Can you get high on Prozac?

Yes. You can get high on fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, although euphoria is infrequent. Prozac high and more Prozac drug info here.

minute read

Yes. Euphoric effect has been reported by Prozac users.

But getting high on Prozac is fairly rare. In fact, only about .1 – 1% of users report feelings of extreme well-being while using Prozac. Instead, most Prozac users report stable mood improvements rather than feeling high. Can you benefit from the way that Prozac affects the central nervous system and increased availability of serotonin in the body? Learn more about Prozac mechanisms and how Prozac works here.

Prozac chemistry and use

Prozac is prescribed for mental health disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, panic disorder and bulimia. Prozac is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Other antidepressant SSRI drugs that you may have heard of include Trazodone and Zoloft. Getting high on trazodone is not possible. But getting high on Prozac and catching a Zoloft high are both possible.


Serotonin is a chemical naturally found in the body, which is responsible for mood, appetite and sleep. Increased or more readily available amounts of serotonin can help elevate mood, and contribute to feelings of well-being that are important when treating mental health disorders. So how do SSRIs like Prozac work?  You may be surprised to learn that scientists don’t really know HOW Prozac works yet. But they do have a theory. The active ingredient in Prozac, fluoxetine, blocks the uptake of serotonin in human platelets. So experts assume that Prozac inhibits neural uptake of serotonin in the central nervous system, making serotonin more available and elevating mood.

Prozac and central nervous system effects

Prozac may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. And you can experience nervous system effects such as changes in sleeping habits, tremors or shaking and even anxiety. But some nervous system effects are more serious and should be reported to your prescribing doctor. What are these symptoms and why do they occur?

Prozac, like other antidepressants, affects the central nervous system in ways that we cannot predict. And although Prozac can be very helpful for some people, Prozac has also been associated with an increased risk for suicidal thinking and behavior. It’s especially important that you monitor effects on the nervous system when you first start taking Prozac or during dosage changes. Symptoms of nervous system agitation should be reported immediately because they require close monitoring and possible change of medication. Report the following symptoms (especially if they are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not present during diagnosis) or any unusual behavior immediately to your doctor:

  • aggressiveness
  • agitation
  • anxiety
  • elation
  • hostility
  • hyperactivity
  • ideas of suicide
  • impulsivity
  • insomnia irritability
  • manic episodes
  • panic attacks
  • restlessness
  • worsening of depression

Mixing Prozac with other substances

Do not drink alcohol while taking Prozac, as the combined effect of the two drugs can impair decision making, clear thinking and reaction times. You should also tell your doctor about any other prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements that you are taking. This is because some drugs interact very badly with Prozac. For example, you should not take any other medicines that contain fluoxetine hydrochloride while taking Prozac. Also, inform your doctor if you plan to discontinue any medications while taking Prozac.

Can you get addicted to Prozac?

We don’t know yet.

Prozac has been shown to be an effective medication for short term use (less than 13 weeks) but has not been clinically tested for long term prescription. Therefore, Prozac has not been studied enough to determine potential for drug abuse, tolerance, or physical dependence. However, only 1 in 100 to 1 in 1000 people on Prozac reported getting high on the antidepressant, indicating low risk for drug seeking behavior. But it’s still not possible to predict if Prozac will be misused, diverted, and/or abused in the future.

If you or someone you care about are struggling with addiction to Prozac…help is available. So, get ready to get better! You can learn more about Prozac addiction, available treatment options and rehab programs in our comprehensive guide for Antidepressant Addiction Treatment Programs and Help.



All Fields Required
First Name
Last Name
Phone Number
Date of Birth
Insurance Carrier
american addiction centers photo
Membership ID
*reCAPTCHA has identified you as a robot
Verifying Insurance...

Questions about Prozac use or abuse

Do you have any other questions about taking Prozac? Or maybe you fear that you are abusing Prozac. Whatever your concern, please leave your questions below. We will be happy to answer them personally, or even write you a new article to address your Prozac question.

Reference sources: FDA approved Prozac drug label
Wikipedia topic on serotonin
About the author
I am ready to call
i Who Answers?