Fluoxetine, commonly known as Prozac, is a frequently used antidepressant medication. It is categorized as a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). That means that it is typically used to treat major depressive disorders along with some others. This drug works in the brain and balances its chemicals to create a more positive and happier mood. Prozac can also be used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia nervosa, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Fluoxetine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987, and was set out into the market in 1988. It was titled under the name Prozac. This was the first SSRI to be marketed in the United States. This all began after it became evident that serotonin plays a role in treating depression. Scientists began to learn that increasing serotonin levels would benefit patients suffering from this disorder. Before this was discovered, other medications were being used to treat depression. These medications, however, were doing more harm than good to the brain. The effort to change this began with Eli Lilly in the 1970’s.

It took more than 16 years to successfully develop the fluoxetine drug. It is now the most widely prescribed antidepressant. It is one of the easiest drugs to get prescribed. The discovery of this drug was a huge step according to scientists. It provided a safe, effective way to treat depression. There are few side effects and the dosage is one tablet once a day. Easy enough, right? Scientists even expanded its use to treat other disorders as well. Prozac is one of the most popular prescribed SSRIs in the United States. It is approved for children and teenagers to use as well as adults. It is typically very difficult to get a drug like this approved by the FDA for younger people to use.

Because of its stimulating effects, Prozac can become addicting and can become abused. It is not technically considered an addictive drug, however, the psychological addiction can be created. Although there are not many cases of Fluoxetine abuse in Pennsylvania, there are several around the United States. Over 15 million people in the United States abuse an antidepressant drug. Prozac can easily become misused to generate that happier effect. People will often take more pills than they were prescribed to feel a sort of rush. This can lead to violent actions and thoughts by the abuser, as well as suicidal thoughts and/or actions.

Prozac is typically not studied for its abuse because it is not extremely common. It has several nicknames. Some of these include the “wonder drug”, “miracle drug”, “happy pills”, and “bottled smiles”. The drug is typically rated about a 7 out of 10 on effectiveness by its users. It has been prescribed to over 54 million people throughout its lifetime. One in eight Americans have taken an SSRI antidepressant.

Psychiatrists are beginning to question continuing to push Prozac. They believe that America is becoming an overmedicated society. They believe that people are resorting to medication at the first sight of any sort of mental illness. This could be very dangerous as these medications do have side effects that could affect the patient and others around them. Researchers are calling this a “massive uncontrolled experiment” as doctors have been prescribing drugs to patients who are not diagnosed with a mental illness. This obviously is a problem as they are taking the “easy way out”. Prescribing medication rather than getting to the root of the issue is the lazy solution. Doctors should be figuring out what illness or issue their patient is actually dealing with and then propose a solution from there. Immediately prescribing the medication can lead to several other problems.

The use of antidepressant drugs has increased by 400% in recent years. This is a tremendous jump. Although there has been extensive research regarding Prozac, continuously prescribing this medication can be dangerous, as mentioned before. In a study of 700 patients who were prescribed an antidepressant, only 20% of them actually had a mental illness. This means that 70% of the patients in the study did not need the medication. This is just another example of the over prescription of antidepressants. However, this does not raise a concern to many psychiatrists. They defend their argument by stating that letting the depressive disorder go untreated has far worse effects than just prescribing the medication right away, even if they may not need it. Although this may be a valid point, the drug does have side effects that could unintentionally harm the patient. There is no point in putting someone through that if it is not necessary to their well-being. Some of these side-effects can include decreased interest in sex, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and even anxiety. Occasionally, an increase in suicidal thoughts may be caused by this medication. It is useless to take a medication and experience its negative side effects for no particular reason.

As mentioned before, psychiatrists are more worried about undertreating patients, rather than overusing antidepressants. But that perspective is not the safest as one can assume. Patients should be evaluated by a licensed professional before they are prescribed a medication that will alter their mental state. Many of these patients could begin seeing a therapist rather than resorting to drugs to help them through their problems. Seeking counseling may be a better option as it obviously does not come with side effects. It also does not affect the mental state of the patient through the use of drugs. There is a large amount of research supporting the statement that the antidepressant is not what is helping to treat patients with mental illness. It is simply the placebo effect. People believe that the drug is working for them so they start to get better. It is all in their minds.

The use of Fluoxetine (Prozac) has increased tremendously throughout the past couple decades. This drug, however, has been overprescribed to patients who do not necessarily need the medication. There are several opinions and proposals on how to address this issue, but professionals seem to not see the problem at hand.

Written by: Jaylynn Davis