Fluoxetine was invented by Eli Lilly and Company in 1972 and entered medical use in 1986.[2] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[3] It is available as a generic medication.[4] In 2022, it was the 22nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 24 million prescriptions.[5][6]. It is the third most prescribed antidepressant.[7]
Fluoxetine taken during pregnancy is said to cause significant increase in congenital heart defects in newbornbabies[8][9] but most babies born to women taking prozac have a normal heart.[10] It has been suggested that fluoxetine therapy may be continued during breastfeeding if it was used during pregnancy or if other antidepressants have not been effective.[11] The drug passes into breastmilk and may cause side effects in nursing babies,[10] so it is important to ask the doctor or midwife for advice on taking it during or after pregnancy.
