Fluox general information
What is Fluox used for?
Depression is a very common mental health illness that affects many people. Although the cause may not be apparent when depression strikes, it can often be linked to significant life events. Examples of depression triggers include trauma, abuse, a chronic health condition, loss of a loved one, redundancy, and many other life-changing events.
Fluox capsules 20mg are an antidepressant medication used to treat depression and other mood disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and bulimia nervosa.
Symptoms of depression
Depression can range in severity from mild to very severe. Major Depressive Disorder is the correct medical name for severe depression because it is not a short term illness but can last months or even years. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness and feeling down all the time, loss of interest in usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, extreme tiredness and fatigue, feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating. In severe cases, depression may cause recurrent thoughts of suicide. This is a serious illness and needs medical attention. Depression is known to be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters and are produced by nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, acting as chemical messengers that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other. An imbalance in these neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin, which regulates mood, contributes to the development of depression.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by having unreasonable, unwanted, uncontrollable, and recurring thoughts or fears. These obsessions make you feel anxious and compelled by an irresistible urge to keep performing specific repetitive actions. Common compulsive behaviours include constant handwashing to overcome an irrational fear of being dirty or contaminated by germs; constant counting or arranging of items into a symmetrical order for no reason; repeated checking that a door has been locked or the cooker turned off. These compulsive rituals are performed to try and prevent some imagined dreaded event and relieve the anxiety these fears cause. You are more vulnerable to OCD is you are stressed or suffering from fatigue, which is a feeling of being constantly tired.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Premenstrual syndrome (PMs) is the term given to feelings of low mood and irritability that is a regular monthly occurrence for many women and is associated with hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. Usually, they are tolerable and are relieved once menstruation begins. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of (PMS) with symptoms including depression, anxiety, mood swings, tension, irritability, difficulty concentrating and sleeping, and fatigue, as well as physical symptoms like bloating, and breast pain. PMDD can disrupt your daily life and your relationships and is also thought to be related to a fall in serotonin levels in parallel with changing hormone levels.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a psychiatric binge eating disorder in response to stress, depression, or anxiety. This excessive binge eating is followed by some form of compensatory behaviour, usually induced vomiting or taking laxatives. Bulimia nervosa is often triggered by dissatisfaction with body image, low self-esteem, and lack of self-worth. An imbalance in neurotransmitters is thought to play a role in eating disorders like bulimia.
How does Fluox work?
Fluox capsules 20mg contain fluoxetine, an antidepressant that is used to treat depression and other mood disorders. Fluoxetine in Fluox capsules 20mg belongs to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Serotonin is an important chemical messenger found mainly in the brain and central nervous system but also in the nervous system of the intestines and in blood platelets. Serotonin works as a chemical messenger between nerve cells and plays a vital role in regulating cognitive functions like memory and learning, and in regulating mood. Your brain needs a certain amount of serotonin to nurture those "feel good" messages. However, if there is a lack of serotonin in the brain, the nerve pathways that control mood cannot be maintained. This generates feelings of anxiety, low mood, sadness, despair, and panic instead of well-being.
Nerve cells communicate by releasing neurotransmitters like serotonin into the synapse, which is the gap between nerve cells. This stimulates the next nerve to release more serotonin, and so the signal is transmitted down a nerve pathway. Once the message has been passed on, the first nerve cell (pre-synaptic) takes up the remaining neurotransmitter from the synapse, so that the receiving nerve cell (post-synaptic) is no longer stimulated. This completes the signal pathway at that point in the chain. If serotonin levels are low, the signal transmitted is weak and is rapidly lost due to reuptake from the synapse.
SSRIs like fluoxetine in Fluox capsules 20mg work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin by the pre-synaptic neuron, which means that there is more serotonin remaining for the post-synaptic neuron. This increases the amount of serotonin in the brain and allows nerve cells to communicate with each other for longer and, therefore, prolongs the stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood. The overall effect of fluoxetine in Fluox capsules 20mg is to stabilise mood and relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
What does Fluox contain?
Fluox capsules 20mg contain the active ingredient fluoxetine, an SSRI antidepressant that is used to treat depression and other mood disorders. They also contain lactose, maize starch, colloidal anhydrous silica, purified talc, magnesium stearate, shellac, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, colloidal anhydrous silica, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, iron oxide black, brilliant blue FCF, quinoline yellow FCF, titanium dioxide, indigo carmine, erythrosine, gelatin, sodium lauryl sulfate.
What are the side effects of Fluox?
Most medications have some side effects, but they are not experienced by everyone. Some side effects are commonly experienced when taking Fluox capsules 20mg, but others are not so common, and you should discuss any problems or concerns with your primary care physician.
Common side effects when taking Fluox include headache, tremors, palpitations, dizziness, sleep problems, unusual dreams, fatigue, drowsiness, decreased or loss of appetite, weight loss, change in taste, dry mouth, diarrhoea, nausea, increased sweating, sexual problems, impaired concentration, yawning, rash, itching, visual disturbances, increased need for urination.
When should Fluox not be used?
Have a talk with your primary healthcare physician before taking Fluox capsules 20mg so that you have a full understanding of what this medicine is for and how to use it. There are some reasons for not taking a medication; these are called contraindications, and for Fluox you should consider the following before taking Fluox:
- Have you ever had an unusual reaction or an allergy when taking Fluox?
- Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Do you have any problems with your kidneys or your liver?
- Do you have diabetes as Fluox may affect your blood sugar levels?
- Do you have a heart condition?
- Do you have a bleeding disorder?
- Do you have the eye condition glaucoma?
What medications interact with Fluox?
Some medicines interact with Fluox capsules 20mg and may affect the way it works, or are affected by Fluox or increase side effects; you should discuss possible interactions with your primary care physician. These may include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, the analgesic tramadol, the anticoagulant warfarin, clopidogrel to prevent blood clots, the analgesic tramadol, migraine medicines like sumatriptan, the antipsychotic pimozide, St. John´s Wort for mood disorders.
If other medications may interact with Fluox, your doctor will discuss these with you.
Note: You should not take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor medication within 14 days of taking Fluox as these can cause serious reactions if taken with Fluox.
How should Fluox be taken and for how long?
You should take your Fluox capsules 20mg swallowed whole with a glass of water, with or without food, once daily at the same time each day. Your dose may be increased by your doctor depending on what you are being treated for, how well you respond to your medication and whether you suffer from side effects.
It will take a few weeks before you begin to feel better, so it important to keep taking your Fluox capsules 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be several weeks or months but may be longer.
Withdrawal symptoms
If you are advised to stop taking Fluox capsules 20mg by your primary care physician, you should not stop suddenly as you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. It is better to reduce your dose slowly over several weeks or months, to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Missed dose of Fluox
If you miss a dose of Fluox capsules 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.
How should Fluox be stored?
You should store your Fluox capsules 20mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.