Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of fluoxetine. The invention is concerned with an improved process for the preparation of the antidepressant, fluoxetine hydrochloride, or N-methyl-3-(p-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-3-phenylpropylamine hydrochloride, by simultaneous debenzylation and catalytic hydrogenation of 2-benzoyl-1-(N-benzyl-N-methyl)ethylamine base with the aid of Pd/C, Pt/C or Pd-Pt/C at a hydrogen pressure of 5 bar at 50.degree. C. with ethyl acetate as a solvent to obtain 1-phenyl-3-(N-methylamino)-propan-1-ol. This compound is then selectively etherified with 1-chloro-4-trifluoromethylbenzene in N-methylpyrrolidone at 80.degree. C. in the presence of potassium t-butoxide to form N-methyl-3-(p-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-3-phenylpropylamine, or fluoxetine base, which is transformed in a known manner to fluoxetine hydrochloride, or N-methyl-3-(p-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-3-phenylpropylamine hydrochloride. The yield of fluoxetine hydrochloride is 85-87% of the theoretical.