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Prozac Dosage (Cont.)

Prozac Dosage for Bulimia

The recommended Prozac dose for bulimia is 60 mg once a day. However, your healthcare provider may decide to prescribe a lower dose in certain situations, such as for elderly people or for people with liver problems.
 

Prozac Dosage for Panic Disorder

The recommended starting dosage of Prozac for people with panic disorder is 10 mg once daily. After one week, your healthcare provider may increase the dose to 20 mg once daily. Your healthcare provider may choose to increase the Prozac dosage if symptoms continue or decrease the dose if side effects occur. The maximum recommended dose for panic disorder treatment is Prozac 60 mg per day.
 

Prozac Dosage in Children and Teens

The starting dose of Prozac 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 Prozac dose for your child. Prozac is approved for use in children and teens with depression and OCD; Prozac has not been adequately studied in children and teens with bulimia or panic disorder.
 

General Information on Dosing With Prozac

Some considerations for people taking Prozac include:
 
  • It usually takes several weeks (perhaps even more than a month) before feeling the beneficial effects of Prozac. 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 Prozac 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 Prozac.
     
  • You can take Prozac with or without food. If the antidepressant bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • Prozac 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 Prozac can result in withdrawal symptoms (see Prozac Withdrawal for more information).
     
  • For Prozac 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 Prozac or your Prozac dosage, please talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking Prozac without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
     
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;