Prozac every other day

[MrsWimpy]

My DC is just 18 and has been prescribed Prozac (fluoxetine). It's been a very long journey to get here.

They have suggested 20mg every other day as a starting dose. I've not heard of this before but the doc seemed to think it would work and that it can then be increased if needed.

Does anyone have any experience of that kind of dose? would have preferred 10mg a day for ease but they seemingly don't do it.

They definitely do have 10mg dose of Fluoxetine as that is what my DD is currently on. Does seem a bit strange to take every other day as a starting dose as will prolong everything and it can take up to 6 weeks to see any benefit anyway.

DD started on 10mg and went up to 20 after 2 weeks and eventually up to 40 6 weeks later.

We are week 9 of fluoxetine.
There certainly is a 10mg dose.
I would push for that to be taken everyday.
Please keep a close watch on your DD for the first few weeks.
They can get very low as it is a common side effect of the drug.

There must certainly is a 10mg capsule available - got some in my house right now! But they are much more expensive so your GP probably doesn’t want to pay for them. Other options are the liquid (gross minty taste) or orodispersible 20mg tablets which can be halved.

Fluoxetine has a long half-life so once it reaches steady-state then a dose of 20mg every other day would be equivalent to 10mg daily. It’s more usual to taper the medication off this way. I’ve not seen it started every other day before.

And yes, keep a close eye on her. My DS became suicidal when his fluoxetine was increased to 30mg

Fluoxetine was a game changer for DD. Once she tapered up she was on 40mg daily. She has been on it for 3 years now, but we are on the way down and only on 10mg now, and yes with a 10mg capsule.

Oh, and I agree 20 every other day should be fine, but also that 10 daily is easier.