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Revision as of 02:40, 14 May 2026

SSRI, Anxiolytic, Antidepressant
Fluoxetine
Prozac
Fluoxetine was the first of a long line of SSRIs. It is notable for its extremely long half-life and relative lack of withdrawal syndrome. It can also be useful in helping taper and discontinue other SxRI medicines.

Experience

👥 No personal reports yet
1 provider report · avg efficacy 40.0/100 · avg side-effect burden 40.0/100 · 150 patients managed total

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Problems

<indication ref="depression" author="MDElliottMD"/> <indication ref="anxiety-disorders" author="MDElliottMD"> Including generalized anxiety, panic, and social anxiety. </indication> <indication ref="panic" author="MDElliottMD"/> <indication ref="social-anxiety" author="MDElliottMD"/> <indication ref="ocd" author="MDElliottMD"/> <indication ref="ptsd" author="MDElliottMD"> Potentially. </indication>

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Titration strategies

Standard adult or child+1
Start no higher than 10 mg for the first dose. May increase by 10 mg every 2–12 weeks, or remain at 10 mg if the response is adequate, up to a typical starting maximum of 40 mg. Absolute max: 80 mg.
OCD+1
Start at 10 mg daily; increase by 10–20 mg every 2–6 weeks, up to 80 mg. OCD typically requires elevated doses (60–80 mg).

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Effects

  • Anxiolysis👤 no reports yet⚕️ ~33% +67.0 (n=1)
    Classically starting at 3–4 weeks and improving for another 8–12.
  • Delayed orgasm/ejaculation👤 0% (n=3)⚕️ ~80% +33.0 (n=1)
  • Mood enhancement👤 no reports yet⚕️ ~5% +67.0 (n=1)
  • Nausea👤 no reports yet⚕️ ~5% -33.0 (n=1)
    Common, often improves over 1–2 weeks.
  • Decreased libido👤 no reports yet⚕️ ~33% -100.0 (n=1)
  • Temporary erectile dysfunction👤 no reports yet⚕️ ~20% -67.0 (n=1)
  • Persistent Sexual Dysfunction👤 no reports yet⚕️ ~0% -100.0 (n=1)
    Historically associated with SSRIs.
Anorgasmia👤 no reports yet⚕️ ~5% -100.0 (n=1)

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Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

70–90%[3] oral bioavailability.

Distribution

Fluoxetine has plasma protein binding of approximately 94.5%, bound to albumin and alpha-1 glycoprotein. Fluoxetine readily crosses the blood–brain barrier, with a brain-to-plasma ratio of 2.6:1 in humans. The volume of distribution (Vd) of fluoxetine and its metabolite ranges between 20 to 42 L/kg. Some studies report that fluoxetine has the maximum volume of distribution (Vd) of any SSRI (between 14 and 100 L/kg).[3]

Metabolism

Fluoxetine's active metabolite is norfluoxetine, produced when the cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP2D6) acts on it. Prescribers must remember that fluoxetine has several drug-drug interactions due to its metabolism through the CYP2D6 isoenzyme. Additionally, norfluoxetine can have an inhibitory effect on CYP3A4. Fluoxetine has a half-life of 2 to 4 days, and its active metabolite norfluoxetine has a half-life of 7 to 9 days. Approximately 7% of individuals definitively exhibit poor metabolism of fluoxetine due to reduced activity of CYP2D6.

Interactions

Pharmacogenomic + mechanism interactions5 edges
Pharmacokinetic mechanismSubstrate / metabolism relationships from primary literature
Enzyme:CYP2D6 inhibitor strong Primary 90 / 100
FDA Drug Interactions Table: strong index inhibitor of CYP2D6.
mechanism-based, interaction persists ~4-6 weeks after stopping the inhibitor
Inferred from pharmacokinetic dataMaterialised by the inference engine; provenance shown per row
Codeine pk lowers via CYP2D6 Inferred 90 / 100
Fluoxetine inhibits CYP2D6 (inhibitor_strong, intensity 90); Codeine is a prodrug_activated_by of CYP2D6 (intensity 100). Derived: Codeine exposure lowered.
mechanism-based, interaction persists ~4-6 weeks after stopping the inhibitor
Inferred via Enzyme:CYP2D6 (exposure lowered)
Nebivolol pk raises via CYP2D6 Inferred 72 / 100
Fluoxetine inhibits CYP2D6 (inhibitor_strong, intensity 90); Nebivolol is a substrate_major of CYP2D6 (intensity 80). Derived: Nebivolol exposure raised.
mechanism-based, interaction persists ~4-6 weeks after stopping the inhibitor
Inferred via Enzyme:CYP2D6 (exposure raised)
Desipramine pk raises via CYP2D6 Inferred 72 / 100
Fluoxetine inhibits CYP2D6 (inhibitor_strong, intensity 90); Desipramine is a substrate_major of CYP2D6 (intensity 80). Derived: Desipramine exposure raised.
mechanism-based, interaction persists ~4-6 weeks after stopping the inhibitor
Inferred via Enzyme:CYP2D6 (exposure raised)
Dextromethorphan pk raises via CYP2D6 Inferred 72 / 100
Fluoxetine inhibits CYP2D6 (inhibitor_strong, intensity 90); Dextromethorphan is a substrate_major of CYP2D6 (intensity 80). Derived: Dextromethorphan exposure raised.
mechanism-based, interaction persists ~4-6 weeks after stopping the inhibitor
Inferred via Enzyme:CYP2D6 (exposure raised)

Patient experience

MDMA👤 exp n/a/5 outcome n/a (n=1)⚕️ exp 3.0/5 outcome -33.0 (n=1)
Antidepressants👤 exp n/a/5 outcome n/a (n=1)⚕️ exp 1.0/5 outcome +33.0 (n=1)
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)👤 no reports yet⚕️ exp 4.0/5 outcome +33.0 (n=1)

Monitoring

None required

Relevant anecdote

⚕️ Provider by MDElliottMD0
Fluoxetine is great for getting off other SxRIs! Especially venlafaxine and duloxetine.

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Relevant Literature

No literature entries yet.

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See also

Sertraline, Duloxetine

References

Structure of Fluoxetine
Summary
Classes
SSRI, Anxiolytic, Antidepressant
Common uses
+ 3 more uses →
Pharmacy
Starting dose
10 mg
Preparations
10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg caps
US FDA Max
40 mg/d
Pharmacology
Routes
Oral
Duration
Very long
Half-life
1–4 days (7–15 days for norfluoxetine)
Bioavailability
70–90% (oral)
Pregnancy
Category C[2]
Legal status
Rx-only in US
Purported mechanism
TrkB/BDNF[1] Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.0