Prozac (Fluoxetine) Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a commonly prescribed antidepressant medication. It’s a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat a variety of mental health conditions. It also comes in several different doses and dosage forms.

Here, we’ll review the recommended Prozac dosages. Keep in mind that your healthcare provider may give you different instructions, so always be sure to follow your prescribed dosage.

What’s the typical Prozac dosage for adults?

Prozac is approved for a wide range of mental health conditions. And the recommended Prozac dosage for adults depends on the condition you’re treating. It’s best to take Prozac in the morning. But doses over 20 mg should be divided into a morning and afternoon dose. You can take Prozac with or without food.

Major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD), or clinical depression, can cause you to disconnect or lose pleasure from everyday life. The recommended Prozac dosage for adults living with depression starts at 20 mg once daily. Your healthcare provider may raise your dose after several weeks based on your response. Keep in mind that it may take 4 weeks or more for the full effect of Prozac to kick in for depression. The maximum recommended dosage is 80 mg per day.

Obsessive compulsive disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that causes unwanted, intrusive thoughts and behaviors. The starting Prozac dosage for adults living with OCD is 20 mg by mouth once daily. Your provider may increase your dose after a few weeks based on your response. But keep in mind that it may take 5 weeks or longer for Prozac to reach its full effect for OCD.

For most people, a dose of 20 mg to 60 mg per day is recommended. But doses can go as high as 80 mg per day if needed.

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Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder associated with cycles of binging and purging. The recommended Prozac dosage for bulimia in adults is 60 mg once daily. Your provider may start you at a lower dose and raise it slowly over the course of a few days. This may help lessen side effects, such as nausea.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. For panic disorder in adults, it’s recommended to start with a Prozac dosage of 10 mg once daily for 1 week. After the first week, the dose should be raised to 20 mg per day. After several weeks, your healthcare provider may raise your dose based on your response. The maximum recommended dosage for panic disorder is 60 mg per day.

Depressive episodes of bipolar 1 disorder

Bipolar 1 disorder is associated with mood swings that can include episodes of both depression and manic behavior. Prozac is approved for episodes of depression associated with bipolar 1 disorder, but only if it’s taken in combination with olanzapine (Zyprexa).

The recommended starting Prozac dosage for bipolar 1 disorder is 20 mg daily in the evening along with 5 mg of olanzapine. Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage based on your response. Usual adult doses range between 25 mg to 50 mg of Prozac along with 6 mg to 12 mg of olanzapine. Doses above 75 mg of Prozac with 18 mg of olanzapine aren’t recommended.

Good to know: Fluoxetine (the active ingredient in Prozac) and olanzapine are available in a combination capsule called Symbyax. This may be preferable to taking Prozac and olanzapine separately.

Treatment-resistant depression

If you’ve tried two different antidepressants that haven’t worked for your MDD symptoms, you may have treatment-resistant depression. Prozac can be taken in combination with olanzapine for treatment-resistant depression.

The recommended starting Prozac dosage for treatment-resistant depression is 20 mg daily in the evening along with 5 mg of olanzapine. Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage based on your response. Usual adult doses range between 25 mg to 50 mg of Prozac along with 6 mg to 18 mg of olanzapine. Doses above 75 mg of Prozac with 18 mg of olanzapine aren’t recommended.

What’s the typical Prozac dosage for children?

Prozac is also approved for children and adolescents. The age range and recommended dosage depends on the health condition being treated.

Major depressive disorder

Prozac is approved to treat depression in children ages 8 to 18 years old. It’s recommended to start with a Prozac dosage of 10 mg to 20 mg daily to treat MDD in children. After 1 week, a 10 mg dose may be raised to 20 mg if needed. Children with a lower body weight may need to wait longer before raising their dose. Keep in mind that it may take 4 weeks or more to experience Prozac’s full effects. 

Obsessive compulsive disorder

Prozac is approved for OCD treatment in children ages 7 to 17 years old. The starting dosage of Prozac for children living with OCD is 10 mg by mouth once daily.

In adolescents and children with a higher body weight, the dosage can be increased to 20 mg daily after 2 weeks. Further increases up to a maximum of 60 mg per day can happen if needed.

In children with a lower body weight, the dose can be increased after several weeks if needed. Doses between 20 mg and 30 mg per day are recommended.

Depressive episodes of bipolar disorder

Prozac is approved to treat depressive episodes of bipolar 1 disorder in children ages 10 to 17 years of age. The recommended starting Prozac dosage for children is 20 mg once daily in the evening combined with 2.5 mg of olanzapine. If needed, your child’s healthcare provider may increase their dose up to a maximum of 50 mg of Prozac and 12 mg of olanzapine daily.

What dosage forms does Prozac come in?

Prozac is available in several dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, and a liquid. Each form of Prozac is approved for different health conditions. And each form is available in different doses.

How do you switch from once-daily to once-weekly Prozac?

Prozac is also available as a once-weekly 90 mg capsule. It’s approved for MDD in adults and children 8 years of age and older. If you’re taking 20 mg of Prozac once daily, then switching to once-weekly Prozac might be an option for you.

To switch from once-daily to once-weekly Prozac, you need to wait for 7 days after your last dose of Prozac 20 mg. Then you can start taking the 90 mg capsule once a week. Your healthcare provider can help you make this switch safely if it’s an option for you.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

If you have other medical conditions or take interacting medications, you may need a different Prozac dosage.

Dosage for people with liver problems

Your liver helps your body break down Prozac. If you have liver disease you may need a lower dose of Prozac. Or you may need to take it less often than usual. Your healthcare provider will let you know if this applies to you.

What happens if you miss a dose of Prozac?

If you forget a dose of Prozac, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Don’t take 2 doses at once to make up for a missed dose.

If you miss more than one dose of Prozac, talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to get back on track with your medication.

What should you do if you take too much Prozac?

If you take an extra dose of Prozac by mistake, it isn’t likely to cause serious problems. You may notice more side effects, such as nausea or headache.

But large doses of Prozac can be harmful. Seizures, heart problems, and coma can occur. Serotonin syndrome, a possibly life-threatening condition, can also occur. Symptoms of this syndrome include sweating, shaking, and confusion.

If you or a loved one might have taken too much Prozac call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or contact your healthcare provider right away. But if you have any of the described symptoms, seek emergency care right away.

How to save on Prozac

There are many ways to save on Prozac, which is available as both a brand-name and a generic medication.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 90% off the generic version. The price of fluoxetine capsules is as low as $3.00 with a free GoodRx discount. And the price of fluoxetine tablets is as low as $10.20.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Prozac’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

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Written by:

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA, has been a pharmacist for 12 years. His first job was floating in a community chain pharmacy.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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