Fluoxetine Dosage in Children and Teens
The starting dose of
fluoxetine for children and teens is usually 10 mg or 20 mg once daily. Your child's healthcare provider will take into consideration your child's age, weight, and medical conditions to choose a fluoxetine dose for your child. Fluoxetine is approved for use in children and teens with
depression and
OCD; fluoxetine has not been adequately studied in children and teens with
bulimia or
panic disorder.
General Information on Dosing With Fluoxetine
Some considerations for people taking fluoxetine include:
- It usually takes several weeks (perhaps even more than a month) before feeling the beneficial effects of fluoxetine. Try not to be discouraged if the medication does not work right away for you.
- Make sure to swallow long-acting Prozac Weekly capsules whole (do not open, chew, or crush the capsules).
- If fluoxetine makes you drowsy, try taking your dosage before bedtime. If it causes insomnia for you, try taking it in the morning.
- Elderly people and people with liver problems, including liver failure or cirrhosis, often need lower doses of fluoxetine.
- You can take fluoxetine with or without food. If the antidepressant bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- Fluoxetine should be taken at the same time each day (or the same day each week, with Prozac Weekly) to maintain an even level of the drug in your blood.
- Abruptly stopping medications like fluoxetine can result in withdrawal symptoms (see Prozac Withdrawal for more information).
- For fluoxetine to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. The medication will not work if you take it differently than your healthcare provider prescribes.
- If you are unsure about anything related to fluoxetine or your fluoxetine dosage, please talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking fluoxetine without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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