What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking fluoxetine:
Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluoxetine or any other drugs.
Moreover, please inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and non-prescription drugs you are taking or have taken within the last 2 weeks, especially anticoagulants [warfarin (Coumadin®)]; antidepressants; antihistamines; antipsychotics such as haloperidol (Haldol®) or clozapine (Clozaril®); buspirone (BuSpar®); carbamazepine (Tegretol®); cyclosporine (Neoral®, Sandimmune®); levodopa (Larodopa®, Sinemet®); lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®); MAO inhibitors [phenelzine (Nardil®); medication for anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, Parkinson's disease, asthma, colds, or allergies; muscle relaxants; phenytoin (Dilantin®); phentermine; pimozide (Orap®); sedatives; sleeping pills; sumatriptan (Imitrex®); thioridazine (Mellaril®); thyroid medications; tranylcypromine (Parnate®)]; tranquilizers; tryptophan; and vitamins. You should not take phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), or thioridazine until at least 5 weeks after you stop taking fluoxetine.
Also, let your doctor know if you have or have ever had glaucoma, an enlarged prostate, difficulty urinating, seizures, diabetes, an overactive thyroid gland, or liver or heart disease.
Additionally, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fluoxetine, call your doctor immediately.
If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking fluoxetine.
You should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you. Remember that alcohol can also add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
Tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.
Why is this medication prescribed?
Dosage and using this medicine
What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause?