Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that corrects the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, treating the symptoms of depression, anxiety, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It can be prescribed to patients diagnosed with panic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, major depressive disorder, bulimia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In some cases it can be used along with olanzapine to treat depression in patients suffering from bipolar disorder. If you are younger than 24 your condition will be monitored closely during the first 2-3 months of the treatment to make sure you are handling this medicine well, as one of the side effects experienced at the beginning of the treatment is thinking about hurting yourself.

Other side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, mild nausea, constipation, upset stomach, weight changes, sleep problems, decreased sex drive, dry mouth, stuffy nose and sore throat. You need to contact your health care provider if you experience irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, restlessness or have suicidal thoughts. SSRIs can cause life-threatening lung problems in unborn babies. However, if you get pregnant while taking this medicine talk to your doctor before you decide to stop taking fluoxetine, as a relapse of depression is possible.