Essay About Study Of College Age Women And Results Of The Study

Prozac
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Prozac
Classification
Fluoxetine is a legal prescribed medication (Fluoxetine, 2000). The brand
name of this drug is Prozac (Fluoxetine, 2000). Fluoxetine belongs in a category of
drugs called selective serotonin prescription (PDR, 2000). This is a synthetic drug
(Fluoxetine, 2000).reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (PDR, 2000). Prozac is not a
controlled substance but needs a
Usage
Prozac is used as an antidepressant, antiobsessional and antibulimic
medication (Fluoxetine, 2000). Prozac is presumed to inhibit the reuptake of
serotonin (Fluoxetine, 2000). In patients with depression it relieves symptoms of
the illness (Fluoxetine, 2000). For those with bulimia nervosa Prozac was shown to
decrease binge eating and purging when compared to a placebo (Fluoxetine, 2000).
In obsessive-compulsive disorder it significantly reduces the symptoms (Fluoxetine,
2000).
Usage: Epidemiology
The use of Prozac is so wide spread that since its release over ten years ago
thirty-five million have been prescribed world wide in over one hundred different
countries (PDR, 2000). Over seventeen million patients have been prescribed
Prozac in the United States alone (PDR, 2000). Prozac is the worlds most
prescribed antidepressant (PDR, 2000).
Warnings
Allergic reactions have been noted in some patients; these include: rash,
fever, edema, and carpal tunnel syndrome (Fluoxetine, 2000). If these reactions
persist and no other cause can be found treatment with Prozac should be
discontinued (Fluoxetine, 2000).
Precautions
During the clinical trials anxiety and nervousness were reported by ten to
fifteen percent of patients (Fluoxetine, 2000). Persons already underweight and
depressed showed significant weight loss when on Prozac (Fluoxetine, 2000).
Prozac should be used with caution in patients with convulsive disorders (Flouxinte,
2000). The possibility of suicide is greater in those patients who are depressed;
therefore Prozac should be administer with supervision to these patients (Fluoxetine,
2000). This medication should be only given to patients with anorexia nervosa if the
benefits outweigh the risks (Fluoxetine, 2000). Prozac became the worlds most
prescribed antidepressant herald of its “transformative powers” (Cash, Brown,
2000). Among side effects are appetite reduction and weight loss (Cash, Brown,
2000). In a study of college age women the knowledge of prozacs weight loss
properties increased the likelihood of a woman deciding to try the drug (Cash,
Brown, 2000). The women said they would choose Prozac regardless of the side
effects if one of the main effects was weight loss (Cash, Brown, 2000). Womens
perceived notions about being thin outweighed their concerns about the possible
negative side effects of Prozac (Cash, Brown, 2000). Patients with diabetes may
have altered glycemic rates while on this medication (Fluoxetine, 2000). I have
found conflicting reports on the use of Prozac and the pregnant woman. I will give
them both consideration in this report. The first is information that may be out
dated. A study was conducted in 1993 to see the outcome of women using Prozac
in their first trimester (Pastustak, 1993). The study followed 128 pregnant women
who were given a dose of 25 mg per day of Prozac compared to women taking a
placebo (Pastustak, 1993). The results of the study showed that malformations in
the women who took Prozac were comparable with the women who were given a
placebo (Pastustak, 1993). The only effect on the expectant mothers that was higher
in Prozac use was an increased risk of miscarriage (Pastustak, 1993). The
conclusion of the researchers was that Prozac did not have an increased risk of
major malformations (Pastustak, 1993). There have been no studies to date of the
long term effects of using Prozac on the unborn child (Pastustak, 1993). The most
recent information is stated next. Pregnant women should not be prescribed Prozac
unless absolutely necessary, because the effects on the unborn child have not been
discovered (Fluoxetine, 2000). Lactating women should also avoid Prozac, because
the effects on a newborn child have not been tested thoroughly (Fluoxetine, 2000).
Carl Elliott feels that Prozac changes a persons personality (Degrazia, 2000).
Many people feel that they need Prozac because there are some minor complications
in their lives (Degrazia, 2000). They feel that if they change or alter their
personality that everything will be all right (Degrazia, 2000). E. T. Juengst stated in
his book