What to Do If You Miss a Dose of Prozac (Plus 4 More Tips)
Key takeaways:
Prozac (fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication. It treats mental health conditions like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.
If you miss a dose of Prozac, take it as soon as you remember. But don’t double up on Prozac if you miss a dose.
It may take 4 to 8 weeks to see the full benefits of Prozac. But you may start to notice some improvement in your symptoms after 1 to 2 weeks.
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Today’s world can be overwhelming. So if you have a mental health condition that affects your day-to-day life, know that you’re not alone. In fact, about 1 billion people worldwide live with one or more mental health conditions.
When they’re needed, antidepressants can help relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and more. Prozac (fluoxetine) is one common prescription antidepressant medication. It’s an effective and relatively affordable option for many people who take it.
If you or a loved one have depression, your healthcare provider may prescribe Prozac. Medications like Prozac are recommended as first-choice medications for managing depression in kids and adults. Before you pick up your prescription, there are a few things to know about how to safely take Prozac while maximizing its benefits.
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What is Prozac?
Prozac is an antidepressant medication that’s FDA approved to treat several mental health conditions in kids and adults. It’s a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that helps improve mood by raising the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that’s well-known for its role in determining your mood.
Prozac is approved to treat these health conditions:
Depression
Depression symptoms in people with bipolar disorder in combination with olanzapine
Bulimia nervosa (adults only)
Panic disorder (adults only)
Treatment-resistant depression in combination with olanzapine (adults only)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (adults only)
Prozac is available as immediate-release (IR) tablets, capsules, and an oral liquid. It also comes as a delayed-release (DR) capsule. Prozac is usually taken by mouth 1 to 2 times a day, but Prozac DR capsules are taken once a week. The typical Prozac dose ranges from 20 mg to 80 mg per day, but this depends on what you’re taking it for.
5 pharmacist-backed tips for taking Prozac
If you’re given a prescription for Prozac, it’s natural to have questions about it before starting it. You may be curious about what steps to take if you miss a dose. Or the best time of day to take it. Below, we’ll offer five tips for getting the most out of your Prozac prescription. But if you still have questions, your pharmacist can be a helpful resource.
1. What to do if you miss a dose of Prozac
It can be tricky to fit medications into your daily routine. If you miss a dose of Prozac, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Never double up on Prozac to make up for a missed dose.
And while it’s never ideal to miss a medication dose, accidentally missing doses of Prozac every now and then shouldn’t cause concern. Prozac actually takes longer to leave the body than other SSRIs. This helps its effects last for longer. So there’s also a lower risk of experiencing antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (withdrawal symptoms) than with other SSRIs.
Still, it’s a good idea to take certain steps to help you remember to take your Prozac so you get the most benefits. Taking it as routinely as possible helps boost its effectiveness. Setting reminders on your phone or using a medication reminder app can be helpful. And if you’re trying to juggle more than one medication, a pill organizer is another useful tool.
2. Prozac doesn’t start working right away
Like all SSRIs, Prozac needs some time to kick in. How long it takes can depend on some different factors, like the condition you’re taking it to treat.
If you’re taking Prozac for depression, you may notice some of your symptoms improving 1 to 2 weeks after starting it. But it may actually take 4 to 8 weeks to see full benefits. Timelines for other conditions are described below.
| Condition | Expected time to see a meaningful benefit |
|---|---|
| OCD | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Panic disorder | 6 weeks |
| PMDD | 6 days |
After some time has passed, reach out to your healthcare provider if your symptoms aren’t getting better. Your Prozac dose may need to be adjusted. Or you may need to add on another medication or switch to a different one.
3. Separating Prozac from other medications
Prozac interacts with several medications. This can raise the risk of experiencing side effects. While you don’t need to separate any medications from Prozac throughout the day, there are some that should be avoided altogether.
For instance, you should avoid taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors with Prozac. Both medications affect serotonin, so when they’re combined, there’s a greater risk of serotonin syndrome (high serotonin levels). Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.
Other medications that interact with Prozac include:
Medications that raise the risk of bleeding, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and blood thinners
Other medications that raise serotonin levels, like triptans and tricyclic antidepressants
Medications that affect the heart rhythm, like pimozide and thioridazine
Medications that affect the central nervous system, like diazepam (Valium)
These aren’t all the medications that may interact with Prozac. To be safe, make sure your pharmacist and healthcare provider have an updated list of prescription and over-the-counter medications you take. This will help them check for Prozac interactions.
4. What to know about Prozac side effects
Like all medications, Prozac has side effects you should be aware of. Common Prozac side effects include:
Insomnia
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Nausea
Headache
Nervousness
Anxiety
Although rare, Prozac can also cause serious side effects. Prozac carries a boxed warning — the FDA’s most serious type of warning — about a possible risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This risk is higher in children, adolescents, and young adults during the first few months of treatment.
If you or a loved one have suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm, know that there is help available. Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free confidential support. You can also reach out to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
Other side effects are also possible, albeit rare. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms of any of these potentially serious side effects:
Serotonin syndrome
Seizures
Unusual bleeding
Glaucoma
Abnormal heart rhythm
Low sodium levels
5. Can I stop taking Prozac if I feel better?
No. You shouldn’t stop taking Prozac on your own. If you’re feeling better, that’s a sign that Prozac is helping control your symptoms. If you stop taking Prozac too soon, there’s a chance your symptoms could return.
What’s more, if you suddenly stop taking Prozac — or if you lower your dose too quickly — it’s possible to experience withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms like tiredness, muscle aches, headaches, and more could pop up.
That being said, many people stop taking antidepressants at some point. Sometimes they’re no longer needed, and sometimes it's due to side effects or affordability concerns. If you’re taking Prozac and want to stop, it’s crucial to talk to your healthcare provider first. Based on your symptoms and how long you’ve been taking Prozac, they can help you stop taking the medication in a safe way.
Tips on how to save money with your Prozac prescription
There are many ways to save on Prozac, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.
Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 95% off the average retail price of the generic version. A 30-day supply of generic Prozac at certain pharmacies is less than $6 with a free GoodRx discount.
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.
Save with a 90-day supply. You may be able to save on Prozac by filling a 90-day supply. This will also help lower your amount of trips to the pharmacy.
The bottom line
Prozac is a SSRI that treats a variety of mental health conditions. If you miss a dose of Prozac, take it as soon as you remember. Keep in mind that Prozac takes time to kick in, often up to 8 weeks. Reach out to your healthcare provider right away if you experience any thoughts of suicide or self harm.
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References
American Psychiatric Association (2007). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
American Psychiatric Association. (2010). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder.
American Psychological Association. (2019). APA clinical practice guideline for the treatment of depression across three age cohorts.
Bryant Ranch Prepack. (2022). Fluoxetine [package insert].
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited. (2021). Fluoxetine [package insert].
MedlinePlus. (2022). Fluoxetine.
Michelson, D., et al. (2018). Efficacy of usual antidepressant dosing regimens of fluoxetine in panic disorder: Randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry.
Steinberg, E. M., et al. (2012). Rapid response to fluoxetine in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Depression and Anxiety.
Warner, C. H., et al. (2006). Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. American Family Physician.
World Health Organization. (2022). WHO highlights urgent need to transform mental health and mental health care.
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