Hypothermia during long-term use of fluoxetine: a case report


Karatas K. S.

ANADOLU PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, vol.21, no.4, pp.443-446, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 21 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.5455/apd.76277
  • Journal Name: ANADOLU PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, EMBASE, Psycinfo, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.443-446
  • Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are commonly used molecules in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Among clinicians, fluoxetine is an antidepressant that is considered safe and preferred in major depressive disorder. Many short-term and long-term effects of fluoxetine have been reported. Nausea, insomnia, headache, tremor, anxiety, dizziness, dry mouth, sweating, constipation, diarrhea are common and possible side effects during fluoxetine treatment. It is suggested that these side effects usually occur at the beginning of treatment and disappear spontaneously in the future. Hypothermia due to the use of fluoxetine has been demonstrated in animal experiments studies. In experimental studies, the effects of other pharmacological molecules on thermoregulation and the effect of fluoxetine on these molecules, increasing or decreasing body temperature are prominent. Clinical applications of fluoxetine for thermoregulation are directed to the treatment of female patients who develop postmenopausal fever flashes. No study reported hypothermia as a side effect after fluoxetine use in any psychiatric disorder. In this case, we present a patient who developed hypothermia following long-term use of fluoxetine.