What You Should Know About Prozac for Kids

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Prozac?Side EffectsSuicidal IdeationRisks and BenefitsHow to TakeFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Prozac?

Side Effects

Suicidal Ideation

Risks and Benefits

How to Take

Frequently Asked Questions

Close

What do I need to know about fluoxetine side effects in kids?Common side effects include changes in appetite and sleep, headaches, and stomach upset, which typically lessen as kids get used to their medication.Watch children and adolescents for signs of serious side effects, including worsening mood and behavior (antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts and behavior).

What do I need to know about fluoxetine side effects in kids?

Common side effects include changes in appetite and sleep, headaches, and stomach upset, which typically lessen as kids get used to their medication.Watch children and adolescents for signs of serious side effects, including worsening mood and behavior (antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts and behavior).

If your child or teen has been diagnosed with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or panic disorder, your doctor may have recommended Prozac. While Prozac (fluoxetine) is often prescribed for adults, it is also an approved antidepressant for children ages 8 and older.

Prozac is a commonly prescribed medication for children and teens withmajor depressive disorder (MDD)and sometimesbipolar disorder. While it’s not advised that Prozac be prescribed to every child with depression, it can be part of a successful treatment plan for some.

Before your child begins taking Prozac, it’s important that you understand its potential side effects. Have a conversation with your child’s doctor and be sure to monitor your child’s mood and behavior carefully if they do start taking it.

Prozac for Kids and Teens: What Does It Do?

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood andemotions, sleep, and appetite. SSRIs work to make serotonin accessible again so that the body can receive its benefits.

While current evidence indicates that chemical imbalances in the brain do notcausedepression,it is still believed that antidepressants can play an essential role in improving mood and relieving other symptoms of depression.

SSRIs can make it easier for people to cope with various conditions likemood disorders,eating disorders,obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), andpanic attacks.

Side Effects of Prozac for Kids and Teens

Prozac is generally well-tolerated in children, and few stop taking it because of bothersome side effects.Theside effects of Prozacare often mild and short-lasting. If side effects occur, they usually show up at the start of treatment and often resolve within a few weeks without any need for additional intervention.

Common Side Effects

Common side effects associated with Prozac may include:

Less Common Side Effects

Additionally, a small percentage of children who take Prozac may show increased impulsivity, agitation, or irritability. These symptoms appear to be more likely in children with bipolar disorder or those who are predisposed to develop it.

Be sure to let your child’s healthcare provider know if they have ever experienced a manic orhypomanic state, or if there is a family history of bipolar disorder.

Serious Side Effects

Although rare, Prozac is associated with certain more serious side effects. If you notice any of the following in your child, contact a healthcare provider immediately:

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Increased Thoughts of Suicide

Another serious side effect associated with Prozac that warrants special attention is the risk ofsuicidal thoughtsor behavior. Though it’s important for everyone to be aware of suicidal ideation and self-harm signs in youth, it’s even more imperativewhen children are taking an SSRI.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public warning that suicidal thoughts and behavior may increase in children and adolescents up to age 25 who are taking SSRI antidepressant medications.The risk is highest when the medication is first taken and whenever the dose is changed.

Some of the warning signs include an increase in sadness, isolation, panic attacks, or aggressiveness. These may be subtle and lead tothoughts about suicide or dying, suicide attempts, or self-injury.

If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If your child is having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Risks and Benefits of Prozac for Kids

Compared to other common antidepressants, Prozac appears to carry fewer risks for children with depression.However, before making the decision to start treatment with an SSRI, you should carefully weigh the expected benefits and risks—including potential side effects—of the drug.

While many side effects may resolve with time, a child should not suffer unnecessarily from additional complications. There are many different treatment options that can help minimize the potential for these side effects.

How do Kids and Teens Take Prozac?

If your child is taking Prozac, there are some safety precautions to keep in mind. Make sure they are only taking their prescribed dosage, supervise them when they take Prozac, and store the medication properly.

Prozac comes in capsule form; however, the generic versions that contain fluoxetine come in liquid, tablet, or capsule form.

Dosage of Prozac

A doctor will usually start a child off on a lower dose (10 mg per day) of Prozac and increase it to 20 mg or 30mg per day if their symptoms don’t improve. Teens are also started out on 10mg per day, and it is then increased to 20mg within a few weeks. Adolescents may need to take 40mg or 60mg per day to achieve the desired effect.

Be sure you only administer to your child the dosage of Prozac that their doctor prescribes. Never give your child a higher dose.

For children with OCD, the dosing is similar to treating depression. The FDA recommends they start at 10 mg per day and increase in a few weeks to 20 mg per day. For adolescents and children of a higher weight, the FDA has approved treatment of up to 60 mg per day if lower doses are not effective.

Supervising Your Child

A child shouldn’t take Prozac alone. It’s best that you, or another trusted adult, oversee its administration.

Prozac is taken once per day. Your child may take the medication with food, but it is not necessary. If your child is taking a liquid form of Prozac, be sure you measure it with a dosing spoon or oral syringe before administering it.

Prozac should be taken at around the same time every day. Try using an alarm on your phone or writing a note on your calendar to remember to have your child take it. If your child misses a dose of Prozac, they may take another dose—unless it is closer to the time of the next dose. You should never double your child’s Prozac dose.

After starting Prozac, all children should be monitored closely for any side effects, especially changes in behavior.

Storage

Prozac should be stored in a room-temperature location. Avoid any place with too much light, heat, and/or moisture. For instance, it’s bestnotto keep Prozac in the bathroom.

If your child is no longer taking Prozac, don’t dispose of it in the toilet or anywhere else could access it and consume it. You can talk to your local pharmacist to learn the best way to dispose of Prozac. Some pharmacies participate in a “take-back” program and can safely dispose of Prozac for you.

Frequently Asked QuestionsProzac can be part of an effective treatment plan for depression, anxiety, OCD, and other mental health conditions. However, it is important to work with your doctor to determine which treatments are right for your teen. It is important to weigh the potential benefits against the possible risks, as well as consider your child’s individual needs.Prozac (fluoxetine) is often considered the best antidepressant for treating depression in teens. It can be effective on its own, but it may produce better outcomes when used alongside cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant that is not recommended for teens due to its increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.The starting dose for teens taking Prozac is 10 milligrams per day and increased to 20 milligrams per day within a few weeks. This amount may be increased up to 60 milligrams per day until the desired effect is achieved.

Prozac can be part of an effective treatment plan for depression, anxiety, OCD, and other mental health conditions. However, it is important to work with your doctor to determine which treatments are right for your teen. It is important to weigh the potential benefits against the possible risks, as well as consider your child’s individual needs.

Prozac (fluoxetine) is often considered the best antidepressant for treating depression in teens. It can be effective on its own, but it may produce better outcomes when used alongside cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant that is not recommended for teens due to its increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The starting dose for teens taking Prozac is 10 milligrams per day and increased to 20 milligrams per day within a few weeks. This amount may be increased up to 60 milligrams per day until the desired effect is achieved.

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8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Label for Prozac (fluoxetine).Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0MedlinePlus.Fluoxetine.Cipriani A, Zhou X, Del Giovane C, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: A network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2016;388(10047):881–890. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30385-3U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.National Alliance on Mental Health.Fluoxetine (Prozac).Coupland C, Hill T, Morriss R, Arthur A, Moore M, Hippisley-Cox J.Antidepressant use and risk of suicide and attempted suicide or self harm in people aged 20 to 64: Cohort study using a primary care database.BMJ. 2015;350(32):h517-h517. doi:10.1136/bmj.h517

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Label for Prozac (fluoxetine).Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0MedlinePlus.Fluoxetine.Cipriani A, Zhou X, Del Giovane C, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: A network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2016;388(10047):881–890. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30385-3U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.National Alliance on Mental Health.Fluoxetine (Prozac).Coupland C, Hill T, Morriss R, Arthur A, Moore M, Hippisley-Cox J.Antidepressant use and risk of suicide and attempted suicide or self harm in people aged 20 to 64: Cohort study using a primary care database.BMJ. 2015;350(32):h517-h517. doi:10.1136/bmj.h517

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Label for Prozac (fluoxetine).Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0MedlinePlus.Fluoxetine.Cipriani A, Zhou X, Del Giovane C, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: A network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2016;388(10047):881–890. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30385-3U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.National Alliance on Mental Health.Fluoxetine (Prozac).Coupland C, Hill T, Morriss R, Arthur A, Moore M, Hippisley-Cox J.Antidepressant use and risk of suicide and attempted suicide or self harm in people aged 20 to 64: Cohort study using a primary care database.BMJ. 2015;350(32):h517-h517. doi:10.1136/bmj.h517

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Label for Prozac (fluoxetine).

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Depression: How effective are antidepressants?

Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0

MedlinePlus.Fluoxetine.

Cipriani A, Zhou X, Del Giovane C, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants for major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: A network meta-analysis.Lancet. 2016;388(10047):881–890. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30385-3

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Suicidality in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.

National Alliance on Mental Health.Fluoxetine (Prozac).

Coupland C, Hill T, Morriss R, Arthur A, Moore M, Hippisley-Cox J.Antidepressant use and risk of suicide and attempted suicide or self harm in people aged 20 to 64: Cohort study using a primary care database.BMJ. 2015;350(32):h517-h517. doi:10.1136/bmj.h517

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