Side effects of Fludac

Fludac is a brand of the generic drug Fluoxetine that is sold in India. It’s original brand name is Prozac. Therefore side effects of Fludac and Prozac are similar. Fludac is an antidepressant in SSRI drug class. Most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, abdominal pain and skin rashes.

In addition, certain patients can report short term anxiety and agitation. Insomnia or lack of sleep is also another troublesome side effect. However, it can be controlled by taking the medication in the morning.

Sexual dysfunction is one of the major side effect of concern. It is said around 80% of patients who take Fludac experience some sort of sexual side effect. Most common side effect is lack of desire. In addition, it can cause erectile dysfunction in males. It is one of the main cause of drug discontinuation in patients.


However, sexual dysfunction can also be due to the disorder itself (e.g. Depression). Therefore, some patients may experience more satisfactory sexual function when the depression is settling.

Most commonly prescribed alternative medication, when sexual dysfunction is present is Mirtazapine. But it can cause drowsiness.



Other more problematic side effects are syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion or SIADH. It can result in reduced blood concentration of sodium or hyponatremia. Another potentially life threatening complication of Fludac (Fluoxetine) is serotonin syndrome.

In addition, Fludac can cause increased bleeding due to platelet malfunction. It is rarely a problem in normal individuals but it can cause problems in surgical procedures. Therefore, it is important to inform the surgeon and anesthetist before going to surgery that you are on Fludac.

What should you discuss with your doctor before getting the prescription

If you have liver disease, kidney disease, past history of SIADH, heart disease, myasthenia gravis, seizure disorder, gastric ulcer disease, or bleeding disorder you need to inform your doctor before getting the prescription. In addition, if you have bipolar disorder it is very important to discuss that with your doctor as this medication alone can cause mania in patients with bipolar disorder.

When should you take Fludac?

Some patients may experience poor sleep with Fludac. They should take it in the morning. If you get drowsy with this medication then it is better to take it in night.

What is the maximum dose of Fludac?

80mg per day can be used safely without significant side effects. But risk of toxicity is rare even in very high doses. This makes it preferable to use in highly suicidal patients.

How to minimize side effects?

You can minimize side effects by taking capsule as a whole and taking it with a full glass of water. In addition, it should be taken after a meal. Otherwise, it can resul stomach upset and nausea.