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Fluoxetine: Difference between revisions

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| halflife          = 1–4 days (7–15 days for norfluoxetine)
| halflife          = 1–4 days (7–15 days for norfluoxetine)
| bioavailability  = 70–90% (oral)
| bioavailability  = 70–90% (oral)
| pregnancy        = Category C
| pregnancy        = Category C<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501186/</ref>
<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501186/</ref>
| legal            = Rx-only
| legal            = Rx-only
| mechanism        = [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9666396/ TrkB/BDNF] <vote slug="ssri-claim">Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.</vote>
| mechanism        = [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9666396/ TrkB/BDNF] <vote slug="ssri-claim">Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.</vote>
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</anecdote>
</anecdote>
| seealso          = [[Sertraline]], [[Duloxetine]]
| seealso          = [[Sertraline]], [[Duloxetine]]
| references        =  
| references        = <references/>
}}
}}

Revision as of 02:17, 13 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

Anxiety disorders broadly (including panic, social anxiety, OCD), depressive disorders, potentially PTSD

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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)

Persistent sexual dysfunction, historically associated with SSRIs

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Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

70-90% 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).

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.

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
Pharmacology
Routes
Oral
Duration
Very long
Half-life
1–4 days (7–15 days for norfluoxetine)
Bioavailability
70–90% (oral)
Pregnancy
Category C[1]
Legal status
Rx-only
Purported mechanism
TrkB/BDNF Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.0