Treatment should be initiated and monitored by a specialist and should be offered to a child or young person with moderate to severe depression only in combination with concurrent psychological therapy.

The starting dose in children and adolescents aged eight and above is 10mg once daily, increasing if necessary to 20mg once daily after one or two weeks of treatment. Patients should be maintained at the lowest effective dose.

If no clinical benefit is achieved within nine weeks, treatment should be reconsidered. For patients who respond to treatment, the need for continued treatment after six months should be reviewed.

In a clinical trial decreased height and weight gain was observed in children and adolescents treated with fluoxetine. Growth and pubertal development should be monitored during and after treatment. If either is slowed, consider referral to a paediatrician.

Further information: Lilly 01256 315000