The only antidepressant drugs recommended for the initial treatment of depression in children and adolescents are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Among these drugs, fluoxetine has the most clinical trials supporting its use in patients from 8 years of age.

If there is an effective response to this drug, it is recommended that it be continued for at least six months after remission of the depressive symptoms, with the same dose with which this remission was achieved.

If complete remission of symptoms is achieved, it is recommended that the drug be discontinued gradually and under the supervision of a medical professional, to avoid the appearance of discontinuation symptoms. It is preferable that this withdrawal be done at a time of low psychosocial stress (for example, summer vacation).