What is Fluoxetine Hydrochloride?
Acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder.
APA states that effectiveness of antidepressants is generally comparable between and within classes of medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAO inhibitors, and other antidepressants (e.g., bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone). Choose antidepressant based mainly on patient preference; nature of prior response to medication; safety, tolerability, and anticipated adverse effects; concurrent psychiatric and medical conditions; and specific properties of the medication (e.g., half-life, actions on CYP isoenzymes, other drug interactions). For most patients, an SSRI, SNRI, mirtazapine, or bupropion is considered optimal. Consult APA’s Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder for additional information.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Acute and maintenance treatment of OCD.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Management of PMDD (previously late luteal phase dysphoric disorder).
Eating Disorders
Acute and maintenance treatment of moderate to severe bulimia nervosa (at least 3 bulimic episodes per week for 6 months).
SSRIs usually are preferred drugs in management of bulimia because of more favorable adverse effect profile.
Also has been used for management of anorexia nervosa.
Not recommended as the sole or primary treatment of anorexia nervosa.
Panic Disorder
Acute treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia.
Bipolar Disorder
Short-term treatment of acute depressive episodes (alone or in combination with olanzapine) in patients with bipolar I disorder (bipolar depression).
May cause manic reactions when used as monotherapy in some patients; should not be used without mood stabilizing agents (e.g., lithium, lamotrigine).
Obesity
Has been used for the short-term treatment of exogenous obesity.
Cataplexy
Has been used for the symptomatic management of cataplexy in a limited number of patients with cataplexy and associated narcolepsy.
Alcohol Dependence
Has been used in the management of alcohol dependence.
Studies of SSRIs have generally shown modest effects on alcohol consumption.
Myoclonus
Has been used for management of intention myoclonus, including postanoxic action myoclonus and progressive action myoclonus in a limited number of patients.
Premature Ejaculation
Like some other SSRIs, has been used for the treatment of premature ejaculation.