For the treatment of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
Metabolized to norfluoxetine, fluoxetine is a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), it blocks the reuptake of serotonin at the serotonin reuptake pump of the neuronal membrane, enhancing the actions of serotonin on 5HT<sub>1A</sub> autoreceptors. SSRIs bind with significantly less affinity to histamine, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine receptors than tricyclic antidepressant drugs.
Symptoms of overdose include agitation, restlessness, hypomania, and other signs of CNS excitation. LD<sub>50</sub>=284mg/kg (orally in mice).
72%
1 to 3 days
The primary route of elimination appears to be hepatic metabolism to inactive metabolites excreted by the kidney.