Korean J Hepatol.  2000 Jun;6(2):236-240.

Fluoxetine-induced Acute Toxic Hepatitis

• Kwak SJ
• Oh HY
• Yeo MA
• Park SH
• Kim JS
• Lee JS
• Lee JS
• Kim HG

Abstract

Fluoxetine (Prozac ) is a antidepressant that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin in central nervous system, and has lesser adverse effects than the tricyclic antidepressants. The adverse effects of this drug are various, and the most common side effects are headache and nausea. The hepatic injury caused by fluoxetine is reported but very rare and not well known. Literature review has shown only 3 cases of hepatotoxicity from fluoxetine. We regard our case as the first of the hepatotoxicity from fluoxetine in Korea. The patient that we experienced showed normal aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values before fluoxetine administration. 15 days after she took fluoxetine, AST and ALT values were increased and gradually increased as she took fluoxetine daily. We studied about viral hepatitis, metabolic liver disease, and autoimmune liver disease, but the cause of hepatic injury was not established. After the patient stopped to take fluoxetine, AST and ALT values decreased. A liver biopsy showed a moderate infiltration within the portal tracts with lymphocytes and ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes. We concluded fluoxetine-induced acute toxic hepatitis had occured. We must keep in mind that fluoxetine may cause hepatitis without cholestasis and suggest taking liver function tests regularly.

Keyword

Fluoxetine; Adverse effect; Hepatitis/Toxic/Drug-induced

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Biopsy
Central Nervous System
Cholestasis
Drug-Induced Liver Injury*
Fluoxetine
Headache
Hepatitis
Hepatocytes
Humans
Korea
Liver
Liver Diseases
Liver Function Tests
Lymphocytes
Nausea
Serotonin
Alanine Transaminase
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Fluoxetine
Serotonin