Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Fluoxetine(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Fluoxetine
Prozac
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
FDA-approved indications
- MDD — acute and maintenance (adults; pediatric 8+)
- OCD — acute and maintenance (adults; pediatric 7+)
- Bulimia nervosa — acute and maintenance (adults)
- Panic disorder — acute treatment (adults)
Off-label uses
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Selective mutism
- Premature ejaculation
Half-life1 to 3 days (norfluoxetine: 4 to 16 days)
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Fluoxetine
Consider when
- Bulimia nervosa — only antidepressant with FDA approval for this indication (at 60 mg/day)
- Pediatric depression (age 8+) — one of only two SSRIs with FDA-approved pediatric MDD indication
- Adherence or discontinuation risk — longest SSRI half-life means missed doses and taper are forgiving
- Bipolar depression or treatment-resistant depression — available as olanzapine-fluoxetine combination (Symbyax)
Consider an alternative when
- Patient on CYP2D6 substrates — potent CYP2D6 inhibition persists 5 weeks after discontinuation
- Anxiety or insomnia is prominent — most activating SSRI (insomnia 19%, nervousness 13%); start low in panic disorder
- MAOI anticipated in treatment plan — long half-life requires 5-week washout before starting an MAOI (longest delay of any SSRI)
- Elderly patient — most activating SSRI with longest half-life; higher rates of insomnia, nervousness, and prolonged drug accumulation in older adults
Efficacy & Acceptability (2 axes)— NMA efficacy & discontinuation data (not side effects)
| Axis | Fluoxetine |
|---|---|
| 📊 Efficacy (response rates) | |
MDDEfficacy | |
| 🛡️ Acceptability (all-cause discontinuation) | |
MDDAcceptability | |
| Axis | Fluoxetine SSRI |
|---|---|
| Boxed Warnings | |
Suicidality (boxed warning) | |
Mania / hypomania induction | |
| CNS | |
Sedation / somnolence | |
Activation / insomnia | |
Emotional blunting | |
Seizure risk | |
| Metabolic | |
Weight loss | |
| Autonomic | |
Anticholinergic burden | |
Sweating | |
Angle-closure glaucoma | |
| Cardiac | |
QTc prolongation | |
| GI | |
Nausea / GI (general) | |
| Electrolytes | |
Hyponatremia / SIADH | |
| Sexual | |
Sexual dysfunction | |
| Discontinuation | |
Withdrawal / discontinuation | |
| Interactions | |
Serotonin syndrome risk | |
CYP interactions / DDI profile | |
| Safety | |
Bleeding risk | |
| Pregnancy | |
Lactation / breastfeeding safety | |