Prozac
Prozac, the brand name for fluoxetine, is a widely prescribed medication primarily used to treat various mental health conditions, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. Introduced in 1987, it belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by targeting serotonin levels in the brain to help regulate mood. This approach was developed in response to the limitations and side effects associated with earlier antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants. Despite its popularity and financial success, Prozac has faced criticism regarding potential side effects, including sexual dysfunction, weight changes, and concerns about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, particularly in younger populations. Regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, have issued warnings about these risks, leading to ongoing debates about the appropriateness of prescribing SSRIs like Prozac. While some studies suggest that the benefits of Prozac may outweigh its harms, particularly for children and adolescents, others emphasize the importance of considering broader factors contributing to depression rather than relying solely on medication. Additionally, Prozac is utilized in veterinary medicine for managing anxiety and depression in pets.
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Prozac
Prozac, the brand name for fluoxetine, is a type of prescription medication used to treat depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and more. The drug became one of the most prescribed and popular drugs to treat depression and similar disorders after its introduction in the 1980s. It works differently from tricyclic antidepressants, which regulate the neurotransmitters (chemicals that send signals between nerve cells) serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline to regulate mood. Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that works by regulating only serotonin in the brain. Since its inception, many critics have vocalized their concerns about the negative side effects of Prozac.
History
Scientists who were working on treatments for the mental illness schizophrenia accidentally developed antidepressants in the 1950s. They discovered that one of the drugs they were using to treat patients affected the neurotransmitters in the brain. The researchers soon found that the drug made schizophrenia worse, but they were able to determine that it could help patients suffering from depression. They tested it on several patients in 1955, and the patients reported the absence of many of their depressive symptoms.
By 1958, the drug, which was called imipramine (brand name Tofranil), was released. Dozens of other tricyclic antidepressants soon followed. While these drugs provided relief for many patients, they also carried side effects—some of them serious. These included weight gain, sluggishness, and possible death from overdose.
Scientists then began development of a new type of antidepressant. Instead of targeting the three neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, they focused on creating a drug that targeted only serotonin, which they believed was responsible for regulating mood in the brain. The new group of drugs, known as SSRIs, had fewer side effects and risks for patients.
LY110141 was developed in 1971. At that time, depression was a taboo topic, and people who took antidepressants were mostly in institutions or other facilities. Physicians usually diagnosed people who felt depressed with a nervous condition or anxiety and prescribed the tranquillizer Valium.
Eli Lilly, the company that developed LY110141, first designed the drug to treat high blood pressure; however, this did not work. It then was used to combat obesity and help people lose weight, but again it failed. LY110141 was then named fluoxetine and tested on patients suffering from severe depression. The drug was not effective and did not help these patients. The company decided to test it on people with mild depressive symptoms and finally found success. LY110141 was released as the brand name Prozac in 1987. At this time, Valium addiction had become a serious issue, and people were aware of the negative side effects and health dangers associated with other antidepressants on the market.
Prozac was sold as one-pill treatment for depression. A marketing campaign about the dangers of depression soon followed, which helped to pique interest in the new drug. It became so popular that many patients began to request Prozac by name from their doctors. After its patent expired in 2001, a host of similar antidepressants (Zoloft, Paxil, etc.) soon flooded the market. In the years since its inception, Prozac has earned billions of dollars and has been taken by millions of people around the world.
Prozac Today
Although Prozac is one of the most prescribed drugs for the treatment of depression, the drug has its critics. Some researchers say that doctors are too quick to prescribe Prozac as a "cure" for depression. They believe that SSRI antidepressants fail to address other factors that contribute to depression, such as life experiences, family history, hormones, and diet. They also rebut the long-believed theory about how Prozac works to balance the brain's neurotransmitters. Other researchers believe the drug is invaluable for treating a wide range of medical issues. Its effectiveness for treating children with Down syndrome has been addressed, and some studies to test this theory were in the initial planning stages as of 2016. In addition, veterinarians prescribe it for pets suffering from depression and separation anxiety.
Some researchers think the drug's negative side effects far outweigh its benefits. Studies have concluded that Prozac and antidepressants in general can increase violent behavior and suicide—especially in children and young adults. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued suicide warnings on antidepressants, and in 2007, the organization required Eli Lilly and other antidepressant manufacturers to carry black-box warnings about the link between antidepressants and suicidal thoughts during initial treatment in children and individuals up to twenty-four years old. A black-box warning on a drug's packaging notifies users of potentially serious side effects or life-threatening risks—in this case, suicide or suicidal thoughts. At first, these warnings led to a decrease in people's use of antidepressants, but this was temporary. A study in the journal Lancet in June 2016 reported that Prozac was more effective than a placebo in treating children and adolescents. The study also concluded that the drug's benefits outweighed its harms.
Other side effects linked to Prozac were less harmful but still affected overall health. Sexual dysfunction is a major side effect of the drug. Some patients discovered that Prozac caused them to feel "sensory deprived" or to experience an "anti-love feeling," which led to a decreased or nonexistent libido. Other similar symptoms included inability to experience orgasm, impotence, reduced semen output in men, and increased vaginal dryness and reduced vaginal lubrication in women.
Some patients taking Prozac experienced an initial loss of appetite, which caused weight loss; however, as this initial side effect wore off, people gained weight while taking the drug. Some people reported feeling nothing or feeling mentally hazy. Other side effects include anxiety, chills, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, insomnia, muscle and joint pain, nausea, nervousness, rash, sweating, and tremors.
Bibliography
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Mukherjee, Siddhartha. "Post-Prozac Nation." New York Times, 19 Apr. 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/magazine/the-science-and-history-of-treating-depression.html. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
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Nordqvist, Joseph. "What Is Prozac (Fluoxetine)? What Are the Side Effects of Prozac?" Medical News Today, 26 Sept. 2014, www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/prozac-fluoxetine-side-effects-263773. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
Reddy, Sumathi. "Most Antidepressants Aren't Effective for Children, New Study Finds." Wall Street Journal, 27 June 2016, www.wsj.com/articles/most-antidepressants-arent-effective-for-children-new-study-finds-1467047077. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.
Rochman, Bonnie. "Parents Turn to Prozac to Treat Down Syndrome." MIT Technology Review, 12 Jan. 2016, www.technologyreview.com/s/545191/parents-turn-to-prozac-to-treat-down-syndrome. Accessed 28 Nov. 2016.