FLUOXETINE (PROZAC) IN CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE: A TIMELESS CLASSIC

Abstract

The introduction of fluoxetine (Prozac) marked the first major breakthrough in the treatment of depression since the discovery of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) almost thirty years earlier. It was the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to receive a US Food and Drug Administration licence and had less negative effects than TCAs and MAOIs. There is no doubting the importance of fluoxetine and related SSRIs to the discipline, even though the exact mechanism by which fluoxetine's clinical efficacy appears is still up for debate. The brand name Prozac has gained widespread recognition, which has helped lessen the stigma that has long been associated with depression and raised awareness of the illness among the general population. This review will discuss the synthesis, pharmacology, drug metabolism, side effects, and history of fluoxetine in addition to its importance for treating depression and neuroscience in general.