Definition

A medication used to treat depression and anxiety by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain.

Example

The doctor prescribed fluoxetine to help manage her depression.

Conversation

Have you heard about fluoxetine?

Yeah, I think it's an antidepressant, right?

Exactly! It's supposed to help with serotonin levels.

That's interesting, I wonder how it works in the brain.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fluoxetine is derived from "fluor" (from Latin *fluor*, meaning to flow) and "-oxetine" (a suffix used in the names of certain drugs, derived from the chemical structure). The word refers to a chemical compound that flows in the body, specifically as an antidepressant.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fluor' meaning to 'flow' in the body, which helps you remember that fluoxetine is a medication that affects the flow of chemicals in the brain.

Visually Confused Words