Prozac - the Wonder Drug
The Wonder Drug
“One in eight persons needs treatment for depression during his or her lifetime” (Prozac.com). Prozac is claimed as the wonder drug cure for obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, bulimia, and panic disorder by fixing the imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Many documented cases have been made about side effects of Prozac and how it has negatively affected many of its users. Doctors need to have more responsibility and stricter guidelines for diagnosis of adolescent depression and should consider medication a last resort while pharmaceutical companies should develop a new youth-friendly antidepressant with fewer side effects. "Our greatest glory is not in ever falling, but in rising every time we fall." (Confucius) is a quote on Prozac’s website which illustrates the goal of antidepressants which is to help users pick themselves up out of depression. The irony that exists is that, with constant antidepressant use, falling refers to what happens when the medication is stopped. According to the Prozac website, “If you start to think, "I can handle this without the help of medicine," you are not alone. Many people make the mistake of stopping their medicine once they begin to feel better” (Prozac.com). This statement emphasizes that Lilly deems their drug necessary to maintain and feel better. The truth is that once a user feels better, they can not abruptly cease dosing because of a possible relapse, so they must wean themselves off the medication slowly. Lilly’s, the company that produces Prozac, emphasis on patient’s need for treatment of depression deems it a necessity possibly in order to sell more pills, not necessarily to cure more people. The truth is that the risk of suicidal behavior is “increased the first month after starting antidepressants” (Journal of the American Medical Association). Proven evidence exists of that fact and arguments arise against the effectiveness of antidepressants and alternate methods
“One in eight persons needs treatment for depression during his or her lifetime” (Prozac.com). Prozac is claimed as the wonder drug cure for obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, bulimia, and panic disorder by fixing the imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Many documented cases have been made about side effects of Prozac and how it has negatively affected many of its users. Doctors need to have more responsibility and stricter guidelines for diagnosis of adolescent depression and should consider medication a last resort while pharmaceutical companies should develop a new youth-friendly antidepressant with fewer side effects. "Our greatest glory is not in ever falling, but in rising every time we fall." (Confucius) is a quote on Prozac’s website which illustrates the goal of antidepressants which is to help users pick themselves up out of depression. The irony that exists is that, with constant antidepressant use, falling refers to what happens when the medication is stopped. According to the Prozac website, “If you start to think, "I can handle this without the help of medicine," you are not alone. Many people make the mistake of stopping their medicine once they begin to feel better” (Prozac.com). This statement emphasizes that Lilly deems their drug necessary to maintain and feel better. The truth is that once a user feels better, they can not abruptly cease dosing because of a possible relapse, so they must wean themselves off the medication slowly. Lilly’s, the company that produces Prozac, emphasis on patient’s need for treatment of depression deems it a necessity possibly in order to sell more pills, not necessarily to cure more people. The truth is that the risk of suicidal behavior is “increased the first month after starting antidepressants” (Journal of the American Medical Association). Proven evidence exists of that fact and arguments arise against the effectiveness of antidepressants and alternate methods