Sarafem and TheraTears Nutrition

• Generic Name: fluoxetine
• Dosage Forms: capsules
• Other Brand Names: Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem, PROzac Pulvules, Rapiflux, Selfemra

Sarafem is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressant. This medicine affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Sarafem is used to treat major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa (an eating disorder) obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Sarafem is sometimes used together with another medication called olanzapine (Zyprexa) to treat manic depression caused by bipolar disorder. This combination is also used to treat depression after at least 2 other medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

If you also take olanzapine (Zyprexa), read the Zyprexa medication guide and all patient warnings and instructions provided with that medication.

Sarafem may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

• Generic Name: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Baciguent, Probiotic Formula, Proferrin-ES

TheraTears Nutrition is an oral omega 3 supplement that supports eye comfort and healthy tears. The ingredients in TheraTears Nutrition include fish oil and organic flaxseed oil for their omega 3 content, and vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant.

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are lipids that cannot be made by our body and have to be obtained from our diet and include fats such as omega 3. EFAs are used by the oil glands in our eyelids to make the oily layer of tear film. TheraTears Nutrition provides omega 3 EFAs that may be used by our oil glands to make good quality tears.

Tear film is made up of three layers – an oil layer, a water layer and a mucin layer (helps the tears to stick to the surface of the eye and provides the underlying cornea with nourishment). Tears are vital for the health of our eye and our vision, without sufficient good quality tears, our eyes are at increased risk for infection and damage from foreign particles. Dry eye is a condition that results from poor quality tears. TheraTears Nutrition is recommended for eye conditions such as dry eye.

TheraTears Nutrition also supports oral health, because the salivary gland and tear glands work in a similar way. The omega 3’s in TheraTears Nutrition help with the production of healthy saliva and help with the maintenance of good oral health.