How do you make Prozac?

[jmullaney]

How do you make Prozac? Just curious.

[Yarster]

Go to the IBM patent search engine:

http://www.delphion.com/cgi-bin/patsearch

Then enter your search for 'fluoxetine' (chemical name for Prozac) and go from there. I'm sure you'll find all kinds of information on methods for manufacturing the drug as well as information on all the other serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressants like Zoloft, Paxil, etc.

[Arjuna34]

Argh, Yarster, you beat me to the punch!

Anyway, here's the main Prozac patent (http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05747068__). I doesn't look like anyone will be making Prozac in the kitchen sink ;)

Arjuna34

[Chief Crunch]

Fluoxetine was first created by playing around with the diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Nytol) molecule. I doubt they use diphenhydramine as a precusor in mass production now, though.

[CnoteChris]

Well, you need a shot glass and a cold bottle of....

Ohhh. You're serious.

Nevermind. I thought you meant how do I make prozaic.

[Gundhilde]

Saw it on the Simpsons. Homemade Prozac involves pink ice cream. But then again, what good antidepressant doesn't?