(RS)-N-Methyl-3-phenyl-3-(4-trifluormethylphenoxy)propylamine, C17H18F3NO, M 309,33 g/mol
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Trade Mark: Prozac®
Treatment of depressions (as less kardio toxic alternative to Clomipramine therapy) and treatment of autism and bulemia. Half-life 1-3 days. Fluoxetin was the first SSRI on market in 1987.
Patients with epilepsies, patients under 18 years as well as pregnant woman should not be treated with Citalopram/Escitalopram.
Be careful using fluoxetine together with lithium preparations or other CNS preparations because fluoxetine acts as CYP2D6-Inhibitor, increasing the plasma concentration of these substances. Do not use with MAO inhibitors, because of the danger of a Serotonine syndrome. After the last uptake of MAO inhibitors a period of 14 days should be wait before the usage of Fluoxetine.
Especially at the beginning, nausea and vomiting can occur. When setting off, reduce dose slowly, increased risk of suicides. The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) considers nevertheless, to use Fluoxetin also for treatment heavy depressions with children starting from 8 years (press release of 6.6.2006), however under intensive monitoring.
The determination of Fluoxetine and its desmethyl metabolite Norfluoxetine can take place after extraction by means of HPLC/DAD. Therapeutic levels: 0.16-0.5 µg/ml.