ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled
| Filter | Status | Condition | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTTP status | PASS | download_http_code = 200 | HTTP 200 |
| Age cutoff | PASS | download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH | 0.1 months ago |
| History drop | PASS | isNull(history_drop_reason) | No drop reason |
| Spam/ban | PASS | fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0 | ml_spam_score=0 |
| Canonical | PASS | meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed | Not set |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| URL | https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/about-fluoxetine/ |
| Last Crawled | 2026-04-14 09:17:07 (1 day ago) |
| First Indexed | 2022-02-16 14:45:45 (4 years ago) |
| HTTP Status Code | 200 |
| Meta Title | About fluoxetine - NHS |
| Meta Description | NHS medicines information on fluoxetine – what it’s used for, side effects, dosage and who can take it. |
| Meta Canonical | null |
| Boilerpipe Text | Fluoxetine is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It's often used to treat
depression
, and sometimes
obsessive compulsive disorder
and
bulimia
.
It works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is thought to have a good influence on mood, emotion and sleep.
Fluoxetine helps many people recover from depression, and it has fewer side effects than some other antidepressants.
Fluoxetine is available only on prescription. It comes as tablets, capsules, or a liquid that you swallow.
Key facts
Fluoxetine usually takes around 4 to 6 weeks to work.
Common side effects include feeling sick, headaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects are usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
If you and your doctor decide you should stop taking fluoxetine, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually. This helps to prevent withdrawal side effects.
Some people cannot concentrate properly while taking fluoxetine. It might be best to stop driving, cycling or using machinery for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.
Fluoxetine will not change your personality, it will simply help you feel like yourself again.
Page last reviewed: 10 February 2022
Next review due: 10 February 2025 |
| Markdown |
[Skip to main content](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/about-fluoxetine/#maincontent)
- [Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/health-a-to-z/)
- [NHS services](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/)
- [Healthy living](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/)
- [Mental health](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/)
- [Care and support](https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/)
- [Home](https://www.nhs.uk/)
- Browse More
1. [Home](https://www.nhs.uk/)
2. [Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/health-a-to-z/)
3. [Medicines A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/)
4. [Fluoxetine (Prozac)](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/)
[Back to Fluoxetine (Prozac)](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/)
# About fluoxetine
Fluoxetine is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It's often used to treat [depression](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/depression/), and sometimes [obsessive compulsive disorder](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/) and [bulimia](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bulimia/).
It works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is thought to have a good influence on mood, emotion and sleep.
Fluoxetine helps many people recover from depression, and it has fewer side effects than some other antidepressants.
Fluoxetine is available only on prescription. It comes as tablets, capsules, or a liquid that you swallow.
## Key facts
- Fluoxetine usually takes around 4 to 6 weeks to work.
- Common side effects include feeling sick, headaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects are usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
- If you and your doctor decide you should stop taking fluoxetine, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually. This helps to prevent withdrawal side effects.
- Some people cannot concentrate properly while taking fluoxetine. It might be best to stop driving, cycling or using machinery for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.
- Fluoxetine will not change your personality, it will simply help you feel like yourself again.
## More in [Fluoxetine (Prozac)](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/)
- About fluoxetine
- [Who can and cannot take it](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/who-can-and-cannot-take-fluoxetine/)
- [How and when to take it](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/how-and-when-to-take-fluoxetine/)
- [Side effects](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/side-effects-of-fluoxetine/)
- [Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-fluoxetine/)
- [Taking fluoxetine with other medicines and herbal supplements](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/taking-fluoxetine-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/)
- [Common questions](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/common-questions-about-fluoxetine/)
Page last reviewed: 10 February 2022
Next review due: 10 February 2025
## Support links
- [Home](https://www.nhs.uk/)
- [Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/health-a-to-z/)
- [NHS services](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/)
- [Healthy living](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/)
- [Mental health](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/)
- [Care and support](https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/)
- [COVID-19](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/)
- [NHS App](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/)
- [Find my NHS number](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/find-nhs-number/)
- [View your GP health record](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/view-your-gp-health-record/)
- [View your test results](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/view-your-test-results/)
- [About the NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/)
- [Healthcare abroad](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/)
- [Other NHS websites](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-sites/)
- [Profile editor login](https://www.nhs.uk/our-policies/profile-editor-login/)
- [About us](https://www.nhs.uk/about-us/)
- [Report an issue with the NHS website](https://www.nhs.uk/report-an-issue-with-the-nhs-website)
- [Accessibility statement](https://www.nhs.uk/accessibility-statement/)
- [Our policies](https://www.nhs.uk/our-policies/)
- [Cookies](https://www.nhs.uk/our-policies/choose-your-cookie-settings/)
© Crown copyright |
| Readable Markdown | Fluoxetine is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It's often used to treat [depression](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/depression/), and sometimes [obsessive compulsive disorder](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/) and [bulimia](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bulimia/).
It works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is thought to have a good influence on mood, emotion and sleep.
Fluoxetine helps many people recover from depression, and it has fewer side effects than some other antidepressants.
Fluoxetine is available only on prescription. It comes as tablets, capsules, or a liquid that you swallow.
## Key facts
- Fluoxetine usually takes around 4 to 6 weeks to work.
- Common side effects include feeling sick, headaches and trouble sleeping. These side effects are usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
- If you and your doctor decide you should stop taking fluoxetine, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually. This helps to prevent withdrawal side effects.
- Some people cannot concentrate properly while taking fluoxetine. It might be best to stop driving, cycling or using machinery for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.
- Fluoxetine will not change your personality, it will simply help you feel like yourself again.
Page last reviewed: 10 February 2022
Next review due: 10 February 2025 |
| Shard | 75 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 11359509702434384875 |
| Unparsed URL | uk,nhs,www!/medicines/fluoxetine-prozac/about-fluoxetine/ s443 |