Fluoxetine (Prozac) belongs to which class of medication?

• A. Antidepressant SSRI
• B. Antipsychotic
• C. Mood stabilizer
• D. Benzodiazepine

Answer: (A)

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It works by blocking the serotonin transporter, which increases serotonin levels in the synaptic space and helps improve mood and anxiety symptoms. This mechanism distinguishes it from other drug classes: antipsychotics primarily target dopamine to treat psychosis, mood stabilizers (like lithium) help manage bipolar mood swings, and benzodiazepines enhance GABA to provide anxiolytic effects. In practice, be aware of serotonin-related side effects (such as sexual dysfunction and GI upset) and the risk of serotonin syndrome if combined with other serotonergic medications; antidepressants also typically take several weeks to show full benefit, and MAO inhibitors should not be used concurrently.