Symbyax
Generic Name: fluoxetine and olanzapine (floo OX eh teen and oh LAN za peen)
Brand Names: Symbyax
What is Symbyax?
Fluoxetine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Olanzapine is an antipsychotic medication. These drugs affect chemicals in the brain.
Symbyax is used to treat depression caused by bipolar disorder (manic depression).
Symbyax may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Symbyax?
Symbyax is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Olanzapine has caused fatal heart attack and stroke in older adults with dementia-related conditions. Do not take Symbyax together with pimozide (Orap), thioridazine (Mellaril), or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), rasagiline (Azilect), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.Olanzapine can cause high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Symptoms include increased thirst, loss of appetite, increased urination, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry skin, and dry mouth. If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis while you are taking olanzapine.
SSRI antidepressants may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking Symbyax, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor.What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Symbyax?
This medication is not for use in psychotic conditions that are related to dementia. Olanzapine has caused fatal heart attack and stroke in older adults with dementia-related conditions. Do not use Symbyax if you are using any of the following drugs:-
pimozide (Orap);
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thioridazine (Mellaril); or
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an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam).
Before taking Symbyax, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, if you smoke, or if you have:
- liver disease;
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heart disease, high or low blood pressure, or a history of heart attack or stroke;
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diabetes;
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seizures or epilepsy;
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glaucoma;
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paralytic ileus (a stomach disorder);
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enlarged prostate; or
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a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Symbyax.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. SSRI antidepressants may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking Symbyax, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor. Symbyax can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Symbyax without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give Symbyax to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.How should I take Symbyax?
Take Symbyax exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Symbyax can be taken with or without food. Try to take Symbyax at the same time each day.
It may take up to 4 weeks of using Symbyax before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks of treatment. Store Symbyax at room temperature away from moisture and heat.What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much of Symbyax. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, tremor, problems with speech or vision, seizure (convulsions), and coma.What should I avoid while taking Symbyax?
Drink plenty of fluids, especially in hot weather and during exercise. It is easier to become dangerously overheated and dehydrated while you are taking Symbyax. Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Symbyax. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by Symbyax. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines. Symbyax can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.Symbyax side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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sudden and severe headache, blurred vision, confusion, chest pain, numbness, and problems with vision, speech, or balance;
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increased thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, or weakness;
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fever, stiff muscles, confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, trouble breathing;
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jerky muscle movements you cannot control;
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seizure (convulsions);
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feeling light-headed, fainting;
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easy bruising or bleeding; or
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
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trouble swallowing, runny nose, sore throat;
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weight gain, swelling in your hands of feet;
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drowsiness, trouble concentrating, sleep problems (insomnia);
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dry mouth, diarrhea, changes in appetite; or
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decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect Symbyax?
Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others. Taking any of these drugs with Symbyax may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Before taking Symbyax, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:
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vinblastine (Velban);
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heart rhythm or blood pressure medication;
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lithium, clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo), haloperidol (Haldol);
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phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
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another form of fluoxetine or olanzapine such as Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem, or Zyprexa;
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theophylline (Theo-Dur, TheoBid, Uniphyl, Slo-Bid, Elixophyllin, and others);
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medicine to treat Parkinson's disease, such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), pergolide (Permax), pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinorole (Requip), or cabergoline (Cabaser);
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almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
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any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), or sertraline (Zoloft).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Symbyax. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about Symbyax.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Symbyax only for the indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.li>
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