Fluoxetine (Page 12 of 13)

17.6 Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Patients should be advised that taking fluoxetine can cause mild pupillary dilation, which in susceptible individuals, can lead to an episode of angle-closure glaucoma. Pre-existing glaucoma is almost always open-angle glaucoma because angle-closure glaucoma, when diagnosed, can be treated definitively with iridectomy. Open-angle glaucoma is not a risk factor for angle-closure glaucoma. Patients may wish to be examined to determine whether they are susceptible to angle closure, and have a prophylactic procedure (e.g., iridectomy), if they are susceptible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)].

17.7 Hyponatremia

Patients should be advised that hyponatremia has been reported as a result of treatment with SNRIs and SSRIs, including fluoxetine. Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia include headache, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, confusion, weakness, and unsteadiness, which may lead to falls. More severe and/or acute cases have been associated with hallucination, syncope, seizure, coma, respiratory arrest, and death [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ].

17.8 QT Prolongation

Patients should be advised that QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmia including Torsade de Pointes have been reported in patients treated with fluoxetine. Signs and symptoms of ventricular arrhythmia include fast, slow, or irregular heart rate, dyspnea, syncope, or dizziness, which may indicate serious cardiac arrhythmia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11)].

17.9 Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment

Fluoxetine may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients should be advised to avoid driving a car or operating hazardous machinery until they are reasonably certain that their performance is not affected [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ].

17.10 Use of Concomitant Medications

Patients should be advised to inform their physician if they are taking, or plan to take, any prescription medication, including Symbyax® (olanzapine and fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules), Sarafem® (fluoxetine capsules), or over-the-counter drugs, including herbal supplements or alcohol. Patients should also be advised to inform their physicians if they plan to discontinue any medications they are taking while on fluoxetine.

17.11 Discontinuation of Treatment

Patients should be advised to take fluoxetine exactly as prescribed, and to continue taking fluoxetine as prescribed even after their symptoms improve. Patients should be advised that they should not alter their dosing regimen, or stop taking fluoxetine without consulting their physician [see Warnings and Precautions (5.15) ]. Patients should be advised to consult with their healthcare provider if their symptoms do not improve with fluoxetine.

17.12 Use in Specific Populations

Pregnancy — Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy. Fluoxetine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ].

Nursing Mothers — Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they intend to breast-feed an infant during therapy. Because fluoxetine is excreted in human milk, nursing while taking fluoxetine is not recommended [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3) ].

Pediatric Use of fluoxetine — Fluoxetine is approved for use in pediatric patients with MDD and OCD [see Box Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. Limited evidence is available concerning the longer-term effects of fluoxetine on the development and maturation of children and adolescent patients. Height and weight should be monitored periodically in pediatric patients receiving fluoxetine [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) and Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].

Pediatric Use of fluoxetine and olanzapine in combination — Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine and olanzapine in combination in patients 10 to 17 years of age have been established for the acute treatment of depressive episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder [see Warnings and Precautions (5.16) and Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].

All brand names listed are the registered trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals USA.

Manufactured In Czech Republic By:

Teva Czech Industries, s.r.o.

Opava-Komarov, Czech Republic

Manufactured For:

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

North Wales, PA 19454

Distributed By:

MAJOR® PHARMACEUTICALS

Livonia, MI 48152

Refer to package label for Distributor’s NDC Number

Distributed By:

Cardinal Health

Dublin, OH 43017

L42451140122

Rev. L 4/2017

MEDICATION GUIDE

Fluoxetine
(floo-OX-e-teen)
Capsules USP

Read the Medication Guide that comes with fluoxetine capsules before you start taking them and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider if there is something you do not understand or want to learn more about.

What is the most important information I should know about fluoxetine capsules?

Fluoxetine capsules and other antidepressant medicines may cause serious side effects, including:

1. Suicidal thoughts or actions:

Fluoxetine capsules and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.
Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions.
Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice:
New or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe.
Pay particular attention to such changes when fluoxetine capsules are started or when the dose is changed.

Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider and call between visits if you are worried about symptoms.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

attempts to commit suicide
acting on dangerous impulses
acting aggressive or violent
thoughts about suicide or dying
new or worse depression
new or worse anxiety or panic attacks
feeling agitated, restless, angry or irritable
trouble sleeping
an increase in activity or talking more than what is normal for you
other unusual changes in behavior or mood

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency. Fluoxetine capsules may be associated with these serious side effects:

2. Serotonin Syndrome. This condition can be life-threatening and may include:

agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status
coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure
sweating or fever
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
muscle rigidity
dizziness
flushing
tremor
seizures

3. Severe allergic reactions:

trouble breathing
swelling of the face, tongue, eyes or mouth
rash, itchy welts (hives) or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain

4. Abnormal bleeding: Fluoxetine capsules and other antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin® , Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), or aspirin.

5. Visual problems:

eye pain
changes in vision
swelling or redness in or around the eye
Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk and receive preventative treatment if you are.

6. Seizures or convulsions

7. Manic episodes:

greatly increased energy
severe trouble sleeping
racing thoughts
reckless behavior
unusually grand ideas
excessive happiness or irritability
talking more or faster than usual

8. Changes in appetite or weight. Children and adolescents should have height and weight monitored during treatment.

9. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include:

headache
weakness or feeling unsteady
confusion, problems concentrating or thinking or memory problems

10. Changes in the electrical activity of your heart (QT prolongation and ventricular arrhythmia including Torsades de Pointes). This condition can be life threatening. The symptoms may include:

fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
shortness of breath
dizziness or fainting

Do not stop fluoxetine capsules without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping fluoxetine capsules too quickly may cause serious symptoms including:

anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless or changes in sleep habits
headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness
electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion

What are fluoxetine capsules?

Fluoxetine capsules are a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider.

Fluoxetine capsules are used to treat:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Bulimia Nervosa*
Panic Disorder*
Depressive episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder, taken with olanzapine (Zyprexa®)

* Not approved for use in children

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with fluoxetine capsule treatment.

Who should not take fluoxetine capsules?

Do not take fluoxetine capsules if you:

are allergic to fluoxetine hydrochloride or any of the ingredients in fluoxetine capsules. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in fluoxetine capsules.
take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
Do not take an MAOI within 5 weeks of stopping fluoxetine capsules unless directed to do so by your physician.
Do not start fluoxetine capsules if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician.

People who take fluoxetine capsules close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

high fever
uncontrolled muscle spasms
stiff muscles
rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
confusion
loss of consciousness (pass out)
take Mellaril® (thioridazine). Do not take Mellaril® within 5 weeks of stopping fluoxetine capsules because this can cause serious heart rhythm problems or sudden death.
take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because this can cause serious heart problems.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking fluoxetine capsules? Ask if you are not sure.

Before starting fluoxetine capsules, tell your healthcare provider if you:

Are taking certain drugs or treatments such as:
Triptans used to treat migraine headache
Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, buspirone, SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs or antipsychotics
Amphetamines
Tramadol and fentanyl
Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John’s Wort
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
have liver problems
have kidney problems
have heart problems
have or had seizures or convulsions
have bipolar disorder or mania
have low sodium levels in your blood
have a history of a stroke
have high blood pressure
have or had bleeding problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if fluoxetine capsules will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy.
are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some fluoxetine may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking fluoxetine capsules.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Fluoxetine capsules and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take fluoxetine capsules with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking fluoxetine capsules without talking to your healthcare provider first.

If you take fluoxetine capsules, you should not take any other medicines that contain fluoxetine hydrochloride including:

Symbyax®
Sarafem®
Prozac® Weekly

How should I take fluoxetine capsules?

Take fluoxetine capsules exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of fluoxetine capsules until it is the right dose for you.
Fluoxetine capsules may be taken with or without food.
If you miss a dose of fluoxetine capsules, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of fluoxetine capsules at the same time.
If you take too many fluoxetine capsules, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.

What should I avoid while taking fluoxetine capsules?

Fluoxetine capsules can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how fluoxetine capsules affect you. Do not drink alcohol while using fluoxetine capsules.

What are the possible side effects of fluoxetine capsules?

Fluoxetine capsules may cause serious side effects, including:

See “What is the most important information I should know about fluoxetine capsules?”
Problems with blood sugar control. People who have diabetes and take fluoxetine capsules may have problems with low blood sugar while taking fluoxetine capsules. High blood sugar can happen when fluoxetine capsules are stopped. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicines when you start or stop taking fluoxetine capsules.
Feeling anxious or trouble sleeping

Common possible side effects in people who take fluoxetine capsules include:

unusual dreams
sexual problems
loss of appetite, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea or vomiting, weakness, or dry mouth
flu symptoms
feeling tired or fatigued
change in sleep habits
yawning
sinus infection or sore throat
tremor or shaking
sweating
feeling anxious or nervous
hot flashes
rash

Other side effects in children and adolescents include:

increased thirst
abnormal increase in muscle movement or agitation
nose bleed
urinating more often
heavy menstrual periods
possible slowed growth rate and weight change. Your child’s height and weight should be monitored during treatment with fluoxetine capsules.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of fluoxetine capsules. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS. YOU MAY REPORT SIDE EFFECTS TO THE FDA AT 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store fluoxetine capsules?

Store fluoxetine capsules at room temperature between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).
Keep fluoxetine capsules away from light.
Keep fluoxetine capsules bottle closed tightly.

Keep fluoxetine capsules and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about fluoxetine capsules

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use fluoxetine capsules for a condition for which they were not prescribed. Do not give fluoxetine capsules to other people, even if they have the same condition. They may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about fluoxetine capsules. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You may ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about fluoxetine capsules that is written for healthcare professionals.

For more information about fluoxetine capsules call 1-888-838-2872.

What are the ingredients in fluoxetine capsules?

Active ingredient: fluoxetine hydrochloride

Inactive ingredients: D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake, FD&C blue #1 aluminum lake, gelatin, magnesium stearate, pregelatinized corn starch, propylene glycol, shellac, and titanium dioxide.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

All brand names listed are the registered trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals USA.

Manufactured In Czech Republic By:

Teva Czech Industries, s.r.o.

Opava-Komarov, Czech Republic

Manufactured For:

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

North Wales, PA 19454

Distributed By:

MAJOR® PHARMACEUTICALS

Livonia, MI 48152

Refer to package label for Distributor’s NDC Number

Distributed By:

Cardinal Health

Dublin, OH 43017

L42451140122

Rev. I 1/2017

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