Egis fluoxetine – how does it work on the body? Use in adults and children

Proven content

Fluoxetine is a drug used in the treatment of major depressive episodes, obsessive-compulsive disorder or treatment of bulimia nervosa. The preparation can be administered to both adults and children, but the dosing schedule should be determined only by a doctor. How does Fluoxetine work on the body? Are there any precautions when using it?

Fluxetin – how does it work?

The active substance in Fluoxetine is fluoxetine, which belongs to the antidepressant drugs also called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Fluoxetine is designed to improve the well-being of people who suffer from major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or bulimia nervosa, as the levels of serotonin produced by everyone’s brain fall.

Fluoxetine Egis 10 mg and Fluoxetine Egis 20 mg are available on the pharmaceutical market. Fluoxetine 10 mg are yellow hard capsules filled with a white powder. The lid of the package is engraved with Egis 412. Fluoxetine 20 mg is in the form of green hard capsules.

Fluoxetine – composition

In the composition of Fluoxetine, apart from the active substance, there are auxiliary substances, which include:

1. Magnesium stearate,
2. Pregelatinized starch,
3. Lactose monohydrate.

The medicine shell contains:

1. Yellow iron oxide (E 172)
2. Titanium dioxide (E 171)
3. Gelatine.

Additionally, indigo carmine (E 20) is included in the 132 mg coating of Fluoxetine.

Fluoxetine – when can you take the medicine?

Fluoxetine can be taken by adults who suffer from:

1. Episodes of major depression
2. Obsessive-compulsive disorder,
3. Bulimia.

Fluoxetine can also be administered to children over 8 years of age and adolescents who have undergone psychotherapy treatment, but there was no improvement after 4-6 sessions. However, it should be remembered that in this age group pharmacological treatment must be combined with psychotherapy.

1. How to choose a psychotherapist?

Fluoxetine – dosage

Fluoxetine can be taken by both adults and children, but its dosage should be under close medical supervision. The preparation should be swallowed with a drink of water. The capsules must not be chewed. The dosage of the drug depends on both the age and the condition the patient suffers from. Fluoxetine intake is as follows:

1. Depression in adults – the recommended dose is 20 mg daily. It can be gradually increased to 60 mg daily. This is justified in order to minimize the side effects of taking the drug. Treatment lasts from several weeks to several months;
2. Bulimia in adults – the recommended dose is 60 mg daily;
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults – the recommended dose is 20 mg daily. It can go up to 60 mg a day. Treatment usually takes about 10 weeks;
4. Depression in children and adolescents from 8 to 18 years of age – The initial dose is 10 mg per day, after 1-2 weeks it may be increased to 20 mg per day. With satisfactory results, treatment may take six months. If you do not notice any changes in your condition after 9 weeks, your doctor may change the way you use the medicine;
5. Depression in the elderly – the daily dose should not exceed 40 mg per day.

Tingling sensations, dizziness and sleep disturbances may be observed after discontinuation of Fluoxetine. However, the majority of patients discontinuation of treatment is mild. Symptoms disappear within a few weeks.

Fluoxetine – precautions

Particular precautions should be taken in patients who:

1. Have heart disease
2. Fever, muscle stiffness or tremors and changes in consciousness have developed in patients who start taking the medicine.
3. Have had episodes of mania in the past
4. They were prone to bleeding and bruising for no specific reason,
5. They take medications for blood clotting,
6. They have akathisia – an inability to stand and sit still and feel anxious,
7. Have diabetes,
8. They are treated with electroshock therapy,
9. Have glaucoma
10. They have a slow heart rate when they are resting, as well as excess salt in their body from severe diarrhea.

Fluoxetine, suicidal thoughts and depression attacks

People who are having depressive states or anxiety attacks (which can occur at the same time) should be careful as you may have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself before fluoxetine is fully working. This condition lasts for up to two weeks, but it may be prolonged in patients who have taken antidepressants before or are young adults.

In children over 8 years of age and adolescents, apart from suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, it may become hostile, therefore the drug should be used only in cases of moderate or severe depressive episodes.

1. What are the differences between hypomania and mania?

Fluoxetine – can you overdose the drug?

Symptoms of overdose with Fluoxetine are mild. They usually include vomiting, nausea, and cardiovascular disturbances, and mood changes (from agitation to coma). In treating an overdose, activated charcoal given with sorbitol is used, which may be more effective than gastric lavage.

Fluoxetine – when should you not take the drug?

Fluoxetine should not be taken if you are hypersensitive to the active substance or any of the excipients of the preparation. In addition, it must not be combined with other antidepressants, including nonselective, irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors, because serotonin syndrome, which is a lethal body reaction, can develop. In addition, Fluoxetine should not be combined with metoprolol due to the risk of an excessive slowdown of the heart rate.

Fluoxetine – interactions with other drugs

The active substance fluoxetine may have an effect on the effects of other drugs, so be careful when taking it in combination with:

1. Tamoxifen – used to treat breast cancer
2. Monoamine oxidase type A inhibitors, linezolides and methylthioninium chloride due to the occurrence of serotonin syndrome,
3. Mequitazine – used to treat allergies,
4. Phenytoin – used to treat epilepsy
5. Class I and III antiarrhythmic drugs,
6. Tricyclic antidepressants,
7. Certain antibacterial drugs
8. Antimalarial drugs,
9. Antihistamines,
10. Anticoagulants,
11. Cyproheptadine,
12. Medicines that lower sodium levels in the blood.

Fluoxetine – side effects

The most common side effects seen in patients taking Fluoxetine were insomnia, headache, diarrhea and fatigue. Contact your doctor if you experience:

1. Thoughts of suicide,
2. Rash with swelling of the lips and tongue
3. Akathisia (a group of symptoms that indicates a patient’s anxiety),
4. Skin redness, peeling or blisters.

In addition, in some patients the following has been observed:

1. Feeling weak
2. Confusion – especially in elderly patients who are taking diuretics,
3. A painful or prolonged erection
4. Strong agitation,
5. Irritability,
6. Irregular heart rhythm
7. Collapse,
8. Dizziness.

It is also worth mentioning the side effects that occurred in 1 in 10 patients. Belong to them:

1. Weight loss
2. Blurred vision
3. Uncontrolled tremors
4. Change in taste
5. Excessive sweating
6. Arthralgia,
7. Vaginal bleeding
8. Dry mouth
9. Faster heartbeat
10. Hot flushes,
11. Hyperhidrosis.

In addition to the side effects mentioned above, growth retardation, delayed puberty, suicidal behavior, hostility and mania have been reported in children and adolescents.

Fluoxetine – can it be given during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

As with other medicines, please consult your doctor before starting Fluoxetine dosing if you are pregnant, as laboratory tests have shown an increased risk of birth defects in your baby. This mainly applies to women who took the preparation in the first months of pregnancy.

On the other hand, the dosage of Fluoxetine in the last three months of pregnancy increases the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, which is characterized by cyanosis and tachypnea. In addition, studies confirmed that newborns were more irritable, had difficulty sucking, or showed muscle weakness if the woman was taking Fluoxetine.

Moreover, the active substance of the drug passes into breast milk, therefore breastfeeding a newborn baby is not recommended.

Fluoxetine – how should the medicine be stored?

Fluoxetine should be kept in a place where children cannot reach. It should be a room where the temperature is below 30 degrees C. Store the medicine in its original packaging.

Fluoxetine – price and availability of the drug

Fluoxetine is a prescription medicine. The price for a package containing 28 20 mg hard capsules is approximately PLN 16.

Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health.Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.