Prozac is a brand-name drug prescribed for certain mental health conditions. Prozac comes as an oral capsule that’s typically taken once daily. The dosage can vary depending on what condition it’s helping treat.
Prozac is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:
- major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and children ages 8 years and older
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children ages 7 years and older
- panic disorder with or without agoraphobia in adults
- bulimia nervosa in adults
When taken in combination with olanzapine, Prozac is also approved by the FDA to treat:
- episodes of depression associated with bipolar I disorder in adults and children ages 10 years and older
- treatment-resistant depression in adults
Prozac belongs to a drug class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Prozac is available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Prozac, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Prozac, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Prozac provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Prozac, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Read below for details about Prozac’s dosage(s) for its approved uses.
Prozac form
Prozac comes as an oral capsule.
Prozac strengths
Prozac comes in three strengths:
- 10 mg (milligrams)
- 20 mg
- 40 mg
Typical dosages for adults
Typically, your doctor will start by prescribing you a low dosage. Then they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that is right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for depression
Doctors may prescribe Prozac to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as depression.
If your doctor prescribes Prozac for depression, your starting dose will likely be 20 mg. Typically, you will take this once daily in the morning. This is the typical recommended dosage of Prozac for people with depression.
After a few weeks, if this dose is not working for you, your doctor may recommend slowly increasing your dose. The recommended maximum dosage of Prozac for depression is 80 mg per day.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for obsessive-compulsive disorder
Prozac is also approved to help treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The recommended starting dose of Prozac for OCD is 20 mg per day. You will usually take this once daily in the morning. Your doctor may recommend increasing your daily dose after a few weeks if needed. The recommended maximum dose of Prozac for OCD is 80 mg per day.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.
Dosage for bulimia nervosa
Doctors may prescribe Prozac to treat bulimia nervosa.
If your doctor prescribes Prozac for bulimia, your starting dosage will likely be 60 mg once daily in the morning. This is the typical recommended dosage of Prozac for people with bulimia. This is also the maximum recommended dose of Prozac to treat bulimia.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for panic disorder
Doctors may prescribe Prozac to treat panic disorder.
If your doctor prescribes Prozac for your panic disorder, your starting dose will likely be 10 mg once daily. After a week, your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage to 20 mg. This is the typical recommended dosage of Prozac for people with panic disorder. If this dose is not working for you, your doctor may recommend increasing your dose to 60 mg. This is the maximum recommended dose of Prozac to treat panic disorder.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for treatment-resistant depression
Doctors may prescribe Prozac for treatment-resistant depression. You will typically take Prozac with another medication called olanzapine.
If your doctor prescribes Prozac for your treatment-resistant depression, your starting dose of Prozac will likely be 20 mg. Typically, you will take this daily in the evening. After several days, your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage. If your dosage is not working for you, your doctor may recommend increasing your dose to 50 mg to treat your treatment-resistant depression. This is the maximum recommended dose of Prozac for this indication.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for depression related to bipolar disorder
Doctors may prescribe Prozac to treat depression related to bipolar disorder. You will typically take Prozac with another medication called olanzapine.
If your doctor prescribes Prozac for this condition, your starting dose will likely be 20 mg. Typically, you will take this daily in the evening. After several days, if you still have symptoms, your doctor may recommend increasing your dosage up to 50 mg to treat your bipolar disorder. This is the maximum recommended dose of Prozac for depression related to bipolar disorder.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Children’s dosage
Prozac is approved to treat the following in children:
- depression in children 8 years of age and older
- OCD in children 7 years of age and older
- episodes of depression associated with bipolar I disorder in children 10 years of age and older*
The table below lists the typical dosing schedule for children taking Prozac.
| Indication | Starting dose | Maximum Dose |
| Depression | 10 to 20 mg per day | 20 mg per day |
| OCD | 10 mg per day | 60 mg per day |
| Episodes of depression associated with bipolar I disorder | 20 mg per day | 50 mg per day |
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
* For this indication, Prozac is taken in combination with olanzapine.
Long-term treatment
Prozac is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Prozac is safe and effective for you, you will likely take it long term.
Before you start taking Prozac, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
The Prozac dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- your age
- how your body responds to Prozac
- the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Prozac to treat
- other medications you take
- side effects you may have with Prozac
- your liver and kidney function
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Prozac dosage.
Dosage adjustments
Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage if you take certain medications, such as other medications for the condition Prozac is treating. To find out what drugs may interact with Prozac, see the interactions section in this article.
Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage if you have liver damage, kidney disease, or if you’re 65 years or older.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take and any health conditions you may have.
Prozac comes as an oral capsule that you swallow whole. You may take your dose with or without food.
It may be helpful to take Prozac around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Prozac can work effectively.
For most indications, Prozac works best when taken in the morning. But, if you are taking it for episodes associated with bipolar I disorder or treatment-resistant depression, your doctor may recommend you take it in the evening.
If you have trouble swallowing capsules, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have questions about how to use Prozac, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Prozac in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
If you miss a dose of Prozac, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one. If you are not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To help make sure that you do not miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you will see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It is important that you do not take more Prozac than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
Symptoms of an overdose
Overdose symptoms of Prozac can include:
- agitation
- hallucinations
- coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
- racing heartbeat
- sweating or fever
- dizziness
- tremor
- seizures
If you take more than the recommended amount of Prozac
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Prozac. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Treatment with Prozac can cause dependence. With dependence, your body becomes used to a drug and needs it to function as it usually does. This means you may have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking Prozac after taking it regularly for some time. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that happen after you stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.)
Symptoms of withdrawal after abruptly stopping Prozac include:
- feeling anxious or agitated
- sleep problems
- muscle aches
- nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- excessive sweating
These symptoms can cause significant discomfort. However, they are usually not life threatening.
You and your doctor will periodically reevaluate your need for Prozac throughout your treatment. If a decision is made to stop your Prozac treatment, your doctor will slowly lower your dose over time. This is known as a dose taper. A dose taper helps reduce your risk of withdrawal symptoms when you stop treatment with Prozac.
Tapering your Prozac dose could last several weeks or even months. The exact time needed to taper your dose depends on your Prozac dose and how long you have taken it.
Do not stop taking Prozac unless your doctor specifically tells you to do so. If you have questions about your treatment, talk with your doctor.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Prozac.
What is considered a high dose of Prozac?
A high dose of Prozac would be 80 mg per day. This is the maximum dosage of Prozac for certain indications. Other indications have a maximum dosage of 20 to 60 mg per day. (See the “Prozac dosage” section above for details.)
Do not take more Prozac than your doctor has prescribed. If you have questions about your dosage, talk with your doctor.
Can Prozac be used for weight loss? If so, what’s the dosage?
No, Prozac is not used for weight loss. Weight loss is a side effect for some people taking Prozac.
Because Prozac is not used for weight loss, the drug’s manufacturer does not provide recommended dosages for this use.
However, Wegovy and Zepbound are drugs approved for weight loss. If you have questions about managing weight, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatment options for weight loss.
How long does it take for Prozac to start working?
Prozac starts to work after your first dose. But you may not feel the effect for a few weeks. And it may take up to 3 months to feel the full effect.
Your doctor will monitor your symptoms during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition or if you need a dosage increase.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Prozac treatment.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Prozac for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Prozac without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Prozac that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Prozac. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Prozac. For information about other aspects of Prozac, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about side effects of Prozac, see this article. You can also look at the Prozac prescribing information.
- Drug comparison. To find out how Prozac compares with Zoloft, read this article.
- Cost. If you’d like to learn about Prozac and cost, see this article.
- Interactions. For details about what Prozac interacts with, see this article.
- Details about mental health conditions. For details about your condition, see our mental health hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.