Comprehensive medication guide to Prozac including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$15 copay per month for generic fluoxetine on most commercial plans (Tier 1). 90-day supplies are often cheaper per dose. Brand-name Prozac is typically Tier 3 and may require step therapy or prior authorization.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$7–$25 per month for generic fluoxetine at retail; as low as $3–$7 with a GoodRx or SingleCare coupon for a 30-day supply. Brand-name Prozac costs approximately $630/month without insurance.
Medfinder Findability Score
92/100
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Prozac is a brand name for fluoxetine hydrochloride, an antidepressant medication in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Developed by Eli Lilly and Company and FDA-approved in December 1987, it was the first SSRI approved in the United States and remains one of the most prescribed antidepressants in history.
Fluoxetine is FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder (adults and children ≥8), obsessive-compulsive disorder (adults and children ≥7), panic disorder, bulimia nervosa, and bipolar I depressive episodes (in combination with olanzapine). It is also commonly prescribed off-label for PTSD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), social anxiety disorder, and binge eating disorder.
Today, fluoxetine is available as both brand-name Prozac and as widely available generic fluoxetine manufactured by many companies. Generic fluoxetine is bioequivalent and significantly less expensive — typically $3–$25 per month compared to over $600 per month for brand-name Prozac at retail.
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Fluoxetine works by selectively blocking the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) in presynaptic neurons. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter — a chemical messenger — that plays a key role in regulating mood, anxiety, appetite, and other functions. Normally, after a neuron fires and releases serotonin into the synapse (the gap between neurons), the sending neuron reabsorbs the serotonin via SERT. Fluoxetine blocks this reabsorption, allowing serotonin to remain in the synapse longer and have a greater effect on the receiving neuron.
Fluoxetine is metabolized in the liver by the CYP2D6 enzyme into its active metabolite norfluoxetine, which also inhibits serotonin reuptake. Both fluoxetine and norfluoxetine have unusually long half-lives — 2-4 days and 7-9 days respectively — giving Prozac one of the longest durations of action of any SSRI. This long half-life means missed doses cause fewer problems and discontinuation syndrome is milder than with shorter-acting SSRIs.
The full antidepressant effect typically takes 4-6 weeks to develop, as the brain's serotonin receptor network gradually adapts to increased serotonin availability. This is why patients are encouraged to continue therapy for at least 4-6 weeks before assessing full efficacy.
10 mg — capsule
Starting dose for lower-weight children and sensitive adult patients
20 mg — capsule
Standard starting dose for adults; most common formulation
40 mg — capsule
Mid-range dose; commonly used for OCD and some depression cases
10 mg — tablet
Tablet form for patients who prefer tablets or have difficulty with capsules
20 mg — tablet
Tablet form at standard dose
20 mg/5 mL — oral solution
Liquid form for patients who cannot swallow pills; 20 mg per 5 mL
90 mg — delayed-release capsule
Prozac Weekly — once-weekly maintenance dose; start 7 days after last daily 20 mg dose
As of 2026, Prozac (fluoxetine) is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list. Generic fluoxetine is manufactured by many companies, making it widely available across the United States. It earns a high findability score — one of the most reliably available antidepressants you can fill.
However, individual pharmacies can occasionally run low on specific strengths or formulations — particularly the 40 mg capsules, the oral liquid, or the 90 mg Prozac Weekly delayed-release capsule. These are distributor-level delays, typically resolving within 1-5 business days, rather than true supply chain failures.
If your pharmacy is out of your dose of fluoxetine, medfinder can call pharmacies near you to find which ones have your specific medication in stock, and will text you the results — saving you from spending an hour on hold.
Because fluoxetine (Prozac) is not a controlled substance, it can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority — no special DEA registration or waiver is required.
Psychiatrists
Primary care physicians (PCPs) — family medicine and internal medicine
Nurse practitioners (NPs)
Physician assistants (PAs)
Pediatricians (for children ≥7 with OCD and ≥8 with MDD)
OB/GYNs (commonly for PMDD and postpartum depression)
Telehealth is widely available for fluoxetine prescriptions in 2026. Because it is not a controlled substance, video or even text-based consultations with an NP, PA, or psychiatrist via platforms like Talkiatry, Brightside Health, Teladoc, or MDLive can result in a same-day prescription with no additional regulatory barriers.
No. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is not a controlled substance and is not classified in any DEA schedule. It does not have abuse or addiction potential that would warrant scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act.
Because fluoxetine is not a controlled substance, prescriptions can be sent electronically, refills can be authorized remotely, and telehealth providers can prescribe it without the additional DEA requirements that apply to controlled medications. Prescriptions can also include refills up to 12 months, and 90-day supplies can typically be dispensed at retail or mail-order pharmacies without restriction.
Most common side effects (often improve in 2-4 weeks):
Nausea
Headache
Insomnia or unusual dreams
Loss of appetite / weight loss
Diarrhea or loose stools
Dry mouth
Sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, delayed orgasm) — may persist long-term
Sweating
Nervousness or agitation
Serious side effects requiring immediate medical attention:
Worsening depression or suicidal ideation (boxed warning — especially in patients under 25)
Serotonin syndrome (agitation, fever, rapid heartbeat, muscle rigidity — call 911)
Mania or hypomania
Seizures
Unusual bleeding or bruising (especially if also taking NSAIDs or blood thinners)
Low sodium (hyponatremia) — headache, confusion, weakness
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Sertraline (Zoloft)
Most-prescribed SSRI in the US; FDA-approved for PTSD and social anxiety in addition to depression and OCD. Fewer drug interactions than fluoxetine due to lower CYP2D6 inhibition.
Escitalopram (Lexapro)
Well-tolerated SSRI approved for MDD and GAD; clean drug interaction profile and allosteric SSRI mechanism. Not approved for OCD or bulimia in adults.
Citalopram (Celexa)
Affordable SSRI for depression with few drug interactions; maximum dose limited to 40 mg/day due to QT prolongation risk.
Paroxetine (Paxil)
Broadest SSRI indication list (includes PTSD, social anxiety, GAD); however, more side effects, weight gain, and difficult discontinuation compared to other SSRIs.
Prefer Prozac? We can find it.
MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, linezolid, IV methylene blue)
majorContraindicated — combined use causes serotonin syndrome. Wait 14 days after stopping MAOI before starting fluoxetine; wait 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine before starting MAOI.
Pimozide (Orap)
majorContraindicated — fluoxetine inhibits pimozide metabolism via CYP2D6, causing dangerous QT prolongation.
Thioridazine
majorContraindicated — risk of QT prolongation. Do not use within 5 weeks of stopping fluoxetine.
Other SSRIs/SNRIs
majorAdditive serotonergic effects; significantly increased risk of serotonin syndrome.
Triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan)
moderateIncreased serotonin syndrome risk; use with caution and monitor.
Tramadol
moderateSerotonin syndrome risk plus CYP2D6 inhibition raises tramadol levels.
Warfarin
moderateFluoxetine may increase warfarin levels; monitor INR more frequently.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin)
moderateAdditive bleeding risk; both drugs impair platelet function.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
majorCYP2D6 inhibition raises TCA levels; risk of TCA toxicity (cardiac arrhythmias, seizures). Dose reduction and TCA level monitoring required.
Tamoxifen
majorFluoxetine reduces CYP2D6-mediated conversion of tamoxifen to active endoxifen, reducing breast cancer treatment efficacy. Prefer an SSRI with less CYP2D6 inhibition.
St. John's Wort
majorAdditive serotonergic effects; risk of serotonin syndrome. Avoid entirely while taking fluoxetine.
Lithium
moderateEnhanced serotonergic effects; monitor for serotonin syndrome symptoms.
Prozac (fluoxetine) is one of the most studied and reliable antidepressants ever developed. Approved by the FDA in 1987 as the first SSRI, it has treated hundreds of millions of patients worldwide. Its unique long half-life makes it particularly forgiving if doses are missed, and its broad FDA-approved indications — covering depression, OCD, panic disorder, and bulimia in both adults and children — make it one of the most versatile SSRIs available.
In 2026, fluoxetine remains widely available, not in shortage, and is one of the most affordable medications in the United States as a generic. For most patients, it is accessible at $3–$25 per month — a small cost for an effective long-term treatment.
If you're ever having trouble filling your fluoxetine prescription, medfinder is here to help you find it fast. medfinder calls pharmacies near you and texts you which ones can fill your prescription — so you can spend less time on hold and more time focused on your health.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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