Portal:Psychiatry/Selected article/22

Fluoxetine (also known by the trade names Prozac, Sarafem, Ladose and Fontex, among others) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Fluoxetine was first documented in 1974 by scientists from Eli Lilly and Company. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of major depressive disorder in December 1987. The U.S. fluoxetine patent expired in August 2001 and hence generic formulations are now available in the U.S..

Fluoxetine is used for the treatment of major depressive disorder (including pediatric depression), obsessive-compulsive disorder (in both adults and children), bulimia nervosa, panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. In addition, fluoxetine is used to treat trichotillomania if cognitive behaviour therapy has been unsuccessful. (Full article...)