Fluoxetine and involuntary recall of remote memories

Objective: To describe a striking, and hitherto unreported, side-effect of fluoxetine. Clinical Picture: Four patients given fluoxetine developed involuntary vivid recall of earlier life events. Treatment and Outcome: The side-effect ceased after fluoxetine was discontinued. Conclusions: The implications of this finding are discussed, particularly with regard to the nature of long-term memory.