FLUOXETINE

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Fluoxetine Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

120,799 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About FLUOXETINE

FLUOXETINE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Based on analysis of 120,799 FDA adverse event reports, FLUOXETINE has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for FLUOXETINE include DRUG INEFFECTIVE, DRUG INTERACTION, TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS, NAUSEA, FATIGUE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for FLUOXETINE.

AI Safety Analysis

Fluoxetine has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 120,799 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Ineffective, Drug Interaction, Toxicity To Various Agents. Of classified reports, 79.9% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Fluoxetine reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly related to suicide and overdose.

The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular issues. Fluoxetine has a significant number of reports related to psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

Patients taking Fluoxetine should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Fluoxetine can interact with other drugs, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), leading to serotonin syndrome. It is also contraindicated with certain drugs like meperidine. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Fluoxetine received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 79.9% serious event ratio across 64,103 classified reports. The score accounts for 120,799 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE3,636 reports
DRUG INTERACTION3,336 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS3,316 reports
NAUSEA3,228 reports
FATIGUE3,151 reports
COMPLETED SUICIDE2,905 reports
HEADACHE2,771 reports
OFF LABEL USE2,478 reports
ANXIETY2,441 reports
DIARRHOEA2,372 reports
DIZZINESS2,356 reports
DEPRESSION2,313 reports
VOMITING2,237 reports
DYSPNOEA2,178 reports
PAIN2,040 reports
FALL1,991 reports
INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE1,987 reports
MALAISE1,900 reports
SUICIDAL IDEATION1,742 reports
TREMOR1,691 reports
SEROTONIN SYNDROME1,657 reports
SOMNOLENCE1,654 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED1,645 reports
INSOMNIA1,609 reports
ASTHENIA1,518 reports
SUICIDE ATTEMPT1,516 reports
DEATH1,514 reports
ARTHRALGIA1,423 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED1,394 reports
DRUG ABUSE1,372 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE1,342 reports
HYPOTENSION1,330 reports
OVERDOSE1,319 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY1,297 reports
PYREXIA1,276 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED1,152 reports
PRURITUS1,119 reports
PNEUMONIA1,106 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE1,092 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,087 reports
AGITATION1,082 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,080 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,071 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL1,070 reports
HYPERTENSION1,031 reports
CARDIAC ARREST1,018 reports
RASH994 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS991 reports
COUGH990 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE954 reports
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM QT PROLONGED953 reports
TACHYCARDIA918 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT864 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION862 reports
CHEST PAIN848 reports
SEIZURE844 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER843 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION838 reports
RENAL FAILURE837 reports
PARAESTHESIA836 reports
BACK PAIN810 reports
CONSTIPATION798 reports
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS763 reports
CARDIO RESPIRATORY ARREST750 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA735 reports
MYALGIA731 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS729 reports
BALANCE DISORDER695 reports
INTENTIONAL SELF INJURY689 reports
VISION BLURRED687 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED671 reports
DEPRESSED MOOD667 reports
SYNCOPE667 reports
PALPITATIONS660 reports
COMA640 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA625 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY611 reports
AGGRESSION608 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY608 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE603 reports
ANAEMIA587 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS580 reports
DISTURBANCE IN ATTENTION572 reports
HALLUCINATION563 reports
IRRITABILITY558 reports
ALOPECIA549 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT542 reports
GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE532 reports
RESPIRATORY ARREST528 reports
CHILLS527 reports
DEPRESSED LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS527 reports
COVID 19525 reports
METABOLIC ACIDOSIS522 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT MISUSE520 reports
INJECTION SITE PAIN513 reports
DEHYDRATION510 reports
DYSPEPSIA505 reports
SLEEP DISORDER501 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL490 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS486 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High percentage of serious adverse events (79.9%)
  • Multiple reports of completed suicide and suicide attempts
  • Significant number of drug interaction reports

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 40,256, Male: 18,186, Unknown: 220. The most frequently reported age groups are age 52 (950 reports), age 53 (949 reports), age 61 (940 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 64,103 classified reports for FLUOXETINE:

  • Serious: 51,198 reports (79.9%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 12,905 reports (20.1%)
Serious 79.9%Non-Serious 20.1%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female40,256 (68.6%)
Male18,186 (31.0%)
Unknown220 (0.4%)

Reports by Age

Age 52950 reports
Age 53949 reports
Age 61940 reports
Age 57930 reports
Age 55924 reports
Age 58903 reports
Age 62896 reports
Age 54894 reports
Age 56877 reports
Age 60874 reports
Age 49869 reports
Age 66860 reports
Age 59842 reports
Age 51819 reports
Age 50790 reports
Age 17787 reports
Age 65786 reports
Age 48780 reports
Age 63778 reports
Age 45770 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Fluoxetine can interact with other drugs, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), leading to serotonin syndrome. It is also contraindicated with certain drugs like meperidine.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Fluoxetine, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug ineffective, drug interaction, toxicity to various agents, nausea, fatigue. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Consult a healthcare provider before starting fluoxetine and discuss any other medications you are taking. Monitor for signs of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, especially during the first few months of treatment. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors fluoxetine due to its high risk of serious adverse events, particularly suicide and overdose. Patients should not stop taking the medication abruptly without consulting a healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Fluoxetine?

The FDA has received approximately 120,799 adverse event reports associated with Fluoxetine. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Fluoxetine?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Fluoxetine include Drug Ineffective, Drug Interaction, Toxicity To Various Agents, Nausea, Fatigue. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Ineffective (3,636 reports), Drug Interaction (3,336 reports), Toxicity To Various Agents (3,316 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Fluoxetine.

What percentage of Fluoxetine adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 64,103 classified reports, 51,198 (79.9%) were classified as serious and 12,905 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Fluoxetine (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Fluoxetine break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 40,256, Male: 18,186, Unknown: 220. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Fluoxetine?

The most frequently reported age groups for Fluoxetine adverse events are: age 52: 950 reports, age 53: 949 reports, age 61: 940 reports, age 57: 930 reports, age 55: 924 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Fluoxetine?

The primary manufacturer associated with Fluoxetine adverse event reports is Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Fluoxetine?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Fluoxetine include: Completed Suicide, Headache, Off Label Use, Anxiety, Diarrhoea. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Fluoxetine?

You can report adverse events from Fluoxetine to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Fluoxetine's safety score and what does it mean?

Fluoxetine has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Fluoxetine reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly related to suicide and overdose.

What are the key safety signals for Fluoxetine?

Key safety signals identified in Fluoxetine's adverse event data include: High percentage of serious adverse events (79.9%). Multiple reports of completed suicide and suicide attempts. Significant number of drug interaction reports. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Fluoxetine interact with other drugs?

Fluoxetine can interact with other drugs, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), leading to serotonin syndrome. It is also contraindicated with certain drugs like meperidine. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Fluoxetine.

What should patients know before taking Fluoxetine?

Consult a healthcare provider before starting fluoxetine and discuss any other medications you are taking. Monitor for signs of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, especially during the first few months of treatment.

Are Fluoxetine side effects well-documented?

Fluoxetine has 120,799 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular issues. The volume of reports for Fluoxetine reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Fluoxetine?

The FDA closely monitors fluoxetine due to its high risk of serious adverse events, particularly suicide and overdose. Patients should not stop taking the medication abruptly without consulting a healthcare provider. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to FLUOXETINE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

MAOIsMeperidine
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.