Taking Vitamins With Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine, often sold under the brand name Prozac, is an antidepressant medication commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder 1. Although the medication can be beneficial to those with these and other mental conditions, it also can cause serious side effects and react negatively with other medications and supplements. While more research is needed, folic acid may increase the effectiveness of fluoxetine in some people 1. Taking vitamins with fluoxetine is not likely to cause a negative interaction, but there may be a few exceptions 1. Always talk to your doctor before taking vitamins with fluoxetine 1.
Notify your doctor of your desire to begin taking vitamin supplements. Ask if there are certain vitamins you should avoid or limit, based on your current fluoxetine prescription 1. Always get permission from your doctor before taking any new vitamin supplement.
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Purchase the vitamin supplements based on your doctor’s recommendation. Check the label on the vitamins to ensure the amount of the vitamins in the supplement matches the amount your doctor told you to take.
Plan your dosing schedule. Decide if it would be easier for you to take your vitamin supplement at the same time as a dose of fluoxetine or at a separate time of the day 1. Although this is usually just a personal preference, consider asking your doctor for his recommendation.
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Begin taking the vitamin supplements as directed by your doctor. Most vitamin supplements are taken with water, but this may vary depending on the specific brand and type of vitamin supplement. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are any parts of the directions you do not understand.
Monitor your body for mental or physical reactions after you begin taking the supplements. If you notice any unusual side effects, contact your doctor for advice.
Tips
Vitamin supplements should not replace a nutritious diet.
Getting as many essential nutrients from food is usually preferable to getting them through supplements. You may not need to take vitamin supplements if you are already consuming a balanced diet. Ask your doctor for more information.
Warnings
Fluoxetine, taken with or without vitamin supplement, may increase the risk of suicide, especially in those under 24 years of age. Report any suicidal thoughts to a mental health professional immediately.
Fluoxetine can cause a number of serious side effects, including fever, hives, rash, joint pain, difficultly breathing, swelling, hallucinations or seizures. Seek immediate medical attention for any of these symptoms. Notify the health care provider you see of your fluoxetine prescription as well as the vitamin supplements you are currently taking.
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References
- MedlinePlus: Fluoxetine
- Drugs.com: Multivitamin
- "Journal of Affective Disorders“; Enhancement of the Antidepressant Action of Fluoxetine by Folic Acid…; A. Coppen, et al.; November 2000
- Food and Drug Administration. Fluoxetine label. Updated January 2017.
- Lazarevic V, Mantas I, Flais I, Svenningsson P. Fluoxetine suppresses glutamate- and GABA-mediated neurotransmission by altering SNARE complex. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(17):4247. doi:10.3390/ijms20174247
- Food and Drug Administration. Prozac label.
- Al Zaabi MSR, Sridhar SB, Tadross TM. Assessment of incidence, causality, severity, and preventability of suspected adverse drug reactions to antidepressant medications in a psychiatry outpatient setting of a secondary care hospital. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2020;12(2):131-138. doi:10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_196_19
Writer Bio
Elizabeth Wolfenden has been a professional freelance writer since 2005 with articles published on a variety of blogs and websites. She specializes in the areas of nutrition, health, psychology, mental health and education. Wolfenden holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in counseling from Oakland University.