is an antidepressant from the category of selective inhibitors that reuptake serotonin. This medication perfectly copes with any state of fear and anxiety, reducing the feeling of apathy and lethargy. Among other things, "Fluoxetine" perfectly normalizes appetite, contributing to better sleep. The drug improves the mental activity of patients, restoring their interest in life. It is worth noting that this antidepressant does not cause inhibition, and against the background of its use, people do not have drowsiness. It is also worth noting that this drug does not produce a sedative effect and can be used in the daytime.
The presented medicinal product accumulates in the tissues of the body, and its therapeutic effect appears fourteen days after the start of therapy. This drug is available in capsules, and its active ingredient is fluoxetine. Next, we talk about the composition in more detail.
The composition of the drug
So, the active substance in the composition of "Fluoxetine" is fluoxetine hydrochloride. One capsule contains 10 milligrams of the component. Auxiliary ingredients are lactose monohydrate, potato starch, magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. The capsule itself consists of gelatin, which quickly dissolves in the stomach.
Indications for use
Fluoxetine tablets are used in a number of the following cases:
- against the background of depression of various origins;
- the presence of obsessive-compulsive disorders;
- with bulimic neurosis.
Indications for Fluoxetine, as well as contraindications for use, must be strictly observed in order to avoid negative consequences for the body.
Contraindications for the use of the drug
As for contraindications, this drug is not suitable for use in the following cases:
- the presence of glaucoma;
- against the background of atony of the bladder;
- in the presence of severe renal impairment;
- against the background of benign prostatic hyperplasia;
- with the simultaneous administration of inhibitors;
- the presence of convulsive syndrome of various origins;
- against the background of epilepsy, pregnancy, lactation, and in addition, in the presence of increased sensitivity to the main component.
Drug dosage
According to the instructions for use with Fluoxetine, the initial dose of this drug is 20 milligrams once a day. Usually, the medication is taken in the morning. If necessary, the dosage can be increased after four weeks. Frequency of use is three times a day. The maximum daily dose for adults when taken orally is 80 milligrams of the drug.
Analogues of "Fluoxetine" will be presented at the end of the article.
Side effects on the background of the use of a medication
"Fluoxetine" can cause various adverse reactions from the work of internal organs and systems:
- The nervous system may be accompanied by a state of anxiety, nervousness, tremor, drowsiness, headache, or sleep disturbance.
- The digestive system can respond to diarrhea and nausea.
- Material metabolism can respond by increased sweating, hypoglycemia and hyponatremia. This is especially true for elderly patients and those who suffer from hypovolemia. What other side effects from Fluoxetine may occur?
- On the part of the reproductive system, people may experience a decrease in libido.
- As allergic reactions, skin rash and itching may occur.
- Other side effects associated with taking this drug include joint and muscle pain, along with difficulty breathing and fever.
So, as can be seen from the above list of side effects, Fluoxetine can cause a lot of different negative reactions as a result of use. Adverse reactions, as a rule, occur in patients at the beginning of treatment, especially when taking high doses of the drug. In addition, they can be observed against the background of uncontrolled use of the drug, or in cases where the drug is prescribed without taking into account the indicated contraindications.
The side effects of Fluoxetine may also be caused by the simultaneous administration of it with some monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which are antidepressants. The combination of this antidepressant with ethanol also negatively affects the state of the whole organism. It is worth noting that, as part of the competent prescription of this drug, it is well tolerated by most patients, contributing to their speedy recovery, and the number of adverse reactions is minimized.
What else does the instruction for use with Fluoxetine tell us?
Drug interaction of the drug with other drugs
Against the background of simultaneous use with ethanol, an increase in the inhibitory effect on the nervous system is possible, and in addition, the likelihood of developing seizures increases. In the case of the simultaneous use of "Fluoxetine" with inhibitors, as well as with drugs in the form of "Furazolidone", "Procarbazine" and "Tryptophan", the occurrence of serotonin syndrome may occur , which will be manifested by confusion and a hypomanic state. It is also possible motor anxiety along with convulsions, dysarthria, hypertensive crisis, chills, nausea, tremors or diarrhea.
In cases of simultaneous use, "Fluoxetine" can inhibit the metabolism of tetracyclic antidepressants. In this regard, it is undesirable to combine it with Trazodone, Carbamazepine, Diazepam, Metoprolol and Phenytoin. Such a combination can lead to an increase in the concentration of these drugs in the blood serum, a significant increase in their therapeutic and side effects. This is confirmed by the instructions for use of "Fluoxetine."
Against the background of simultaneous use with hypoglycemic agents, an increase in their effect is likely. There is also information about the increased effect of Warfarin, when combined with Fluoxetine. In the case of the simultaneous use of “Fluoxetine” with drugs such as “Haloperidol”, “Fluphenazine”, “Maprotiline”, “Metoclopramide”, “Perfenazin”, “Periciazine” and “Risperidone”, extrapyramidal symptoms and dystonia may occur. In combination with Dextromethorphan, a case of hallucinations is described. And in combination with Digoxin, the Fluoxetine drug increases its concentration in blood plasma.
When used simultaneously with Phenylpropanolamine, cases are described in which patients experience dizziness, along with weight loss and hyperactivity. Against the background of the simultaneous use of “Fluoxetine” with “Flecainide”, “Mexiletin”, “Propafenone”, “Thioridazine” and “Zuclopentixol”, the effects of these drugs may be enhanced.
Special instructions for the use of the drug
In accordance with the instructions for use with Fluoxetine, this medicine is used with great care to treat patients who suffer from impaired renal and hepatic function. In addition, you should not abuse the drug if you have a history of epileptic seizures, against a background of vascular and heart diseases.
In patients with diabetes, changes in glucose levels are possible, which will require correction of the dosage regimen of hypoglycemic drugs. In the event that this drug is taken by weakened patients, then they increase the likelihood of epileptic seizures. Against the background of the simultaneous use of the drug "Fluoxetine" with electroconvulsive treatment, prolonged epileptic seizures may occur.
The medication is allowed to be used no earlier than fourteen days after the withdrawal of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The time period after the cancellation of "Fluoxetine" before starting treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors should be at least five weeks. Patients in old age need to adjust the dosage regimen of this drug.
As for the safety of the use of drugs for the treatment of children, such data have not been established. During the period of therapy with this drug, alcohol should not be allowed. During treatment, it is necessary to refrain from hazardous activities that require increased attention, and in addition, a quick psychomotor reaction.
Drug withdrawal
Antidepressants of any category affect certain nerve endings, that is, receptors that affect brain function. After these endings are saturated with the active substances of antidepressants, they can block many chemical, and, in addition, biological processes and reactions that occur in the body. In that case, if you sharply stop taking antidepressants, then the previously blocked process is released, and the body's reaction to this factor can turn out to be very different, including extremely negative. The same applies to the antidepressant Fluoxetine.
Any antidepressants should be withdrawn gradually. In the first few days of cancellation, it is necessary to monitor the diet. For example, at this time, liquid foods are most suitable for people: juices, soups and stewed fruit. You should not forget about vegetables with fruits, and, in addition, you must drink water so that the drug leaves the body as quickly as possible. The first week without “Fluoxetine” should pass without complex physical exertion, at this time it is better to abandon the sport or at least reduce training.
But “Fluoxetine”, according to doctors, has an advantage over other antidepressants. In medical reviews, some experts report that in the case of Fluoxetine, the withdrawal syndrome should not be so worried, since its active metabolite continues to produce an antidepressant effect after stopping the drug for another fourteen to eighteen days. In this regard, many experts are confident (and cases in their practice confirm this) that this antidepressant can be canceled at once, without fear of the subsequent occurrence of withdrawal symptoms.
Now let's see what are the possible consequences in case of simultaneous use of “Fluoxetine” with alcohol.
The consequences of taking the drug and alcohol
During treatment, it is imperative to refrain from drinking alcohol. The fact is that against the background of joint use, "Fluoxetine" and alcohol can cause signs of excessive serotonin in the blood, which can be expressed in strong excitement. In addition, against the background of such a combination, people may experience hypomania, confusion, delirium, trembling of the whole body, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypertension, fever and muscle hypertonicity.
With this combination, the appearance of acute myocardial infarction is not excluded. It is worth noting that the combined use of the drug with alcohol is often a source of depression of the respiratory centers, which leads to respiratory arrest, and, consequently, to death.
Manufacturer "Fluoxetine"
The tool is a drug made in Russia. The manufacturer of this drug is the Stavropol company Biocom CJSC.
Drug Analogs
The analogues of Fluoxetine are medical products in the form of Deprex, Prodela, Prozac, Flual and Framex. It must be emphasized that in no case can you decide on the replacement of this drug yourself, but you must consult your doctor.