FLUOXETINE 20 MG / 5ML ORAL SOLUTION, PROZEP 20 MG / 5ML ORAL SOLUTION - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. what fluoxetine oral solution is and what it is used for

Fluoxetine Oral Solution contains the active substance fluoxetine, which is one of a group of medicines called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants.

This medicine is used to treat the following conditions:

Adults:

• Major depressive episodes
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Bulimia nervosa: Fluoxetine Oral Solution is used alongside psychotherapy for the reduction of binge-eating and purging.

Children and adolescents aged 8 years and above:

• Moderate to severe major depressive disorder, if the depression does not respond to psychological therapy after 4–6 sessions. Fluoxetine Oral Solution should be offered to a child or young person with moderate to severe major depressive disorder only in combination with psychological therapy.

How Fluoxetine Oral Solution works

Everyone has a substance called serotonin in their brain. People who are depressed or have obsessive compulsive disorder or bulimia nervosa have lower levels of serotonin than others. It is not fully understood how Fluoxetine Oral Solution and other SSRIs work but they may help by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain.

Treating these conditions is important to help you get better. If it’s not treated, your condition may not go away and may become more serious and more difficult to treat. You may need to be treated for a few weeks or months to ensure that you are free from symptoms.

2. what you need to know before you take fluoxetine oral solution

Do not take Fluoxetine Oral Solution:

• If you are allergic to fluoxetine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). If you develop a rash or other allergic reactions (like itching, swollen lips or face or shortness of breath), stop taking the oral solution straight away and contact your doctor immediately.
• If you are taking other medicines known as irreversible non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) since serious or even fatal reactions can occur (e.g. iproniazid used to treat depression). Treatment with Fluoxetine Oral Solution should only be started at least 2 weeks after discontinuation of an irreversible, non-selective MAOI. Do not take any irreversible, non-selective MAOIs for at least 5 weeks after you stop taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution. If Fluoxetine Oral Solution has been prescribed for a long period and/or at a high dose, a longer interval needs to be considered by your doctor.
• If you are taking metoprolol (to treat heart failure) because there is an increased risk of your heart beat becoming too slow.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution if any of the following applies to you:

• heart problems;
• appearance of fever, muscle stiffness or tremor, changes in your mental state like confusion, irritability and extreme agitation; you may suffer from the so-called ‘serotonin syndrome’ or ‘neuroleptic malignant syndrome’. Although this syndrome occurs rarely it may result in potentially life-threatening conditions; contact your doctor immediately, since Fluoxetine Oral Solution might need to be discontinued;
• mania now or in the past; if you have a manic episode, contact your doctor immediately because Fluoxetine Oral Solution might need to be discontinued;
• history of bleeding disorders, appearance of bruises or unusual bleeding, or if you are pregnant (see ‘Pregnancy’);
• ongoing treatment with medicines that thin the blood (see ‘Other medicines and Fluoxetine Oral Solution’);
• epilepsy or fits. If you have a fit (seizures) or experience an increase in seizure frequency, contact your doctor immediately; Fluoxetine Oral Solution might need to be discontinued;
• ongoing ECT (electro-convulsive therapy);
• ongoing treatment with tamoxifen (used to treat breast cancer) (see ‘Other medicines and Fluoxetine Oral Solution’);
• starting to feel restless and cannot sit or stand still (akathisia). Increasing your dose of Fluoxetine Oral Solution may make this worse;
• diabetes (your doctor may need to adjust your dose of insulin or other antidiabetic treatment);
• liver problems (your doctor may need to adjust your dosage);
• low resting heart rate and/or if you know that you may have salt depletion as a result of prolonged severe diarrhoea and vomiting (being sick) or usage of diuretics (water tablets);
• ongoing treatment with diuretics (water tablets), especially if you are elderly;
• glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).

Medicines like Fluoxetine 20 mg/5 ml Oral Solution (so called SSRIs/SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4). In some cases, these symptoms have continued after stopping treatment.

Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders, you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when first starting antidepressants, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks but sometimes longer.

You may be more likely to think like this:

• if you have previously had thoughts about killing or harming yourself
• if you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in adults aged less than 25 years with psychiatric conditions who were treated with an antidepressant.

If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

You may find it helpful to tell a close friend or relative that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behaviour.

Children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years

Patients under 18 have an increased risk of side effects such as suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger), when they take this class of medicines.

Fluoxetine Oral Solution should only be used in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years for the treatment of moderate to severe major depressive episodes (in combination with psychological therapy) and it should not be used to treat other conditions. Additionally, only limited information concerning the long-term safety of Fluoxetine Oral Solution on growth, puberty, mental, emotional and behavioural development in this age group is available. Despite this, and if you are a patient under 18, your doctor may prescribe Fluoxetine Oral Solution for moderate to severe major depressive episodes, in combination with psychological therapy, because he/she decides that this is in your best interests.

If your doctor has prescribed Fluoxetine Oral Solution for a patient under 18 and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms listed above develop or worsen when patients under 18 are taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution.

Fluoxetine Oral Solution should not be used in the treatment of children under the age of 8 years.

Other medicines and Fluoxetine Oral Solution

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Some medicines may be affected by Fluoxetine Oral Solution or they may affect how well Fluoxetine Oral Solution will work.

Do not take Fluoxetine Oral Solution with:

• Certain irreversible, non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), some used to treat depression. Irreversible, non-selective MAOIs must not be used with Fluoxetine Oral Solution as serious or even fatal reactions (serotonin syndrome) can occur (see section ‘Do not take Fluoxetine Oral Solution’). Treatment with Fluoxetine Oral Solution should only be started at least 2 weeks after discontinuation of an irreversible, non-selective MAOI (for instance tranylcypromine). Do not take any irreversible, non-selective MAOIs for at least 5 weeks after you stop taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution. If Fluoxetine Oral Solution has been prescribed for a long period and/or at a high dose, a longer interval than 5 weeks may need to be considered by your doctor.

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• metoprolol when used for heart failure; there is an increased risk of your heart beat becoming too slow.

Fluoxetine Oral Solution may affect the way the following medicines work (interaction):

• tamoxifen (used to treat breast cancer); because Fluoxetine Oral Solution may change the blood levels of this drug, resulting in the possibility of a reduction in the effect of tamoxifen, your doctor may need to consider prescribing a different antidepressant treatment.
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors A (MAOI-A) including moclobemide, linezolid (an antibiotic) and methylthioninium chloride (also called methylene blue, used for the treatment of medicinal or chemical product induced methaemogobinaemia) due to the risk of serious or even fatal reactions (called serotonin syndrome). Treatment with fluoxetine can be started the day after stopping treatment with reversible MAOIs but the doctor may wish to monitor you carefully and use a lower dose of the MAOI-A drug.
• mequitazine (for allergies); because taking this drug with Fluoxetine Oral Solution may increase the risk of changes in the electrical activity of the heart.
• phenytoin (for epilepsy); because Fluoxetine Oral Solution may influence the blood levels of this drug, your doctor may need to introduce phenytoin more carefully and carry out check-ups when given with Fluoxetine Oral Solution.
• lithium, selegiline, St. John’s Wort, tramadol (a painkiller), triptans (for migraine) and tryptophan there is an increased risk of mild serotonin syndrome when these drugs are taken with Fluoxetine Oral Solution. Your doctor will carry out more frequent check-ups.
• medicines that may affect the heart’s rhythm, e.g. Class IA and III antiarrhythmics, anti-psychotics (e.g. phenothiazine derivatives, pimozide, haloperidol), tricyclic antidepressants, certain antimicrobial agents (e.g. sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin IV, pentamidine), anti-malaria treatment particularly halofantrine, or certain antihistamines (astemizole, mizolastine), because taking one or more of these drugs with Fluoxetine Oral Solution may increase the risk of changes in the electrical activity of the heart.
• Anti-coagulants (such as warfarin), NSAID (such as ibuprofen, diclofenac), aspirin and other medicines which can thin the blood (including clozapine, used to treat certain mental disorders). Fluoxetine Oral Solution may alter the effect of these medicines on the blood. If Fluoxetine Oral Solution treatment is started or stopped when you are taking warfarin, your doctor will need to perform certain tests, adjust your dose and check on you more frequently.
• cyproheptadine (for allergies); because it may reduce the effect of Fluoxetine Oral Solution.
• drugs that lower sodium levels in the blood (including, drug that causes increase in urination, desmopressin, carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine); because these drugs may increase the risk of sodium levels in the blood becoming too low when taken with Fluoxetine Oral Solution.
• antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants, other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or bupropion, mefloquine or chloroquine (used to treat malaria), tramadol (used to treat severe pain) or anti-psychotics such as phenothiazines or butyrophenones; because Fluoxetine Oral Solution may increase the risk of seizures when taken with these medicines.
• flecainide, propafenone, nebivolol or encainide (for heart problems), carbamazepine (for epilepsy), atomoxetine or tricyclic antidepressants (for example imipramine, desipramine and amitriptyline) or risperidone (for schizophrenia); because Fluoxetine Oral Solution may possibly change the blood levels of these medicines, your doctor may need to lower their dose when administered with Fluoxetine Oral Solution.

Fluoxetine Oral Solution with food, drink and alcohol

You can take Fluoxetine Oral Solution with or without food, whatever you prefer.

You should avoid alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

I f you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Pregnancy

Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you are pregnant, if you might be pregnant, or if you are planning to become pregnant.

In babies whose mothers took fluoxetine during the first few months of pregnancy, there have been some reports suggesting an increased risk of birth defects affecting the heart. In the general population, about 1 in 100 babies are born with a heart defect. This increased to about 2 in 100 babies in mothers who took fluoxetine. It is preferable not to use this treatment during pregnancy unless the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk. You and your doctor may decide that it is better for you to gradually stop taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution while you are pregnant. However, depending on your circumstances, your doctor may suggest that it is better for you to keep taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution.

When taken during pregnancy, particularly in the last 3 months of pregnancy, medicines like fluoxetine may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the new born (PPHN), making the baby breathe faster and appear bluish. These symptoms usually begin during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby, you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

Caution should be exercised when used during pregnancy, especially during late pregnancy or just before giving birth since the following effects have been reported in new born children: irritability, tremor, muscle weakness, persistent crying, and difficulty in sucking or in sleeping.

If you take Fluoxetine Oral Solution near the end of your pregnancy there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after birth, especially if you have a history of bleeding disorders. Your doctor or midwife should be aware that you are taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution so they can advise you.

Breast-feeding

Fluoxetine is excreted in breast milk and can cause side effects in babies. You should only breast-feed if it is clearly necessary. If breast-feeding is continued, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of fluoxetine.

Fertility

Fluoxetine has been shown to reduce the quality of sperm in animal studies. Theoretically, this could affect fertility, but impact on human fertility has not been observed as yet.

Driving and using machines

Psychotropic drugs such as Fluoxetine Oral Solution may affect your judgment or co-ordination. Do not drive or use machinery until you know how Fluoxetine Oral Solution affects you.

Fluoxetine Oral Solution contains sorbitol, benzoic acid and castor oil

• Fluoxetine Oral Solution contains 2.2 g sorbitol in each 5 ml spoonful, which is equivalent to 0.44 g/ml. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive this medicine. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect.
• Fluoxetine Oral Solution contains 2.5 mg benzoic acid in each 5 ml spoonful of which is equivalent to 0.5 mg/ml.
• Fluoxetine Oral Solution contains 50 mg polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil in each 5 ml spoonful which is equivalent to 10 mg/ml. Castor oil may cause stomach upset and diarrhoea.
• If you take too much, go to your nearest hospital emergency department (or casualty) or tell your doctor straight away.
• Take the bottle of Fluoxetine Oral Solution with you if you can.

Symptoms of overdose include: nausea, vomiting, seizures, heart problems (like irregular heart beat and cardiac arrest), lung problems and change in mental condition ranging from agitation to coma.

If you forget to take Fluoxetine Oral Solution

• If you miss a dose, do not worry. Take your next dose the next day at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
• Taking your medicine at the same time each day may help you to remember to take it regularly.

If you stop taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution

• Do not stop taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution without asking your doctor first, even when you start to feel better. It is important that you keep taking your medicine.
• Make sure you do not run out of medicine.

You may notice the following effects (withdrawal effects) when you stop taking Fluoxetine Oral Solution: dizziness; tingling feelings like pins and needles; sleep disturbances (vivid dreams, nightmares, inability to sleep); feeling restless or agitated; unusual tiredness or weakness; feeling anxious; nausea/vomiting (feeling sick or being sick); tremor (shakiness); headaches.

Most people find that any symptoms on stopping Fluoxetine Oral Solution are mild and disappear within a few weeks. If you experience symptoms when you stop treatment, contact your doctor.

When stopping Fluoxetine Oral Solution, your doctor will help you to reduce your dose slowly over one or two weeks – this should help reduce the chance of withdrawal effects. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

3. how to take fluoxetine oral solution

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Do not take more medicine than your doctor tells you.

• Take the solution with or without food, whichever you prefer.
• You should not drink alcohol whilst taking this medicine.

Adults

The recommended dose is:

• Depression: The recommended dose is 5 ml oral solution (20 mg) daily. Your doctor will review and adjust your dosage if necessary within 3 to 4 weeks of the start of treatment. If required, the dosage can be gradually increased up to a maximum of 15 ml oral solution (60 mg) daily. The dose should be increased carefully to ensure that you receive the lowest effective dose. You may not feel better immediately when you first start taking your medicine for depression. This is usual because an improvement in depressive symptoms may not occur until after the first few weeks. Patients with depression should be treated for at least 6 months.
• Bulimia: The recommended dose is 15 ml oral solution (60 mg) daily.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: The recommended dose is 5 ml oral solution (20 mg) daily. Your doctor will review and adjust your dosage if necessary after 2 weeks of treatment. If required, the dosage can be gradually increased up to a maximum of 15 ml oral solution (60 mg) daily. If no improvement is noted within 10 weeks, your doctor will reconsider your treatment.

Use in children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years with depression

Treatment should be started and be supervised by a specialist. The starting dose is 10

4. Possible side effects

• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• feeling shaky or chills

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• feeling detached from yourself
• strange thinking
• abnormally high mood
• orgasm problems
• thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
• teeth grinding
• muscle twitching, involuntary movements or problems with balance or co-ordination
• memory impairment
• enlarged (dilated) pupils
• ringing in the ears
• low blood pressure
• shortness of breath
• nose bleeds
• difficulty swallowing
• hair loss
• increased tendency to bruising
• unexplained bruising or bleeding
• cold sweat
• difficulty passing urine
• feeling hot or cold
• abnormal liver test results

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• low levels of salt in the blood
• reduction in blood platelets, which increases risk of bleeding or bruising
• reduction in white blood cell count
• untypical wild behaviour
• hallucinations
• agitation
• panic attacks
• confusion
• stuttering
• aggression
• fits
• vasculitis (inflammation of a blood vessel)
• rapid swelling of the tissues around the neck, face, mouth and/or throat
• pain in the tube that takes food or water to your stomach
• hepatitis
• lung problems
• sensitivity to sunlight
• muscle pain
• problems urinating
• producing breast milk

Frequency not known

• heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after birth (postpartum haemorrhage), see Pregnancy in section 2 for more information

Bone fractures – An increased risk of bone fractures has been observed in patients taking this type of medicines.

Most of these side effects are likely to disappear with continued treatment.

In children and adolescent (8–18years): In addition to the possible side effects listed above, Fluoxetine Oral Solution may slow growth or possibly delay sexual maturity.

Suicide-related behaviours (suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts), hostility, mania and nose bleeds were also commonly reported in children.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. how to store fluoxetine oral solution

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not take this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle label and on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not use after one month from first opening the bottle.
• Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original container.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. contents of the pack and other information

What Fluoxetine Oral Solution contains

• The active substance is fluoxetine hydrochloride. Each 5 ml of liquid contains 20 mg fluoxetine (as hydrochloride).
• Other ingredients are: glycerol (E 422), sorbitol (E 420), hydrogenated polyoxyl castor oil, benzoic acid (E 210), peppermint flavour and purified water. (See end of Section 2 for further information on sorbitol, benzoic acid and castor oil).

What Fluoxetine Oral Solution looks like and contents of the pack

Fluoxetine Oral Solution is a clear, colourless liquid with the odour of peppermint. It is available in amber glass bottles of 70 ml with a tamper evident child resistant closure.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Chemidex Pharma Ltd, trading as Essential Generics, 7 Egham Business Village, Crabtree Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8RB.

Manufacturer

Delpharm Bladel BV, Industrieweg 1,5531 AD Bladel, The Netherlands.

This leaflet was last revised in

January 2021

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