Fluoxetine Nursing Considerations, Side Effects, and Mechanism of Action Pharmacology for Nurses

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 22:27:49 +0000

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Fluoxetine

Generic Name: fluoxetine

Trade Name: Prozac

Indication: depressive disorder, OCD, bulimia, panic disorder, bipolar, anorexia, ADHD, DM neuropathy, obesity

Action: inhibits reuptake of serotonin allowing it to persist longer in the synaptic cleft

Therapeutic Class: Antidepressant

Pharmacologic Class: SSRI

Nursing Considerations:
 do not use while taking MAOIs
 may cause suicidal thoughts, drowsiness, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, palpitations
 monitor closely for serotonin syndrome
 concurrent use with certain medications may lead to QT prolongation
 monitor mood changes and assess for suicidal ideation
 monitor nutrition status
 may cause elevated liver enzymes
 instruct pt to maintain good oral hygiene