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Sarafem (Fluoxetine Hydrochloride) - Summary

 
 



WARNING

Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs — Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short–term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of SARAFEM or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short–term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. SARAFEM is not approved for use in pediatric patients with MDD and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). (See WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, Information for Patients, and PRECAUTIONS, Pediatric Use.)

 

SARAFEM SUMMARY

SARAFEM®
fluoxetine hydrochloride

SARAFEM® (fluoxetine hydrochloride) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for oral administration; fluoxetine was initially developed and marketed as an antidepressant (Prozac®, fluoxetine capsules, USP). It is designated (±)-N-methyl-3-phenyl-3-[(α,α,α-trifluoro- p -tolyl)oxy]propylamine hydrochloride and has the empirical formula of C17H18F3NO•HCl.

SARAFEM is indicated for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

The efficacy of fluoxetine in the treatment of PMDD was established in 3 placebo–controlled trials (see CLINICAL TRIALS).

The essential features of PMDD, according to the DSM–IV, include markedly depressed mood, anxiety or tension, affective lability, and persistent anger or irritability. Other features include decreased interest in usual activities, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, change in appetite or sleep, and feeling out of control. Physical symptoms associated with PMDD include breast tenderness, headache, joint and muscle pain, bloating, and weight gain. These symptoms occur regularly during the luteal phase and remit within a few days following onset of menses; the disturbance markedly interferes with work or school or with usual social activities and relationships with others. In making the diagnosis, care should be taken to rule out other cyclical mood disorders that may be exacerbated by treatment with an antidepressant.

The effectiveness of SARAFEM in long-term use, that is, for more than 6 months, has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials. Therefore, the physician who elects to use SARAFEM for extended periods should periodically reevaluate the long–term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient.


See all Sarafem indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Published Studies Related to Sarafem (Fluoxetine)

Simvastatin as an adjuvant therapy to fluoxetine in patients with moderate to severe major depression: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial. [2015]
Statins have been shown to decrease depressive symptoms in certain groups of patients, an effect that is mostly attributed to their anti-inflammatory and neurotransmitter modulatory potentials. We aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of simvastatin as an adjuvant therapy in patients with moderate to severe depression...

Comparable efficacy and safety of 8 weeks treatment with agomelatine 25-50mg or fluoxetine 20-40mg in Asian out-patients with major depressive disorder. [2014]
CONCLUSIONS: Agomelatine and fluoxetine are equally effective in the treatment of

Fluoxetine in progressive multiple sclerosis (FLUOX-PMS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2014]
BACKGROUND: Currently available disease-modifying treatments acting by modifying the immune response are ineffective in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), which is caused by a widespread axonal degeneration. Mechanisms suspected to be involved in this widespread axonal degeneration are reduced axonal energy metabolism, axonal glutamate toxicity, and reduced cerebral blood flow...

A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Crocus sativus L. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patients. [2014]
(PCI)... CONCLUSION: Short-term therapy with saffron capsules showed the same

Fluoxetine for Autistic Behaviors (FAB trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial in children and adolescents with autism. [2014]
BACKGROUND: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed off-label for children with autism... The outcomes of this study will contribute to evidence-based interventions used in clinical practice to assist children with ASD.

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Sarafem (Fluoxetine)

The Effects of Multiple Dose Fluoxetine and Metabolites on CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 Activity [Completed]
Inhibitory drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are a considerable concern as inhibition of drug's clearance can lead to increased plasma concentrations and subsequent adverse events and toxicities. Fluoxetine (ProzacŪ) is a widely prescribed antidepressant, but is also a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Fluoxetine was chosen as the model inhibitor for this study because it is a clinically important inhibitor of multiple CYP enzymes with varying potencies for each isoform. From in vitro data, fluoxetine is predicted to be a moderate inhibitor of CYP2D6, but a strong inhibitor of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. However, in vivo fluoxetine causes a potent interaction with CYP2D6 and a weak-to-no interaction with CYP3A4. The magnitude of the in vivo interaction of fluoxetine with CYP2C19 is not known. This in vitro-to-in vivo discrepancy is of concern for two reasons: 1) In clinical drug development, in vivo drug-drug interactions are tested only when in vitro experiments predict a risk for in vivo DDIs and 2) Because in vivo DDI's are tested using a rank order approach of going from the most potent in vitro interaction to the least potent until no interaction in vivo is observed. In this study the interaction between fluoxetine and CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 will be quantified simultaneously and the quantitative in vitro-to-in vivo predictions tested. Fluoxetine will be orally administered daily for 14 days and CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 activity will be tested in the end of fluoxetine dosing using a cocktail of CYP probes including caffeine, midazolam, omeprazole and dextromethorphan. Lovastatin will be administered on a separate day and used as a second CYP3A4 probe to test whether CYP3A4 inhibition by fluoxetine depends on the contribution of intestinal CYP3A4 to the probe clearance. Plasma and urine samples will be collected for 12 and 24 hrs, respectively, during the control sessions (before fluoxetine administration) and for 24 hrs during the treatment sessions (fluoxetine multiple dose). The concentrations of each of the probe drugs and their metabolites (when applicable) as well as fluoxetine and its metabolites will be measured in the collected samples and pharmacokinetic analysis will be performed. The primary outcome measures for CYP inhibition will be the increase in the area under plasma concentrations time curve (AUC) of each of the probes. The null hypothesis of this study is that the area under plasma concentrations time curves (AUCs) of caffeine, dextromethorphan, omeprazole, midazolam or lovastatin are the same between the control session and the fluoxetine session. Because lovastatin has the greatest variability in its baseline pharmacokinetics the study was powered based on the specific null hypothesis for lovastatin. The alternative hypothesis is that fluoxetine decreases the clearance of the probe drugs resulting in a significant increase in the AUCs between the control and study sessions.

Efficacy of Fluoxetine in Reducing Ictal Hypoventilation in Patients With Partial Epilepsy [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of fluoxetine on breathing mechanisms during seizures. Patients with partial epilepsy commonly have changes in their breathing mechanisms during seizures. These changes may increase the risk of serious side effects from seizures, including sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which affects 2-10 per 1000 patients with epilepsy each year. Fluoxetine (Prozac) may help to stimulate breathing through its actions in the brain and has been shown to improve breathing changes seen with seizures in certain animals. Fluoxetine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain, at synapses, the junctions at which nerve cells in the brain communicate. Fluoxetine is currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, Panic Disorder and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

Effects rTMS Combined With Fluoxetine on Motor Recovery in Stroke Patients [Recruiting]
In this study investigator's aim to assess the effect of a type of non-invasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in conjunction with fluoxetine on motor recovery after stroke.

Naltrexone SR and Fluoxetine Combination Therapy in Subjects With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [Terminated]

Fluoxetine Prevention Trial [Not yet recruiting]
Many cancer survivors are experiencing problems with memory and other cognitive abilities following cancer treatment. Little is known concerning the contributions of potentially preventive therapies on cognitive function, but animal studies have pointed to the potential value of the medication fluoxetine in this context. We aim to determine whether six months of fluoxetine therapy can preserve brain function in patients who have undergone chemotherapy, and examine potential biological mechanisms for its protective effects in humans. If use of fluoxetine in cancer patients can be validated in this manner, it will represent the first drug demonstrated to prevent cerebral dysfunction associated with exposure to chemotherapy. Moreover, as this involves an agent that is already FDA-cleared for other indications, widely commercially available throughout the U. S. and other parts of the world, and relatively inexpensive since it is obtainable in generic formulations, it would represent a pharmacologic approach that is amenable to rapid translation to the clinical setting.

more trials >>


PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Based on a total of 13 ratings/reviews, Sarafem has an overall score of 7.77. The effectiveness score is 7.69 and the side effect score is 7.54. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. Below are selected reviews: the highest, the median and the lowest rated.
 

Sarafem review by 59 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   depression
Dosage & duration:   40 mg taken once daily for the period of 13 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   stabilized mood, allowed for clearer thinking, improved sleep pattern, felt less anxious, made world look bright again.
Side effects:   none -- no weight loss unfortunately
Comments:   Started with 20 mg once daily. This worked for several years. When spouse endured 3 years of life-threatening illness, the dosage was increased to 40 mg taken as 2 20mg pills.

 

Sarafem review by care giver of 18 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Dosage & duration:   60 mgs taken once a day for the period of ongoing for 3 years
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Significant reduction in perseveration; increased flexibility; reduction in obsessions such as the weather leading to ability to cope better with daily events, unexpected changes, disappointments etc.and increased ability to interact more appropriately socially
Side effects:   Some initial impact to sleep patterns, some weight gain
Comments:   Initial dosage of 20 mgs, increased gradually to 60 mgs and maintained at that level have helped significantly with obsessions and impact of adolescence.

 

Sarafem review by 59 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Anxiety
Dosage & duration:   20mg taken once per day for the period of 3 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I did not find any benefit really. In fact it seemed to make me more anxious.
Side effects:   Anxiety
Comments:   I was prescribed this because of anxiety and mild depression by my GP but it did not improve my condition and seemed to make my anxiety worse. My anxiety was partly due to my personality and partly due to the fact that I had a mentally ill son which caused me a lot of worry and stress. My GP thought that SSRI's may help and prescribed fluoxetine. This did not help and he changed me to Cipramil which suited me better as it did not make my anxiety worse but it did not really help my anxiety that much so I stopped taking this as well.

See all Sarafem reviews / ratings >>

Page last updated: 2015-08-10

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