What happens if you accidentally take two Fluoxetine?
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
What happens if you accidentally take two Fluoxetine?
If you accidentally take your Fluoxetine dose twice, you’re not likely to experience severe or life-threatening symptoms. Commonly reported symptoms include (1,2):
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Shakiness
- Fever
- Weakness
- Seizures (3)
These symptoms vary from person to person and depend heavily on the dosage strength that you have taken twice. The usually prescribed dosage strengths of Prozac range from 20 to 80 mg, which is not recommended.
Let’s say you’re on 20 mg of Prozac and you took it twice, it’s not likely to cause significant side effects. You may feel nauseous or weak overall, but that’s no health risk.
Let’s say you have taken your 40 mg Prozac twice, with a total of 80 mg you’re still not surpassing the maximum daily dose. If you’re on a high dose of Prozac and let’s say your total exceeds 80 mg, it still won’t cause life-threatening side effects.
I’m not saying you won’t feel it, you definitely will and some people experience more intense effects than others – but it won’t necessarily take you to the ER. However, it is best to seek medical attention if you think your side effects are unusual.
Antidepressants affect people differently and people who already have another health condition are at higher risk of adverse events. It is also important to make sure you avoid such accidental overdoses in the future.
If you find it difficult to keep track of your meds, I recommend using a pillbox. It will allow you to take meds properly and the chances of overdosing on Prozac or any medication will significantly decrease. The overdosing symptoms of Fluoxetine are usually the same, no matter which brands you use.
How to ensure the safe and effective use of Fluoxetine?
Following are some ways to ensure the safe and effective use of Fluoxetine (4):
Follow the Instructions
Take Fluoxetine according to your doctor’s directions. Read the medication guide or label carefully and understand the recommended dosage, frequency, and duration of treatment.
Stick to a Schedule
Take Fluoxetine at the same time each day to maintain a consistent level of the medication in your body. You can choose a time that works best for you, such as in the morning or evening, and try to take it around the same time every day.
Be Patient
Fluoxetine may take some time to start working effectively. It may cause some early side effects, but your body eventually adjusts to the medication and it starts to kick in. Just be patient and give the medication some time to work.
Don’t Stop Abruptly
If you wish to stop taking Fluoxetine, do not stop abruptly or without consulting your healthcare provider. It is generally recommended to gradually reduce the dosage under medical supervision to avoid potential withdrawal symptoms.
Avoid Alcohol and Drug Interactions
It’s best to avoid or limit alcohol consumption while taking Fluoxetine. Additionally, inform your healthcare provider about any other medications, supplements, or herbal products you are taking to ensure there are no potential interactions.
Communicate with Your Healthcare Provider
If you have any questions, or concerns, or experience side effects while taking Fluoxetine, it’s important to discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Remember, everyone’s situation is unique, so it’s crucial to follow the advice of your healthcare provider for the proper use of Fluoxetine.
References
- Borys DJ, Setzer SC, Ling LJ, Reisdorf JJ, Day LC, Krenzelok EP. Acute fluoxetine overdose: a report of 234 cases. Am J Emerg Med. 1992 Mar;10(2):115-20. doi: 10.1016/0735-6757(92)90041-u. PMID: 1586402. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1586402/
- Borys DJ, Setzer SC, Ling LJ, Reisdorf JJ, Day LC, Krenzelok EP. The effects of fluoxetine in the overdose patient. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1990;28(3):331-40. doi: 10.3109/15563659008994434. PMID: 2231832. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2231832/
- Suchard JR. Fluoxetine overdose-induced seizure. West J Emerg Med. 2008 Aug;9(3):154-6. PMID: 19561732; PMCID: PMC2672257. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672257/
- 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/
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