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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Reason Fluoxitine 100mg Is Given And Why It Is Told To Increase After A Weeks Time ?

hi, im 17 years old female and have just been diagnosed with depression (at last after 4 years of seeing doctors etc.) and have been given fluoxitine 100mg and have to take one every other day and then increase it weekly. Do you know why they have said to do this?
Tue, 17 Jan 2012
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  User's Response
Hello.

Fluoxetine helps depression by increasing the levels of available Serotonin (a neuro-transmitter). Depression is associated with low levels of Serotonin, and that's why Fluoxetine helps. The reason your doctors have asked you to gradually step up the dose is because by doing so, you can avoid any immediate side effects of the drug, the drug can achieve steady state concentration in your blood gradually. In other words, the intention is for your body systems to get used to the drug gradually.

Hope this helps.

Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD
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What Reason Fluoxitine 100mg Is Given And Why It Is Told To Increase After A Weeks Time ?

Hello. Fluoxetine helps depression by increasing the levels of available Serotonin (a neuro-transmitter). Depression is associated with low levels of Serotonin, and that s why Fluoxetine helps. The reason your doctors have asked you to gradually step up the dose is because by doing so, you can avoid any immediate side effects of the drug, the drug can achieve steady state concentration in your blood gradually. In other words, the intention is for your body systems to get used to the drug gradually. Hope this helps. Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD