title: Safety and side effect profile of fluoxetine.
abstract: Fluoxetine was the first selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor to be widely available for treatment of depression and numerous other neuropsychiatric disorders. Its attributes have been described in numerous scientific papers, and it has been the subject of a considerable volume of lay press. Fluoxetine is generally safe and well-tolerated. Common adverse events reported with the recommended dose of 20 mg/day are referable to the gastrointestinal system and the nervous system. The approved dose range is up to 80 mg/day, and when higher doses are used, adverse events are more common. The long half-life of fluoxetine and its active metabolite essentially preclude a withdrawal phenomenon. It is an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 and other CYP enzymes, which increases the potential for drug interactions. However, most of these are not clinically important. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of some of the most important information related to safety and side effects of this drug.
authors.affiliation: Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA. jfwernicke@lilly.com
authors.forename: Joachim F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wernicke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001711:Biotransformation / Q000187:drug effects; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D065690:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D065690:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors