Prozac (fluoxetine) is a prescription drug used to treat certain mental health conditions, including depression. The drug comes as an oral capsule. Prozac may not be safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Prozac is a safe option for you.

Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant while taking Prozac. Taking Prozac late in your pregnancy can increase your infant’s risk of needing:

  • a long stay in the hospital
  • breathing support
  • a feeding tube

It can also increase their risk of pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure within the lungs).

It’s important to note that you should not stop taking Prozac without talking with your doctor first. Withdrawal symptoms have occurred in people who suddenly stopped taking the drug. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.)

These withdrawal symptoms can be severe in rare cases. If you and your doctor agree you’ll stop taking Prozac, they may want to slowly lower your dose over time until it’s safe for you to stop taking it entirely.

Pregnancy registry

If you take Prozac while pregnant, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. A pregnancy registry monitors the health of people who take a certain drug during pregnancy. To learn more or sign up, call the National Pregnancy Registry for Psychiatric Medications at 866-961-2388 or visit the registry website.

Depression and pregnancy

If you take Prozac for depression and are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about your treatment plan.

It’s important to note that untreated depression during pregnancy can have serious consequences for both the pregnant person and their child.

Stopping Prozac treatment because you’re pregnant may make it more likely that your depression will return or worsen. Other adverse effects include postpartum depression and a low birth weight for the newborn.

Data from published studies and reports has not shown a risk of major problems with fetal development (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss with Prozac.

If you have questions about managing your depression safely during pregnancy, talk with your doctor.

If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to understand the effects that Prozac could have on you or your child.

Prozac passes into breast milk. Children exposed to this drug through breast milk may experience:

Tell your doctor if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed while taking Prozac. They’ll help you weigh the benefits of breastfeeding with the possible risks to your child.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.