Can Prozac (Fluoxetine) Provoke Violence?

Q. Is it possible Prozac may trigger violent and irrational reactions? Last year my son, who had been put on Prozac by his psychiatrist, had what I would call a gigantic temper tantrum. He destroyed his computer, his car and set himself on fire, burning himself over 90 percent of his body. Most of those were third degree burns. He rushed into the bathroom and put out the fire with a shower, which probably saved his life.

He had never expressed suicidal tendencies before this episode, and has fought to live throughout his treatment for burns.

How often do people on Prozac attempt suicide? I think families should be warned about this complication more effectively. I am concerned that ads don’t emphasize this adequately.

A. The issue of violent, self destructive behavior associated with Prozac (fluoxetine) remains controversial. Many healthcare professionals point out that people who are depressed sometimes consider suicide.

There have, however, been way too many reports of violent acts linked to fluoxetine and other antidepressants. Ads do list suicidal ideation along with other potential adverse events including agitation, confusion and emotional lability (extreme mood swings). “Violent behaviors” are also noted.

Most people have a very hard time imagining that someone might commit violet acts because of taking a drug. To read more about this highly controversial subject take a moment to read our column, “Drugs That Trigger Violence Behavior” and “Do Drugs Drive People to Violent Behavior?”

The stop-smoking drug Chantix has also been linked to such problems. We have heard from a number of people that when Chantix is combined with alcohol it can have some unexpected and unsavory effects.

Those taking antidepressants should contact their doctor immediately if they begin to feel suicidal or have violent urges. Family members should be especially vigilant during the early going on such drugs or when the dose is readjusted.

Anyone who would like to learn more about these issues can download for free our guide to Psychological Side Effects. If you would like to learn more about a variety of ways to deal with the blues, we recommend our guide to Dealing With Depression. There are many non-drug approaches in this booklet.