Is Fluoxetine a drug: side effects

Specialists at the Dr. Bormental weight loss and correction center do not recommend using the drug without a doctor’s prescription. Before use, you need to get a face-to-face consultation, undergo examinations, take tests, and most importantly, seek help from a nutritionist. After all, only a competent specialist can identify the cause of excess weight and begin to fight it. Our doctors will teach, advise and support!

The Doctor Bormenthal clinic uses its own patented method of losing weight and maintaining results, with the help of which more than half a million people have already lost weight. You can learn more about the methodology here -.

What is fluoxetine

Fluoxetine is a group of selective inhibitors whose action is aimed at reuptake of serotonin. It's an antidepressant. The action that suppresses depression is combined with a stimulating effect: the psychological state is stabilized, tension is reduced, dysphoria, anxiety and fear are eliminated.

Due to its anorexigenic properties, doctors use the drug to combat the clinical manifestations of bulimia.

Fluoxetine was registered in 1974. The discoverers of the drug are several doctors from Eli Lilly and Company.

In the winter of 1977, he was reported to the American Food and Drug Administration.

Since December 1987, the drug has been officially approved for sale. To date, it has not lost its leading position in the pharmacological market, despite the emergence of a wide range of new antidepressants.

Composition and release form

The drug is available in capsules.

White-green gelatin capsules contain:

• Fluoxetine hydrochloride - 11.2 mg and 22.4 mg;
• Lactose monohydrate (milk sugar);
• Microcrystalline lactose;
• Colloidal silicon dioxide;
• Magnesium stearate;
• Talc.

pharmachologic effect

In the register of medicines of the Russian Federation, Fluoxetine belongs to the group of drugs that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin - the “hormone of joy”. Its amount in the brain increases with the use of the medication, which has a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional background. The expected effect of losing weight is a decrease in appetite and an improvement in mood.

After consumption, the drug is rapidly absorbed in the stomach, processed in the liver and then enters the brain. The maximum effect is achieved 6-8 hours after using Fluoxetine.

As for excretion from the body, 88% of the drug is eliminated in the urine, 12% in the intestinal contents. The period of complete elimination from the body is 2-3 days. Derivatives of the active substance circulate in the bloodstream for two weeks.

Instructions for use

Latin name Fluoxetinum. Concentration in plasma – 6-8 hours. The withdrawal period is 2-3 days. Metabolites remain active in the blood for two weeks. Long-term use is safe. There is no habituation. Release form:

• tablets – 10 mg;
• capsules – 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg.

Fluoxetine must be taken orally.

For weight loss, the initial dose must be taken regardless of meals at a dosage of 20 mg per day. The instructions warn that the dosage can be increased to 60 mg per day and divided into several doses. The maximum is no more than 80 mg per day.

Fluoxetine should not be used together with antidepressants - MAO inhibitors, tryptophan, procarbazine and furazolin.

The effect of the drug begins 4-8 hours after the first use, the usual course of administration lasts 3-4 weeks.

Withdrawal syndrome occurs 1-7 days after the course of treatment is completed. If symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, fatigue and insomnia appear, the dosage should be gradually reduced. Complete elimination occurs on average after 72 hours.

While taking Fluoxetine, you should avoid driving and activities that require increased concentration and quick reaction.

The shelf life is three years. It is prohibited to use Fluoxetine for weight loss after the expiration date. Store in a dry, dark place out of reach of children.

Interaction with other substances

The incompatibility of the drug with other antidepressants, furazolidone, procarbazine has been scientifically proven. The combined use of these medications provokes the development of serotonergic syndrome. It is manifested by the following clinical signs:

• elevated temperature;
• chills;
• muscle rigidity;
• tremor;
• excitation;
• disorders of the intestinal tract;
• convulsions;
• rave;
• coma;
• fatal cases are known.

The combination of Fluoxetine with cardiac glycosides leads to displacement of each other from protein bonds, and a change in the free fraction in the blood occurs.

Do not take the drug with alcohol.

Use during pregnancy

There have been no large studies on the use of the drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In some cases, women use antidepressants while pregnant. But this is done only when absolutely necessary and under the supervision of a doctor.

Women who stopped using an antidepressant before giving birth gave birth to children with “fluoxetine withdrawal syndrome.” It was manifested by rapid breathing, refusal of the mother's breast, and hyperactivity.

It is not recommended to take the drug while breastfeeding. If the need for the drug is high, it is better to transfer the baby to artificial feeding.

Tablet dosage regimen

The dosage of Fluoxetine is increased gradually. The initial daily dose is 20 mg, it is recommended to divide it into two doses. After a week of use, in the absence of side effects, it is allowed to increase the amount of the drug by 20 mg. 40 mg is the optimal dosage for weight loss; it should not be increased further.

But anyone who dares to increase the amount of medication must remember that 80 mg is the “ceiling”; the dosage definitely cannot be increased further. Because this is the maximum dose used in the treatment of manic-depressive disorders.

Completion of treatment should also occur gradually. The dose of the drug is reduced week by week. By stopping the use of the drug abruptly, the risk of developing “withdrawal syndrome” increases.

When the dose is reduced, slight dizziness is noted - this is acceptable. But if aggression, irritability, sleep disturbances, or headaches occur, the amount of drug consumed should be reduced even more slowly.

A course of treatment

The recommended course of treatment is 4-5 weeks. Be sure to take a break of about 2-3 months. If you want to achieve greater weight loss results, the course can be repeated after “rest”.

Side effects and other risks

◊ Mechanism of side effects

Side effects are caused by an increase in serotonin. Most side effects occur immediately after starting treatment and go away over time, while the therapeutic effects increase over time. At the beginning of the course, agitation, activation and anxiety may appear

◊ Side effects

• Gastroenterological (reduced appetite, nausea, diarrhea, constipation)
• Insomnia, sedation, agitation, tremor
• Sweating
• Dangerous side effects: seizures, mania, suicidal ideation
• Weight gain: very rare
• Sedation: very rare
• Sexual dysfunction: yes

◊What to do about side effects

1. Wait
2. If fluoxetine activates, take in the morning to avoid insomnia
3. Reduce dose to 10 mg, when side effects go away, increase to 20 mg
4. Side effects may appear briefly as the dose is increased
5. Benzodazepines are recommended for anxious patients, especially at the beginning of treatment [1].

◊ Long-term use

Safely

◊Addiction

No.

◊ Overdose

• Very rare cases of fatal overdoses.
• In combination with alcohol – respiratory depression, ataxia, sedation

Contraindications

Obvious contraindications for the use of antidepressants include:

• renal or liver failure;
• manic disorder;
• breastfeeding period;
• pregnancy;
• glaucoma;
• diseases of the genitourinary system;
• joint use of incompatible drugs and alcohol.

It is difficult to predict the body's reaction when:

• diabetes mellitus (a sharp increase in blood sugar is possible);
• status epilepticus (risk of increased number of seizures);
• Parkinson's disease;
• exhaustion of the body;
• children and old age;

Side effects from taking

When an antidepressant is used by a healthy person whose serotonin production is not impaired, there is a high probability of developing serotonin syndrome, which can lead to not just coma, but death.

Therefore, weight loss with additional use of antidepressants must necessarily occur under the strict supervision of doctors. The drug is not able to relieve excess weight, hereditary factors, or problems with the functioning of internal organs. After all, bulimia nervosa is not always the cause of obesity.

If you notice side effects, it is recommended to stop taking the drug. These effects include:

• dizziness, headaches;
• dry mucous membranes;
• decreased performance;
• fast fatiguability;
• chronic fatigue;
• decreased quality of vision;
• decreased libido;
• soreness and swelling of the mammary glands;
• gagging, nausea, diarrhea;
• sleep disorders;
• rave;
• disturbances in the functioning of the stomach;
• skin rashes;
• painful sensations in the bones.

Consequences of non-medical use

Excessive use of the substance leads to reverse reactions, the following occur:

• headaches and dizziness;
• sleep disturbance and nightmares;
• constant anxiety and neuroses;
• impaired coordination and thinking;
• thoughts of suicide;
• Sopor.

The drug damages the digestive system and leads to:

• diarrhea;
• decreased appetite, anorexia;
• gastritis, stomach ulcer;
• intestinal obstruction and constipation;
• pancreatitis.

If the substance is abused, there may be problems with the respiratory system and pulmonary edema. The tablets affect the cardiovascular system.

Fluoxetine: how it works

The mechanism of action of the drug is based on three basic principles described below.

Reduces appetite

Decreased appetite is the first and most important component of the mechanism of action of Fluoxetine. The main thing is to understand that people who suffer from bulimia and compulsive overeating need to fight the feeling of hunger. If you take the drug if you are overweight in any way, you may end up with anorexia - a complete refusal to eat. This is the most common side effect.

Nervous system stimulation

The product has a positive effect on the nervous system - the production of serotonin. Under the influence of the hormone, mood and physical activity increase. A person begins to move more, lead an active lifestyle, and, as a result, loses weight.

Antidepressant effects

Depression is a special period in a person’s life when you want to withdraw and abuse bad habits. And some find solace in their favorite food. Another goal of the medication is to combat “stress eating.”

pharmachologic effect

Fluoxetine belongs to the pharmacotherapeutic group “Antidepressants”; it eliminates depression and relieves feelings of depression. How does Fluoxetine work when ingested?

• The concentration of serotonin in brain cells increases.
• The stimulating effect of the “joy” hormone on the nervous system is prolonged.
• Brutal appetite is suppressed due to the active effect on the saturation centers in the brain.

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How to take fluoxetine for weight loss

The duration of use of the drug depends on the degree of obesity of the patient. Often, it takes from several months to several years to fight extra pounds. The entire period of use of the drug must occur under the strict supervision of doctors. Patients note that the process of weight loss occurs smoothly with a gradually increasing effect.

It is recommended to use the medicine in the morning. People who do not suffer from insomnia can take the medication before bed. As mentioned above, the use of Fluoxetine should occur in increasing dosages.

What should be the dosage of Fluoxetine?

How to take Fluoxetine tablets for weight loss without harming your own health? First of all, you need to see a doctor. The specialist must:

• determine the level of psychological state,
• take into account the individual characteristics of the body,
• find out weight and age,
• presence of chronic diseases,
• find out if you are allergic to the components of the drug.

Only after this will the doctor be able to prescribe a course of treatment with Fluoxetine. It may take 3 to 4 weeks for the patient to recover psychologically. If we are talking about the treatment of bulimia, the result can be observed within 1-2 weeks. The duration of use of Fluoxetine must be strictly controlled. Positive results after treatment can occur either earlier or later than the specified period. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the person. The instructions for use of Flucosetine state that when treating depression, you need to take this drug 1 tablet every morning. If you are treating bulimia, then you need to increase the intake of tablets to 3 pieces - in the morning, at lunch and in the evening.

It is important! Under no circumstances should the prescribed dose of Fluoxetine be increased. The maximum dose of this drug per day is 4 tablets. The total volume of the drug should not exceed 80 mg per day.

If after the first week a lasting result is noticeable, the doctor may prescribe a short break in treatment. During this time, you need to monitor your psychological and physical state. If stress and depression no longer bother you, you can stop taking Fluoxetine. There is no need to extend or stop the course of treatment on your own.

Fluoxetine for weight loss - reviews from those who have lost weight, doctors’ opinions

Reviews on the Internet are both positive and negative. Young mothers who used the drug to combat postpartum depression often share their experiences on forums. But even a large number of reviews cannot become the basis for choosing an antidepressant on your own, because you need to think not only about yourself, but also about the baby.

Other reviews indicate that many people quickly lost weight after starting to take the drug to combat depression. Most likely, this is due to an improvement in the psycho-emotional background. After all, most people’s problems arise from their heads.

Now let’s pay closer attention to the opinion of a specialist.

Doctor's opinion

The instructions say that Fluoxetine is used to treat bulimia and reduce appetite. Women who are desperate to lose weight perceive this information as a signal to action: they rush to start taking an antidepressant, regardless of the reason for the appearance of excess pounds. Such decisions do not always lead to a positive result; most likely, the body is endangered.

Patients with bulimia and compulsive overeating, i.e. uncontrolled eating due to stress, they really lose weight by taking Fluoxetine. For such people, food is not a way to fill up, but an opportunity to get positive emotions and abstract from problems. In such cases, the remedy will help reduce the frequency of overeating attacks and normalize eating behavior. Therefore, people suffering from psychogenic obesity will definitely lose weight.

If the cause of excess weight is hormonal disorders, heredity, pathologies of metabolic processes, then it is pointless to expect a positive result from taking a miracle drug. And for people with a normal amount of serotonin in the blood, the drug can generally cause harm.

Even with bulimia nervosa and “stress eating,” Fluoxetine is not the only method of combating it. Often, successful treatment of obesity is carried out exclusively in inpatient settings, when the help of psychotherapists is fundamental. In addition, the guarantee that the lost kilograms will not return is reduced to a minimum. Therefore, do not waste extra money, time and nerves on yet another advertised product that can bring not only benefits, but also colossal harm to the body. It is better to choose a weight loss system together with an experienced specialist.

Losing weight on fluoxetine - myths and reality

Fact No. 1. Fluoxetine is actually used in the fight against compulsive overeating

Compulsive overeating is one of the possible neurotic reactions. A person experiences almost uncontrollable cravings for food; the process of eating allows him to drown out anxiety and mental pain for some time. Naturally, with this diet, there is an overconsumption of calories, the excess of which is deposited in extra pounds.

Fluoxetine effectively eliminates neuroses and their consequences. If the cause of excess weight was compulsive overeating, yes, after taking fluoxetine, a person will inevitably begin to lose weight.

Fact No. 2. One possible side effect of fluoxetine is decreased appetite.

Decreased appetite is one possible side effect. The less often and less a person eats, the fewer calories he can consume, and with a calorie deficit, weight loss begins. So far everything seems logical.

But it is worth paying additional attention to the fact that a decrease in appetite is one of the possible effects of fluoxetine. It is not a fact that it will necessarily manifest itself. Quite a lot of people do not notice any effect of fluoxetine on their appetite at all. Moreover, there is also a small group of people who gain additional weight during a course of antidepressants.

In addition, it is no secret to anyone who has tried to seriously delve into the topic of losing weight that after any diet, the essence of which is fasting, there follows a quick rollback and return to the original weight, plus a few extra kilograms on top. And the only way to lose weight and maintain the result is to radically change your eating habits and follow them throughout your life.

Fact No. 3. Fluoxetine does not regulate eating habits

Fluoxetine does not have the slightest effect on the eating habits of the person taking it.

If a person neglected healthy low-calorie foods and ate a lot of sweets and fast carbohydrates, then he will continue this habit while taking the drug.

Yes, perhaps with a decrease in appetite, overconsumption of calories will also decrease. But it won’t go away completely, because... among the so-called “junk food” there is a lot of high-calorie food that does not give a feeling of fullness. A standard bag of popcorn provides 500 kcal (about a quarter or a little more of the daily calorie intake for a person with standard physical activity), and it is impossible to get enough of it. Similar products also include all kinds of snacks, ice cream and sweet pastries.

Fact No. 4. Fluoxetine does not accelerate metabolism and does not accelerate fat burning processes

Fluoxetine has no effect on metabolism at all. The assumption that fluoxetine can somehow accelerate fat burning processes fundamentally contradicts the simple and long-known principles of its action.

Accordingly, it is not capable of providing any effect other than reducing appetite - and it does not matter how long and in what dosage you drink it.