Fluoxetine

Fluoxetine hydrochloride, also known by its trade name Prozac, is an antidepressant medication. It is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder, bulimia and other disorders.^[1] Fluoxetine is one of a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). There are newer drugs available to treat these conditions. Fluoxetine remains very popular still.

Fluoxetine in pill form

Fluoxetine was invented by Eli Lilly and Company in 1972 and entered medical use in 1986.^[2] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.^[3] It is available as a generic medication.^[4] In 2022, it was the 22nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 24 million prescriptions.^[5][6] It is the third most prescribed antidepressant.^[7]

Fluoxetine taken during pregnancy is said to cause significant increase in congenital heart defects in newborn babies^[8][9] but most babies born to women taking prozac have a normal heart.^[10] It has been suggested that fluoxetine therapy may be continued during breastfeeding if it was used during pregnancy or if other antidepressants have not been effective.^[11] The drug passes into breastmilk and may cause side effects in nursing babies,^[10] so it is important to ask the doctor or midwife for advice on taking it during or after pregnancy.