Two medicines, side by side
Fluoxetine vs quetiapine
Fluoxetine and quetiapine are both labeled for depression and bipolar disorder. Drugs@FDA records approvals of fluoxetine since 1987 and of quetiapine since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.0519 per fluoxetine HCl 40 mg capsule and $0.127 per quetiapine fumarate 300 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, fluoxetine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and quetiapine an atypical antipsychotic.
Check it at the source: the fluoxetine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 8, 2026); the quetiapine FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 10, 2026).
Highlights of the fluoxetine record
Fluoxetine (Prozac) · label of January 8, 2026
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies. These studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in patients over age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressant use in patients aged 65 and older [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].
Used for
From the label: indicationsPROZAC ® is indicated for the treatment of: Acute and maintenance treatment of Major Depressive Disorder [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )]. Acute and maintenance treatment of obsessions and compulsions in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2 )]. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 58 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0519 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Highlights of the quetiapine record
Quetiapine (Seroquel) · label of April 10, 2026
INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS; and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. SEROQUEL is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsSEROQUEL is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of: • Schizophrenia ( 1.1 ) • Bipolar I disorder manic episodes (1.2) • Bipolar disorder, depressive episodes (1.2) 1.1 Schizophrenia SEROQUEL is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. The efficacy of SEROQUEL in schizophrenia was established in three 6-week trials in adults and one 6-week trial in adolescents (13-17 years). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 26, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 48 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.127 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Fluoxetine label of January 8, 2026, Quetiapine label of April 10, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do fluoxetine and quetiapine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, fluoxetine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and quetiapine an atypical antipsychotic.
How each works, in its label's words: Fluoxetine, “Although the exact mechanism of PROZAC is unknown, it is presumed to be linked to its inhibition of CNS neuronal uptake of serotonin.”; Quetiapine, “The mechanism of action of quetiapine in the listed indications is unclear.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Fluoxetine, “Its mean terminal half-life after a single dose was 8.6 days and after multiple dosing was 9.3 days.”; Quetiapine, “Elimination of quetiapine is mainly via hepatic metabolism with a mean terminal half-life of about 6 hours within the …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: fluoxetine since 2001; quetiapine since 2012 (Drugs@FDA).
| Fluoxetine | Quetiapine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder | Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Depression |
| Pharmacologic class | Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor | Atypical Antipsychotic |
| How it works (label) | Although the exact mechanism of PROZAC is unknown, it is presumed to be linked to its inhibition of CNS neuronal uptake of serotonin. | The mechanism of action of quetiapine in the listed indications is unclear. However, the efficacy of quetiapine in these indications could be mediated through a combination of dopamine type 2 (D 2 ) and serotonin type 2 (5HT 2 ) antagonism. |
| Half-life (label) | Its mean terminal half-life after a single dose was 8.6 days and after multiple dosing was 9.3 days. | Elimination of quetiapine is mainly via hepatic metabolism with a mean terminal half-life of about 6 hours within the proposed clinical dose range. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 29, 1987 | September 26, 1997 |
| First generic approved | August 2, 2001 | March 27, 2012 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 58 labelers | 48 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0519 per capsule (Fluoxetine HCl 40 mg capsule) | $0.127 per tablet (Quetiapine fumarate 300 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -9% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 131,827 | 191,480 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Fluoxetine label, warnings and precautionsSerotonin syndrome has been reported with SSRIs and SNRIs, including PROZAC, both when taken alone, but especially when co-administered with other serotonergic agents.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to fluoxetine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions