The pharmacologic profile of fluoxetine.

Fluoxetine is a selective inhibitor of serotonin uptake in vitro. Unlike many antidepressant drugs, fluoxetine has little affinity for muscarinic, histaminic H1, serotonergic 5-HT1 or 5-HT2, or noradrenergic alpha 1 or alpha 2 receptors on rat brain membranes in vitro. Fluoxetine inhibits serotonin uptake in vivo without affecting norepinephrine uptake. Neuroendocrine and behavioral consequences of enhanced serotonergic function resulting from fluoxetine's inhibition of serotonin uptake in vivo are described. Fluoxetine is relatively nontoxic in several animal species. The specificity of action of fluoxetine makes it a good candidate as an antidepressant drug.