Can different brands of Fluoxetine work differently?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Can different brands of Fluoxetine work differently?
No, different brands of Fluoxetine do not work differently – as they all contain Fluoxetine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient. However, there might be slight differences. A medicine typically contains two parts, active and inactive parts.
The active part contains the active ingredient which is responsible for generating a therapeutic response. In the case of Fluoxetine, no matter which brand it belongs to, they all contain Fluoxetine or Fluoxetine HCl as an active ingredient and can be considered bioequivalent (1,2).
However, they may have slight variations and the dosage strength can also make a difference – which indicates the exact amount of active ingredient present in the med.
The inactive part of a med contains inactive ingredients/excipients which are added to bind and coat the medication, and to manage its physical and chemical parameters – like stability, disintegration, dissolution, absorption, etc.
Inactive ingredients could be different in different brands, but the effects produced by the medication are almost the same because the active chemical is the same.
If you’re switching from one brand to another, just make sure that you’re choosing the right dosage strength. If you find the new brand to affect you differently, please reach out to your doctor.
Patient experiences and feedback on different brands of Fluoxetine
People who have tried different brands of Fluoxetine have discussed a few things that they found slightly varied. These include:
Varied effectiveness
Patients have reported varying levels of effectiveness among different brands of Fluoxetine. Some individuals have found certain brands to be more effective in alleviating their symptoms of depression or anxiety, while others have experienced comparable benefits across different brands.
Side effect profiles
Patient feedback indicates that different brands of Fluoxetine may have varying side effect profiles (3,4). Some individuals have reported experiencing fewer or milder side effects with certain brands, such as decreased nausea or improved sleep quality.
On the other hand, some have noted specific side effects that were more prominent with certain brands.
Tolerability and satisfaction
Patients’ experiences with tolerability and satisfaction can differ based on the specific brand of Fluoxetine they use. Some individuals have found a particular brand to be well-tolerated with minimal discomfort, while others have experienced challenges with tolerability and sought alternatives.
Factors influencing patient preferences
Patient preferences for specific brands of Fluoxetine can be influenced by various factors. These may include the severity of symptoms, previous experiences with different brands, recommendations from healthcare providers, cost considerations, and personal factors such as individual body chemistry and lifestyle.
Sharing experiences and insights
Patient communities and online forums provide platforms for individuals to share their experiences and insights regarding different brands of Fluoxetine. Engaging in such discussions can offer valuable perspectives and support in making informed decisions.
Final words
To sum up, different brands of Fluoxetine don’t necessarily work differently, as they all contain the same active drug ingredient. However, they may have slight variations- which might be negligible for some people and prominent for others.
It’s best to discuss switching brands with your healthcare provider if you plan to do it. There’s a high chance you might not feel a difference, but it’s still best to do so under a doctor’s supervision.
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References
1.-
Najib NM, Idkaidek N, Beshtawi M, Mohammed B, Admour I, Alam SM, Dham R, Qumaruzaman. Bioequivalence evaluation of two brands of fluoxetine 20 mg capsules (Flutin and Prozac) in healthy human volunteers. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 2005 Sep;26(6):243-7. doi: 10.1002/bdd.456. PMID: 15968712. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15968712/
2.-
Sernyak MJ, Rosenheck RA. Generic fluoxetine and choice of antidepressant medication. Psychiatr Serv. 2007 Jan;58(1):128-30. doi: 10.1176/ps.2007.58.1.128. PMID: 17215423. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17215423/
3.-
Sohel AJ, Shutter MC, Molla M. Fluoxetine. 2022 Jul 4. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29083803. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459223
4.-
Wernicke JF. The side effect profile and safety of fluoxetine. J Clin Psychiatry. 1985 Mar;46(3 Pt 2):59-67. PMID: 3156126. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3156126/
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