title: Memory loss in a patient treated with fluoxetine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of severe memory loss in an elderly patient after initiation of fluoxetine.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 87-year-old white woman was started on fluoxetine for depression, and the dose was titrated to 20 mg/d. She developed progressive memory loss over the next 6 weeks for which she ultimately was hospitalized. Other potential causes for her memory loss were ruled out. After fluoxetine was discontinued, the patient's memory improved significantly over the next 2 months. An objective causality assessment indicated a possible relationship between the memory loss and fluoxetine in this patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our report documents a case of severe reversible memory deterioration after initiating fluoxetine. Fluoxetine has a favorable adverse effect profile when compared with older classes of antidepressants. Postmarketing studies and isolated case reports, however, suggest that fluoxetine may harm memory in some patients. Some selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) appear to cause memory loss more frequently than others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should be aware of the possible effects of fluoxetine (and possibly other SSRIs) on memory.
authors: Ambulatory Services, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Corvallis, OR, USA. jjoss@samhealth.org
authors: Jacqueline D
authors: JD
authors: Joss
authors: Robert M
authors: RM
authors: Burton
authors: Cecilia A
authors: CA
authors: Keller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine