title: Side effects of long-term treatment with fluoxetine.
abstract: Depressive disorders are frequently managed with long-term use of antidepressant medication. Even though the newer generation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants exhibits a more favorable short-term, side-effect profile, effects of chronic use of such drugs remain unknown. Considering the limited data available on long-term, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor management, we report for the first time on two cases of late-onset adverse effects occurring 6 and 10 years after chronic-fluoxetine treatment in which patients experienced symptoms of restlessness, tension, agitation, and sleep disturbances. Symptoms resolved after reduction or cessation of the medication. Our case reports suggest the existence of a late-onset side-effect profile, which appears similar to acute side-effect symptomatology. Super sensitivity of the serotonin-related receptors may develop over the long-term and account for the phenomenon. Careful clinical monitoring is recommended to detect any late-onset, medication-related side effects.
authors.affiliation: Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Beer Yaakov, Israel.
authors.forename: Nili
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buchman
authors.forename: Rael D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Strous
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baruch
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors