Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine is an SSRI antidepressant used for depression, OCD and bulimia, available here as 10mg, 20mg and 60mg capsules and as 20mg Fludac capsules.
Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine
10/20/60mg
Fluoxetine capsules in 10mg, 20mg and 60mg, an SSRI antidepressant used for depression, OCD and bulimia, with the 20mg brand Fludac also available.
What fluoxetine treats
Fluoxetine is an SSRI — a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor — and one of the antidepressants used for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD, where unwanted thoughts repeat and are hard to push away) and bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder with bouts of overeating followed by purging). It is also used for panic attacks and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD, severe mood symptoms before periods), and sometimes for menopause symptoms. Treatment usually runs for months rather than weeks, with a capsule taken every day.
How it works, and when it starts to help
The medicine raises the amount of serotonin available between nerve cells in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger tied to mood, sleep and appetite, and keeping more of it in circulation is thought to be why fluoxetine eases low mood and anxiety. The change is not instant: symptoms often begin to improve after a few weeks, and the full benefit can take four to five weeks or longer. Energy and sleep sometimes shift before mood does, which can make the first fortnight feel uneven.
Taking fluoxetine capsules
Take one capsule each morning, at about the same hour every day. Swallow it whole with water; food does not matter. Some people start on a lower strength and move up after three or four weeks. Stopping suddenly can bring dizziness, irritability, trouble sleeping and tingling in the hands or feet, so the dose is reduced slowly over weeks. Capsules keep best in their sealed pack, away from warmth and damp.
Side effects and interactions to know
The effects people report most are headaches, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, weight changes, sleep problems, dizziness, blurred vision and sexual problems such as low sex drive. Most settle after a couple of weeks. Serious reactions are rare and include serotonin syndrome — a fast heartbeat with sweating, shaking, twitching muscles and confusion — high moods (mania), unusual bruising or bleeding, and blood in the stool. In people under 24, fluoxetine can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts, especially in the first few months or after a dose increase. It must not be mixed with an MAOI (an older type of antidepressant) or with pimozide or thioridazine, and at least five weeks is left after the last capsule before one of those is started. St John's wort and blood-thinning medicines can also interact with it.
The two fluoxetine listings
Fluoxetine capsules are the plain version, sold in 10mg, 20mg and 60mg. Fludac is a named brand of the same medicine, in 20mg capsules only. Both are capsules taken once a day; what differs is the brand name and the strengths on offer. The plain capsules cover a wider range, while the named version comes in the middle strength.
Sources
- Fluoxetine: an antidepressant medicine - NHS — National Health Service
- Fluoxetine: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
Is Fluoxetine available to order in Hong Kong?
Fluoxetine can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The range includes Fluoxetine capsules in 10mg, 20mg and 60mg and the named version Fludac in 20mg capsules. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted payment page, or by Bitcoin or Ethereum.
How are Fluoxetine prices shown?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. Each of the two fluoxetine products listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Fluoxetine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order fluoxetine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What brand names does fluoxetine have?
Fluoxetine is sold under brand names including Flunil, Prodep, Prozac and Oxactin. Here, fluoxetine can be bought online as Fludac and fluoxetine capsules. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does fluoxetine take to work?
The first changes are often in sleep and energy rather than mood, appearing within a couple of weeks. The full effect usually builds over four to five weeks. Because of that slow build, the medicine is judged over weeks, not days.
What should I do if I miss a fluoxetine dose?
A forgotten capsule can be swallowed later the same day, as long as the next one is still hours off. If the next dose is close, let the missed one go and carry on as usual. Taking two capsules to catch up is not the way to fix it.
Can I drink alcohol with fluoxetine?
Alcohol is not banned with fluoxetine, but it can add to the drowsiness, dizziness and blurred vision the medicine may cause, and heavy drinking can work against the reason you are taking it. Keeping drinks light while you settle on it avoids stacking two causes of drowsiness.
How long does fluoxetine stay in your body?
Fluoxetine clears slowly. The active drug and its breakdown product can still be present weeks after the last capsule, which is why forgetting a capsule matters less than with short-acting antidepressants and why the dose is reduced gradually when treatment ends.
Does fluoxetine come in other forms?
Fluoxetine is also made as tablets, an oral liquid and a once-weekly delayed-release capsule. The two products sold here are standard capsules taken once a day, so the weekly format is a different option rather than one of these.