# Fluoxetine in Nigeria - Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/fluoxetine/ - Drug class: SSRI antidepressant (Mental Health) - Also known as: Prozac, Fludac - Prescription required: yes - On the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - Last updated: July 2026 ## Price in Nigeria Fluoxetine prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay. ## 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? - 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 Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information. - 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: 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 (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 Do not take if: 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. 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 in Nigeria Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Prozac (Eli Lilly, made in United Kingdom); Fludac (Cadila, made in India). Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/fluoxetine/brands/ ## How to verify it is genuine 1. Get fluoxetine on prescription from a licensed pharmacy 2. Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app 3. Check the expiry date and that the packaging is sealed and untampered 4. Genuine capsules/tablets should be uniform; discard any that look irregular 5. For Prozac (Eli Lilly) or Fludac (Cadila), check the manufacturer branding and batch number; for generics, confirm the manufacturer 6. Avoid buying antidepressants from unverified online or social-media sellers Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/ ## FAQs ### What is the difference between fluoxetine and sertraline? Both are SSRIs that treat depression, anxiety, and OCD in the same basic way, and both take weeks to work. The main practical difference is how long they last in the body: fluoxetine is very long-acting, so it builds up and clears slowly — which makes missed doses and stopping less jarring, but means it can keep interacting with other medicines for weeks after you stop. Sertraline is shorter-acting. Fluoxetine can be more activating (energising, sometimes jittery early on), while sertraline is sometimes preferred in pregnancy. Your doctor chooses based on your symptoms, other medicines, and how you respond. ### How long does fluoxetine take to work? Usually two to six weeks for the full effect on mood, and sometimes people feel a little more anxious or restless in the first week or two before it helps. This delay is normal for all SSRIs, and it is important not to stop early thinking it isn't working. Keep taking it consistently and stay in touch with your doctor, who can adjust the dose. Because fluoxetine is long-acting, its effect (and its side effects) build up gradually. ### Is fluoxetine (Prozac) addictive? No, fluoxetine is not addictive — you will not crave it or need ever-larger doses. Because it clears from the body slowly, it also tends to cause milder stopping (withdrawal) effects than shorter-acting antidepressants. Even so, any long-term antidepressant should be stopped in a planned way with your doctor rather than abruptly, and you should not stop just because you feel better, as that often means the treatment is working. Your doctor will guide when and how to come off it. ### Do I need therapy as well as fluoxetine? Medicine and talking therapy work best together for most people with depression and anxiety. Fluoxetine can lift mood and reduce symptoms, but counselling or therapy helps with the thoughts, habits, and life stresses behind them, and reduces the chance of relapse. In Nigeria, access to therapy varies, but even support from a trusted health worker, community or faith group, and lifestyle steps (sleep, exercise, connection) add to the benefit of the medicine. Ask your doctor what mental-health support is available to you alongside the tablet. ## Sources - NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria) - WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - British National Formulary (BNF) - Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)