Drug name: Magrilan

Other names used:

• Prozac®
• Sarafem®

Active Ingredients:

• fluoxetine

Therapeutic effects of Magrilan: Fluoxetine is classified under the drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. This group acts on serotonin, which is chemical found within the brain. Serotonin is one of the many chemicals utilized to send messages from one nerve cell to another.

As a message travel down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release serotonin. The chemical enters the gap between a nerve cell and the one situated next to it. When an adequate amount of serotonin reaches the second nerve cell, it stimulates receptors on the cell allowing the message continue on its way. Then, a "reuptake" may occur. This happens when the first cell quickly takes in any serotonin left in the gap after the process.

The procedure normally takes place with slight difficulties. However, when there is an imbalance in serotonin levels, a variety of conditions may emerge such as depression. Fluoxetine aids in the blocking of serotonin reuptake. As a result, more amount of serotonin fills the spaces between the brain's nerve cells. Receptors situated on the next nerve cell are better triggered by serotonin under the circumstance.

Indications: Magrilan tablets and capsules are used to treat the following:

• Panic disorder
• Eating disorder characterized by consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time (Bulimia)
• Condition in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts (Obsessive-compulsive disorder)
• Depression

Precautions and Restrictions: It is not advisable to use this medicine under the following circumstances:

• If you have used monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 2 weeks
• Manic episodes
• Uncontrolled epileptic seizures
• Uncontrolled seizures due to injury to the brain
• Observe caution while using this medicine
• If you are an elderly person
• If the user is an young infant or an adolescent
• If the user is a young adult
• If the user has a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior
• If the user has a history of manic depression, hypomania, or mania
• If the user is receiving electroconvulsive therapy
• If the user is taking antipsychotic medicines
• If the user is suffering from liver dysfunction
• If the user is suffering from heart ailment
• If the user has epilepsy
• If the user has diabetes
• If the user has a history of bleeding problem
• If the user has a history of convulsions
• If the user is taking medicines that affect clotting of blood

Warning

This medication can prompt a decrease in your ability to drive and operate machineries safely. Before attempting to carry out the tasks, check the effects this medication may have on you. Make sure that it will not affect your performance when you decide continue on such strenuous activities.

Avoiding alcohol consumption while under this medication is highly recommended.

SSRI antidepressants have been linked to the progression unpleasant or distressing restlessness and the need to move while under treatment. These often come with incapacity to sit or stand. Generally, the side effects are likely to take place within the first few weeks of treatment. Consult your doctor at once if you experience any of the symptoms.

Antidepressants may lead to hyponatraemia. The side condition takes place when there is a drop in the amount of sodium stored in the blood. Some of its symptoms are drowsiness, confusion, muscle twitching and convulsions. Elderly individuals have a particularly higher risk in experiencing this effect. To be able to check your sodium levels, consult your doctor, if you experience any of the symptoms while under this medication.

Voluntarily stopping the intake of this medication should be avoided. Doing so can lead to occurrence of headaches, nausea, dizziness and anxiety. The symptoms are short-term in nature and they are not caused by addiction or dependence on prescribed medications. With fluoxetine, these occurrences are rare since the substance dwell in your blood up to a few weeks after you stop taking it. Over time, the presence of the substance in the blood gradually decreases. Nonetheless, strictly adhere to the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist when discontinuing the treatment.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience seizures, convulsions or fits while under this medication since you will have to end the treatment. This is also applicable if you suffer from epilepsy or seizures become more frequent after you started taking this medicine.

Talk to your doctor if a skin rash or other unexplained allergic reactions transpire while taking this medication.

Side effects of Magrilan: There are certain side effects of Magrilan tablets and capsules that may affect some people. But it is not certain that these side effects will be experienced by all people. Some of the common side effects caused by this drug are:

• Excessive perspiration
• Changes in libido or ability
• Loss of weight
• Poor appetite or appetite loss
• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
• Weakness
• Somnolence
• Sore throat
• Urge to vomit
• Dry mouth
• Nervousness

Below mentioned are some of the serious side effects that users of this medicine may experience:

• Convulsions
• Hallucinating
• Breathing difficulty
• Dysphagia
• Swelling of eyes, lips, throat, face, or lower legs
• Pain in the joints
• Fever
• Hives
• Rashes

The above mentioned side effects are by no means exhaustive, so for the complete list of adverse reactions and possible side effects please see the information provided by the drug manufacturer or consult a doctor or a pharmacist.

Interactions: Magrilan tablets and capsules can react with other medicines and increase or decrease or cause a totally unintended effect. This can be best avoided by consulting a doctor before taking Magrilan tablets or capsules. It is also a good idea to mention the medicines or treatment you are currently under.

Magrilan may react with the following substances: alprazolam (Xanax); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); antidepressants (mood elevators) such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); diazepam (Valium); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics (water pills), flecainide (Tambocor); insulin or oral medications for diabetes; lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); medications for anxiety and Parkinson's disease; medications for mental illness such as clozapine (Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), and pimozide (Orap); medications for migraine headaches such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin); sedatives; sleeping pills; tramadol (Ultram); tranquilizers; and vinblastine (Velban). If you are going to use Magrilan with the above mentioned substances then first consult with a doctor, he may recommend regular monitoring of the situation or dosage change.

Additional Information: People are advised not to give Magrilan tablets to any person without proper medical prescription. Do not use this medicine in any other type of health related complication. Keep the medicine and syringes away from children, to avoid any problem.