title: Revisiting fluoxetine (Proxac) and suicidal preoccupations.
abstract: Several reports were published in the psychiatric literature in 1990 and 1991 documenting fluoxetine (Prozac) causing patients to consider or attempt suicide. During the following 2 years, retrospective studies appeared in the medical literature that seemed to indicate that suicidal preoccupation was not related to the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) but was probably a symptom of the depressive illness. Recent studies have suggested, however, that fluoxetine (Prozac) may in fact lead to suicidal behavior because the drug appears to adversely affect serotonergic neuronal discharge and induce an akathisia-like extrapyramidal reaction. While fluoxetine (Prozac) has a very favorable side effect profile compared to the tricyclic antidepressants, it may cause akathisia and induce a small subset of patients to consider or attempt suicide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tueth
mesh_terms: D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine