Which medication has consistent evidence for decreasing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents?

Fluoxetine (Prozac) has been consistently supported by evidence as an effective treatment for reducing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. It was the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) approved for pediatric use and has undergone extensive research demonstrating its efficacy.

Clinical trials and studies have shown that fluoxetine can significantly alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder in younger populations, making it a well-established choice in pediatric psychiatry for treating depression. In various meta-analyses and guideline recommendations, fluoxetine is frequently cited as one of the primary SSRI options for this age group, highlighting not only its safety profile but also its effectiveness.

While other SSRIs, such as sertraline, citalopram, and escitalopram, may also show positive effects, the body of research supporting fluoxetine's use in children and adolescents is more comprehensive and robust, establishing it as the more definitive option in this particular context.