RiteMED Fluoxetine Dosage/Direction for Use

Posology and Method of Administration: For oral administration.
Major depressive episodes: The usual initial dose is 20 mg once daily, US product information recommends giving this dose in the morning. If no clinical response is seen after several weeks, the daily dose may be gradually increased, up to a maximum of 80 mg daily (60 mg in the elderly). Doses above 20 mg daily may be given in 2 divided doses, for example in the morning and at noon, or as a once daily dose.
Depression in children aged 8-years and over: Initial doses of 10 mg should be increased to 20 mg daily after 1 week (except in low-weight children when such increases should not be made for several weeks, and then only if the clinical response is insufficient). Because of the concerns about the use in children, it is use only as an adjunct to psychological therapy in children and adolescents with moderate to severe depression who have not responded to psychological therapy alone.
Bulimia nervosa: A dose of 60 mg once daily is recommended.
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder: The initial dose is 20 mg once daily increased after several weeks if there is no response to up to 60 mg daily. Up to 80 mg has been used, sometimes divided into 2 doses.
Obsessive-Compulsive disorder in children aged 7-years and over: The starting dose is 10 mg daily. In low-weight children this is increased after several weeks to 20 mg to 30 mg daily, if required. Adolescents and heavier children may be increased to 20 mg daily after 2 weeks; further increases to 60 mg daily may be made after several weeks, as necessary.
Panic disorder: Initial dose of 10 mg once daily. After a week the dose should be increased to 20 mg daily; further increases to 60 mg daily maybe considered after several weeks if no improvement is seen.
Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder: A dose of 20 mg daily. Intermittent dosing is also permitted; for each new cycle, Fluoxetine should be started 14 days before the onset of menstruation and continued until the first full day of menstruation. Treatment may be continued for 6 months; benefits should then be re-assessed before continuing further.
Elderly: A lower or less frequent dose is recommended in elderly patients as well as patients with hepatic impairment.
Withdrawal symptoms seen on discontinuation of therapy: Although SSRIs should generally be withdrawn gradually to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms, the long half-life may reduce the need for dose tapering with Fluoxetine.