Key Facts
- Drug Class
- SSRI antidepressant
- Prescription
- Required
- NAFDAC Status
- NAFDAC Registered
- Forms
- Capsule, Tablet
- Price Range
- ₦2,000 - ₦9,000
- WHO Essential
- Yes
What is Fluoxetine?
Fluoxetine — famous under the brand name Prozac — is one of the oldest and best-known SSRI antidepressants, and it is still widely used in Nigeria for depression, anxiety, and OCD. It is a once-daily capsule or tablet, sold as Prozac, Fludac, and generic fluoxetine. As mental-health awareness grows in Nigeria, medicines like fluoxetine are increasingly prescribed alongside counselling and support.
Fluoxetine works by raising the level of serotonin, a mood-related chemical messenger, in the brain. This gradually improves low mood and reduces anxiety and obsessive symptoms. It has a distinctive feature: it stays in the body far longer than most other SSRIs, which means it builds up and clears slowly. A practical benefit of that long action is that missing an occasional dose matters less and withdrawal effects on stopping tend to be milder — but it also means interactions and effects can linger for weeks.
Like all antidepressants, fluoxetine takes time — usually two to six weeks — to work, and some people feel more anxious or restless in the first days. It is a prescription medicine that should be started and stopped with a doctor, and mood should be watched closely early on, especially in young people, for any worsening or thoughts of self-harm. It is not addictive. Buy it from a licensed pharmacy and verify the NAFDAC number, and use it as part of a broader plan that includes talking therapy where possible.
What is Fluoxetine used for?
In Nigeria, Fluoxetine is commonly used for:
- Depression — improving persistent low mood and loss of interest
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety and panic disorder
- Bulimia nervosa
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder in some women
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For depression the usual dose is 20mg once daily, often taken in the morning; it may be increased gradually by a doctor up to 60mg a day for some conditions (OCD, bulimia often need higher doses). It can be taken with or without food. Because it is long-acting, it is usually taken once a day and reaches full effect over several weeks.
Children
Fluoxetine is one of the few antidepressants used in children and adolescents (mainly for depression or OCD) but only under specialist supervision, with close monitoring of mood in the early weeks.
Elderly
Often started at a lower dose; watch for low sodium and interactions given its long duration.
Give it several weeks to work and keep taking it consistently. In the first weeks, and in people under 25, watch closely for worsening mood, agitation, or thoughts of self-harm and seek help urgently if they occur. Because fluoxetine lingers in the body for weeks after stopping, tell any doctor you have taken it recently, as it can still interact with new medicines. It is usually stopped by simply reducing or stopping under guidance, with milder withdrawal than shorter-acting SSRIs.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Nausea, especially early on
- •Headache
- •Trouble sleeping, or drowsiness
- •Feeling more anxious, restless, or jittery when starting
- •Reduced appetite
- •Sexual side effects (reduced desire or delayed orgasm)
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- New or worsening thoughts of self-harm or suicide, severe agitation, or a sudden mood change — especially early or in young people — seek help urgently
- Serotonin syndrome (agitation, high fever, sweating, tremor, fast heartbeat), particularly with other serotonergic drugs
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Low sodium (confusion, weakness), more common in older adults
- A switch into mania in people with bipolar disorder
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction
When to see a doctor
Seek help urgently for new or worsening thoughts of self-harm, severe agitation, or symptoms of serotonin syndrome. Contact your doctor if side effects are hard to tolerate, if you have unusual bleeding, or if there is no improvement after several weeks. Do not stop on your own without discussing it.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Fluoxetine if you have:
- Do not take with, or within weeks of, MAOI antidepressants — fluoxetine's long action means an even longer gap is needed after stopping it
- Use caution in epilepsy, bipolar disorder (risk of mania), liver disease, or a bleeding tendency
- Caution with medicines that affect heart rhythm
- Do not use if you are allergic to fluoxetine
Drug interactions
- •MAOI antidepressants — dangerous; a long washout is required because fluoxetine persists for weeks
- •Other serotonergic drugs (tramadol, triptans, St John's Wort) raise serotonin-syndrome risk
- •Blood thinners (warfarin) and NSAID painkillers increase bleeding risk
- •Fluoxetine can raise the levels of some other medicines by affecting liver enzymes
- •Alcohol can worsen drowsiness and mood
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Treating depression in pregnancy matters, and fluoxetine can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding when the benefits outweigh the risks — but this is an individual decision to make with a doctor, and some clinicians prefer sertraline in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Do not start or stop it in pregnancy on your own; discuss the safest option with your doctor.
Brands of Fluoxetine in Nigeria
The NAFDAC registry holds 3 Fluoxetine products from 3 manufacturers, including combination products and older listings whose status you can check in the full list. Below are some of the most common brands — see the full, searchable list for all of them.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prozac | Eli Lilly | 20mg | Capsule |
| Fludac | Cadila | 10mg, 20mg | Capsule |
| Fluoxetine | Various generic manufacturers | 20mg | Capsule |
How to Verify Your Fluoxetine is Genuine
- 1Get fluoxetine on prescription from a licensed pharmacy
- 2Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app
- 3Check the expiry date and that the packaging is sealed and untampered
- 4Genuine capsules/tablets should be uniform; discard any that look irregular
- 5For Prozac (Eli Lilly) or Fludac (Cadila), check the manufacturer branding and batch number; for generics, confirm the manufacturer
- 6Avoid buying antidepressants from unverified online or social-media sellers
Fluoxetine Price in Nigeria
Fluoxetine prices in Nigeria typically range from ₦2,000 to ₦9,000 per pack (30 capsules), depending on the brand, strength, and where you buy it.
₦2,000 – ₦9,000
per pack (30 capsules)
Prices vary by location and vendor. Last updated: 2026-07-18
Where to Buy
Purchase Fluoxetine only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors. Avoid buying medicines from unverified sources, roadside vendors, or unregistered market stalls.
Before you buy, verify the product's NAFDAC registration and check the current online prices above so you know a fair price before you pay.
Buying Fluoxetine in bulk or for resale? Our guide on how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely covers verifying a supplier and spotting fakes before a large order.
Need Fluoxetine in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
Related Resources for Fluoxetine
Guides, articles, and tools related to Fluoxetine and other mental health medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Fluoxetine on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •WHO Model List of Essential Medicines — Fluoxetine is included in the WHO's list of essential medicines, meaning it is considered essential for basic healthcare needs.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Fluoxetine.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).