Prescription Drugs

Cialis Is Here

duranb Prescription Drugs

Introduction

If anyone has ever sat down to watch sports on a Sunday afternoon, Cialis is probably a common name. Cialis is the generic name for tadalfil, a prescription drug used to help with erectile dysfunction in men. In addition to this, Cialis can be used to treat a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia which is the enlargement of the prostate gland.

Growing up, I have always seen the very familiar commercials presenting a happy older couple doing romantic activities as an ad for Cialis. These commercials are almost so common that they are even shown during huge sports events, such as the super bowl, which is one of the most watched TV shows. Due to its extreme normality and popularity, I found myself interested in learning more about the actual risks and side effects of this common dru

 

History

The company that works with Cialis is called Eli Lilly and Company. They operate under their core values, which are integrity, excellence, and respect for people. They do this through working with health care professionals and the people who will be taking their medication. Their mission statement is “We make medicines that help people live longer, healthier, more active lives.” When it comes to Cialis, it is expected that they act with integrity and make drugs that actually do what they say in a safe manner. Their mission statement gives the assumption that they will make sure the people who take their medications are safe and aware of the risks.

On the Cialis website, they are very clear about the risks and side effects associated with Cialis. This shows that Eli Lilly and Company are taking precautions and not lying to their customers or healthy providers. However, in the commercials these warnings are usually read very quickly towards the end and after the consumer may already be hooked on the idea of the product.

The Cialis website does go the extra mile with the awareness that people may be buying this product online through an online prescription and they take notice of this for their consumers. They give guidelines on how to make sure you are not buying counterfeit Cialis that could potentially harm the patient.

 

 

Who should look into Cialis?

The main audience for Cialis is men with erectile dysfunction. As stated previously, Cialis can also treat BPH, but the main issue is erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs in approximately 18 million men in the United States. Essentially, erectile dysfunction is the inability to get or keep an erection for sexual activity. It can be caused by many things, including heart disease. Obesity, tobacco use, and other related reasons. This many cause some men self-esteem issues, depression, and stress. Many Cialis commercials are targeted at older men, as this is a more common problem for them. A typical place to see a commercial for Cialis is during a sports program as those are views by society as male activities.

 

Active ingredients and risks

According to Rx List, The chemical makeup of Cialis is “pyrazino[1´,2´:1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-1,4-dione, 6-(1,3-benzodioxol-5- yl)-2,3,6,7,12,12a-hexahydro-2-methyl-, (6R,12aR)-. CIALIS (tadalafil) is a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Tadalafil has the empirical formula C22H19N3O4 representing a molecular weight of 389.41.”

You can buy Cialis for oral administration and each tablet contains 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 mg of tadalafill. It does contain the following inactive ingredients as well: croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, iron oxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.

As with most medications, Cialis does come with come risks. Most of these side effects are rare, but potentially can be very dangerous so users should alert their doctor if they notice any of these. Cialis can cause allergic reactions, chest pain, abnormal heartbeats, bad headaches, weakness, change or loss in eyesight, hearing loss, or muscle pain. The side effects can also be minor and may only be a slight headache or back pain. Runny or stuffy noses are common as well.

 

 

How the advertisements work

Many Cialis commercials are of a man and a woman doing usual activities such as playing tennis or swimming. This is the company trying to relate to the audience on a personal level by showing people do activities that regular people can connect to. This allows the audience to feel connected and to normalize these kind of drugs. Another similar example is Viagra, which has the same effect but is slightly different. These commercials use the same approach. The couples in the commercials are generally very happy, this is to show the result of the drug.

 

 

Personal opinion 

Overall, Cialis has a few purposes. The risks and side effects are made well known, and for what the drug helps with, it seems like a fair trade if that is what someone is looking for. Cialis is not for everyone, so the user should really decide if it is worth it. It comes with a lot of side effects, so it is definitely not the safest route, but it may be the easiest. Alternative options include more physical activity as obesity is a leading cause of erectile dysfunction. However, these options do not work for all causes. I would recommend Cialis to anyone who is seeking to fix their medical problem but is willing to do a little research.

 

Works Cited: 

Lilly USA. (2017, August). Cialis. Retrieved from https://www.cialis.com/

Amermon, D. (2012, August). What Is Cialis? History of the 36-Hour Weekend Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Pill. Retrieved from https://www.accessrx.com/blog/erectile-dysfunction/cialis/erectile-dysfunction-treatment-pill-what-is-cialis-m0727/#

N.a. (2017, November). Cialis. Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/cdi/cialis.html

Lilly, E. (2017) Who We Are. Retrieved from https://www.lilly.com/who-we-are

N.A. (2016) Erectile Dysfunction. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776

N.A. (2017) Tadalafil. Retrieved from https://www.rxlist.com/cialis-drug.htm

 

Abilify? More like Debilify

olearyr3 Prescription Drugs

Raina Moran

Claudia Wang

HLED 113

Prescription Drugs

 

ABILIFY

 

The links to two of Abilify’s advertisements are as follows: https://youtu.be/tGymr78FtbU and https://youtu.be/MBcfySXbz3k.

I chose this ad because I personally have seen Abiliy’s drug advertisements on many television commercials and even on internet advertisements. Saturday Night Live even did a parody for Abilify in relation to current politicians running for the presidential election.  I was actually quite shocked when I first saw this advertisement for Abilify and for a few reasons which I will explain. What first caught my attention was the very extensive list of side-effects related to the consumption of Abilify. The side-effects were read off by a narrator while the cartoon character representing the patient was picking apples and seemingly enjoying life. The side-effects ranged from increasing thoughts of suicide to permanent uncontrollable muscle movement and even coma or death. The list went on and on. What really bothered me most about Abilify is that this is a drug that is meant to be taken in conjunction with an antidepressant, but it can increase thoughts of suicide and depression. Another reason why I chose this specific drug is because of its very misleading and deceptive cartoon advertisements.

 

COMPANY HISTORY, MISSION, AND CREDENTIALS

 

Abilify was created by a company called Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company. According to Otsuka’s website on a page that was last updated in October of last year, it states that a man named Busaburo Otsuka created the company ‘Otsuka’ in 1921 in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan and had a total of ten employees. Since being established in the early 1920s, Otsuka has now expanded its headquarters to various locations across the globe including America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Canada, and the Middle East. According to their website, Otsuka is now a network of approximately 150 companies and has employed more than 150,000 people worldwide. It is safe to assume that Otsuka is a massive global corporation.

 

When Otsuka first went into production they were manufacturing chemical raw materials. Over the course of production, Otsuka started selling pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals (“nutrition” + “pharmaceuticals”) and today have many other drugs on the market to treat various symptoms and illnesses. Otsuka’s corporate philosophy goes as follows, “Otsuka – people creating new products for better health worldwide.” According to a message written by the current President of Otsuka on Otsuka’s webpage, he states that Otsuka is actively developing major innovations that will potentially meet future needs of advancing societies.  He also went on to say that Otsuka prioritizes maintaining and enhancing current everyday health for people, while simultaneously helping to cure diseases with their products.

 

INTENDED AUDIENCE

 

I recall seeing this advertisement on daytime television frequently while in high school and college. I have also seen this advertisement on YouTube and in multiple magazines ranging from publications like Women’s Health, People, and Health magazine. Abilify has multiple cartoon advertisements and hired actor advertisements displaying mostly middle-aged, female patients that struggle to go about their day. I scoured the internet for all of Abilify’s advertisements and I could not find one single advertisement with a male character as the patient with depression or bipolar disorder. I feel as though Abilify’s main target were women with full-time jobs and especially for women who stayed at home to care of their kids or the house.

Initially, I was not entirely sure why women were targeted, maybe because it is more socially acceptable for women to talk about the feelings and emotions? Maybe because women would be more inclined to ask their doctor about Ability? My questions were answered in an article I found in the New York Times. According to author and psychiatrist Julie Holland in her article titled “Medicating Women’s Feelings” written on February 28, 2015, Julie stated that 1 in 4 women take psychiatric medicine compared to 1 in 7 men. Julie went on to say that women are almost two times more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression. With this information, it is no wonder that all of Ability’s advertisements are targeting women.

 

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

 

The active ingredient in Abilify is aripiprazole. Aripiprazole chemical composition is 7-[4-[4-(2,3dichlorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]butoxy]-3,4-dihydrocarbostyril. The empirical formula is C23H27Cl2N3O2and its molecular weight is 448.38. Pictured below is the chemical structure.

Tim Newman, author for Medical New Today, wrote an article titled “Aripiprazole (Abilify): Side Effects, Drug Information,” on December 18, 2015 stating that aripiprazole is atypical antipsychotic that works by blocking or binding to

various receptors. Some receptors this drug effects are serotonin, adrenergic, serotonin, muscarinic acetylcholine, and histamines. It also effects some transporter proteins.

Abilify (aripiprazole) was first approved by the FDA in 2002 for treating patients with schizophrenia. In 2012, Abilify was approved to help treat patients with depression as an add-on for antidepressants. There is a long list of side-effects for consuming aripiprazole, including but not limited to, headaches, drowsiness, constipation, irregular heart-beat, tightening of neck muscles and throat, chest pain, seizures, uncontrollable muscle movements, low white blood cell count, confusion, and even coma or death. In patients ranging in age from 77-88 with dementia, research found an increased risk of death with the consumption of aripiprazole in those patients.

One of the most alarming things about aripiprazole is that is not quite known how it works. This drug was designed entirely off of the dopamine hypothesis. Again, according to Tim from Medical News Today, it states that, “The dopamine hypothesis predicts that dopamine hyperactivity in the mesolimbic pathways of the brain (also known as reward pathways) causes delusions, hallucinations and disorganized thoughts.” So, based off this hypothesis, it is thought that if a patient with schizophrenia has a decrease in their dopamine levels in the reward pathways, the patient will experience less symptoms of schizophrenia.

 

ADVERTISING TECHNIQUES

 

Otsuka pushed out a lot of advertisements for Abilify, ranging from daytime television, YouTube, and magazines. I searched the internet to see how much was spent on advertising for Abilify but came up empty-handed. What I do know is that in 2015, over $7 billion was made in sales for Abilify (Reidbord 2015). I am pretty confident that almost everyone has seen an Abilify advertisement, the most popular being the cartoon character commercials. The use of visual imagery played a huge role in those advertisements. In one advertisement for Abilify, it had a blue robe playing the role of the woman’s depression. The blue robe would be lurking around the woman and then suddenly be worn on the woman, signifying that depression got the best of her. Similarly, in another ad, depression was played by a blue umbrella that would rain on the woman when held in her hand. Each advertisement had persuasive imagery and followed the same script. The patient would always claim that the only regret they had was not talking to their doctor sooner about taking Abilify. While an extremely long list of side-effects is read off, the patient is shown enjoying life with her family. One advertisement showed the woman happily picking apples and another had the woman cooking a barbeque with her family. Surprisingly, the side-effects were read off slowly enough to hear, but I think many people were distracted by the imagery on the screen to actually understand the implications of taking this drug. Light-hearted music plays in the background while serious, life-threatening conditions related to consuming Abilify are read off as it were no big deal. In other advertisements, a woman character is shown walking around in gloomy weather when talking about her depression. After she talks to her doctor about Ability and begins taking the drug, the woman is shown smiling and taking pictures with her family.

 

MY OPINION OF ABILIFY

 

Based on what I have read about Abilify, and even from their own commercials and advertisements, I would NEVER recommend this drug to a good friend or a family member. I wouldn’t even recommend it to someone I am not particularly fond of. I just do not see the point of taking Abilify with an antidepressant when the drug itself can increase symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts. Not to mention that each individual pill retails at $30. It is incredibly expensive and non-sustainable. I do not think that there has been enough research done towards the long-term effects of taking an antipsychotic like Abilify. New lawsuits are emerging stating that many patients who have taken Abilify now display impulsive urges and behaviors such as gambling, according to an article written by Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein Law Firm.

I personally believe that side-effects of taking Abilify far outweigh the benefits. The question becomes would you rather have depression or uncontrollable muscles movements. It actually shocks me that a drug with such serious side-effects is advertised to consumers on national television. This is information that doctors should know and not something patients should be asking their doctors about. Overall, I consider this drug to be highly profitable to the company who created it and highly detrimental to anyone’s health who consumes it.

 

 

SOURCES CITED:
History of Otsuka. (October 2016). Retrieved December 6, 2017, from: https://www.otsuka-us.com/discover/our-history

Holland, J. (February 28, 2015). Medicating Women’s Feelings. New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/opinion/sunday/medicating-womens-feelings.html

Kopf, J. H. (July 30, 2009). Adwatch: Abilify finds lucrative new audience. Consumer Report. Retrieved from: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/07/adwatch-abilify-finds-lucrative-new-audience/index.htm

Newman, T. (December 18, 2015). Aripiprazole (Abilify): Side Effects, Drug Information. Medicalnewstoday.com. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248385.php

Reidbord, S. (March 8, 2015). America’s top selling drug is an antipsychotic. Retrieved from: http://blog.stevenreidbordmd.com/?p=1002

Lieff, C. H., & Bernstein. (October 2016). Retrieved from: https://www.lieffcabraser.com/injury/drugs/abilify-gambling/?gclid=CjwKCAiAx57RBRBkEiwA8yZdUDpRanNk8aLMxmeQlSKtM-t6m4UkmiaZyU7LIJ8yvww3wP7vmsUvnRoCJX8QAvD_BwE

Erectile Dysfunction & The NFL

borruda Prescription Drugs , , ,

Boner Pills, also known by the pharmaceutical names Viagra, or Cialis are the top spenders on paid media. The ad(s) I have chosen to discuss is the NFL Viagra Commercial that aired in 2016, along with its many precursor ads from previous years. Viagra was the biggest investor in NFL air time last season, followed directly by its competitor Cialis. I chose this advertisement because of its massive impact on viewers at the time. It became an incredibly common and recognizable ad to all football fans and T.V viewers alike; exposing millions of football fans to erectile dysfunction medication. I chose to write about Viagra because as a female, erectile dysfunction medication generally is not something I am well educated on or have any consternation for in my life.

Viagra is owned by Pfizer Inc. one of the U.S’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Pfizer was established 1849 in Brooklyn NY. Starting off as a chemical manufacturing company Pfizer soon became the U.S’s largest pharmaceutical company. Pfizer company is the creator of some of our country’s most commonly used prescriptions such as the EpiPen, Xanax, Zoloft, Lipitor, Lyrica, and Viagra. Pfizer’s webpage hold countless pages of prescription drugs under their company, backed up with plenty of expertise and research in areas such as neuroscience and pain, inflammation and immunology, oncology, and more. Like Pfizer, Eli Lilly & Company, the pharmaceutical company behind Cialis is a leader in pharmaceutics in the U.S and around the world. Not much younger than Pfizer, and just as established and accredited, Lilly makes a much more apparent “promise to it’s customers than Pfizer. As opposed to their counterpart Pfizer, Lilly had a much stronger emphasis on “caring and discovery”. The vision statement from their website says “We will make a significant contribution to humanity by improving global health in the 21st century”. It is very apparent in Eli Lilly’s site that they have a lot more integrity as a pharmaceutical company than Pfizer and truly want to make a difference.

NFL – The Perfect Audience

The intended audience for Viagra is middle aged men. According to the Annals of Internal Medicine 50 is the age when male sexual function begins to deteriorate. According to a web article on Ad Age, the median age of football watchers in 2016 is 50. This makes the NFL audience a sweet spot for Viagra and Cialis. Erectile dysfunction medication can also be seen targeting the golf audience as well, with a median age of 64. Erectile dysfunction ads have become such a icon in football season, being seen even in the Super Bowl. According to Ad Age “In 2004, Levitra ran a 45-second spot during CBS’s broadcast of XXXVIII that featured former Bears head coach Mike Ditka” View the ad here.

Like many ads that air during foot ball season the Viagra ad linked above targets a male audience. In the commercial, a sexy middle aged woman lounges on a bed, wearing a football jersey, foundling a football and rambling off erectile dysfunction statistics. Similarly, advertisements for Cialis also air during the NFL season, with the same idea in mind. The advertisements include an attractive young woman out and about with a slightly older looking man. Viagra and Cialis commercials were to prevalent on T.V. during football season that many spoofs were made off the commercials. Here is a funny one by Ellen on her talk show.

Cialis Commercial “A Moment Turns Romantic” shown during a football game

The Effects of Viagra on the Body

Viagra and Cialis belong to the same class called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. The active ingredient in Cialis is tedalafil and sildenafil in Viagra. Both drugs only work when a man is sexually aroused. According to Dr. Abraham Morgentaler Viagra can be addictive not physically so much as psychologically. Viagra’s effect on a man’s sexual performance is so successful that people can develop a psychological dependence on the drug whether they really need it or not.

An interesting article from Everyday Health states that erectile dysfunction drugs can come with serious side effects such as hearing and vison loss and now an increased risk of melanoma. Many of the more common side effects of Viagra and Cialis are displayed with the drug in ads but do not begin to touch on how extensive the list of side effects are. Viagra has effects on the central nervous system, digestive system, and circulatory system. Common side effects include flushing or redness of the face, decreased blood pressure, priapism, headache, runny nose, ringing in the ears, indigestion, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. Viagra can also have potentially dangerous interactions with heart disease drugs such as alpha blockers, or nitrates.

Advertising techniques used by Viagra and Cialis alike are visual imagery and attention grabbers. Attractive celebrities and men and women engaging in fun date-like activities in Viagra commercials are used to make men think using these types of drugs will enhance their sex life and attract women. Viagra commercials also use statistics like “over half of men over 40 have erectile dysfunction” as an attempt to make it seem like all men with erectile dysfunction use Viagra for it. Additionally, images of relatively young and attractive women in summer dresses in vacation-like settings are presenting this information in a sexy manner.

My overall opinion of Viagra is somewhat indifferent in a sense that it does not directly apply to me, but after doing research on the drug I would not be extremely worried if a friend or family member was taking Viagra for its intended purpose. There isn’t anybody I know that I would comfortably recommend Viagra to, especially considering the target age for the drug. Otherwise, the advertisements for Viagra and Cialis tend to do a decent job at identifying all the possible side effects and warning that come along with it. There was even some recent research I found promoting additional health benefits of Viagra.

Works Cited:

A Surprising Side Effect of Viagra: Melanoma? (2014, April 08). from https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/adam-friedman-the-skin-youre-in/viagra-use-and-the-risk-of-melanoma-is-the-risk-real-and-how-do-we-deal/

Bulik, B. S. The top 10 most-advertised prescription drug brands.

from http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-report/top-10-most-advertised-prescription-drug-brands

Crupi. A. & Anthony Crupi. (2017, July 07). Deflategate 2.0: Big-Spending Viagra and Cialis Are Pulling Out of the NFL., from http://adage.com/article/special-report-tv-upfront/erectile-dysfunction-viagra-cialis-NFL-pullout/309692/

(2016, March 29). Cialis vs Viagra – What’s the… Cialis vs Viagra – What’s the difference between them?, from https://www.drugs.com/answers/viagra-vs-cialis-3029937.html

Eli Lilly & Company. October 26, 2017, from https://www.lilly.com/

Morgentalor, Dr. Is Viagra addictive? from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/is-viagra-addictive

Pfizer Inc. October 26, 2017, from http://www.pfizer.com/

Sildenafil (Viagra) May Help Improve Control of Pulmonary Hypertension. (2002, April 2). from http://annals.org/aim

The Effects of Viagra on the Body. (2015, August 26). from https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/effects-of-viagra-on-the-body

(2016, October 17). Cialis, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i9vYI9lvIc

(2016, October 17). Viagra: Football, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bp2wSKv6WU

(2016, October 17).  Ellen’s Viagra Commercial, from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APLdlTRkkik

 

Anti-Depressant: It Protec, It Attac, It is Prozac…

clarka32 Prescription Drugs , , ,

Prozac, my choice ad debunk…

Even though taking drugs isn’t always considered a horrible thing, we also know that even the most licit drugs (over the counter, prescription, tobacco, alcohol, etc) are harmful on a wide spectrum of ways. I personally don’t have a problem with drugs, but I know some in my family who have turned to drugs as a way to cope/escape from problems or to receive pleasure in their life that isn’t being fulfilled in a drug-free way. There has also been many celebrities who I found dear to me growing up that have also been affected by drug abuse. From comedians like Chris Farley and Robin Williams to artists like Chris Cornell and Elvis Presley, I felt afflicted knowing that substance abuse can even hurt those who have brought a lot of joy to the average Joe. However, there was one celebrity that I have grown attached to since I was a child and has become a big part of my ultimate Star Wars fandom (I could talk your ear off about it). She was a driving force in the movie world that everyone loved and admired. I’m of course talking about the late Carrie Fisher (1956-2016), most commonly known as Princess Leia Organa. As I was learning about her death, it was announced that in relation to her history of depression and bipolar disorder, her ashes were placed in a novelty Prozac pill urn that she had in her home. Knowing Carrie, she would appreciate the sentiment of that giant pill that she loved in her home; and that is why I chose to ad debunk Prozac.

Princess Leia Organa
Carrie Fisher (2015)

Depression saddens, Prozac can help.

What the Ad says: I found it a little difficult to find a T.V. ad that promoted Prozac recently. But I did find several poster ads that are similar to the one shown on the left. They contrasted what the drug can do for you, versus what you experience when not taking the drug. What better way to sell drugs, than to sell for Christmas? The first thought that I had, was connecting the sad little tree to that beloved holiday special, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. All I can say about that is “good grief.” This ad, like the others, want to express that happiness can be found in a pill. In the fine description of the ad, it informs people that depression is an illness, and Prozac isn’t habit forming (How do we know that?). This ad sends a message out to an audience that Prozac is the answer to anyone who may be suffering from depression, especially during the merriest time of the year. Perhaps this also tells our users is more of a necessity, than it is an anti-depressant?

What the ad doesn’t say: Don’t let that statement (not habit forming) fool you. The ad doesn’t inform you how it knows Prozac isn’t habit forming. I think that a lot of people want to feel normal; that normal means I should feel what everyone else is feeling and do what everyone else is doing. Even if someone who already takes Prozac may abuse the prescription, in hopes of achieving that pleasing high. I can understand that need, but isn’t there a safer way to inform the world of this drug? Why sell it as something that can be put in someones stalking? “What did you get this year?” “I got a bottle of concentrated serotonin re-uptake inhibitors! Just what I wanted.” I think that folks misunderstand that we shouldn’t be prioritizing drugs as a want or a need. Instead, remember that drugs are not the permanent solution to depression.

To further understand what is being sold, let’s see what Prozac consists of, how it works on a chemical level, and what the intended and unintended effect are.

What is Prozac and why is it so useful?

Prozac (generically known as fluoxetine hydrochloride) is one of the most popular and well known prescription anti-depressants currently on the market. On a chemical level, it is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) anti-depressant. The fluoxetine hydrochloride affects unbalanced chemicals in the brain that any one with depressing, panic, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive symptoms might have. According to Jeff Roberts (2014) in his article The Most Dangerous & Heavily Promoted Prescription Drugs & Their Potential Natural Alternatives, “Prozac alters the mechanism that balances levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain”.

As we recall from our textbook Drugs and Society (2017), serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that sends chemical signals throughout the brain and body (including the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract). Serotonin’s job is to:

  • control blood vessel constriction
  • regulate the release of pleasant and needed hormones to the hypothalamus
    • specifically for mood, behavior, sleep, memory and learning

      A standard 20 mg Prozac pill.
  • inhibit other neurons from overreaction to various stimuli
  • and many other uses

Not only does Prozac help with depression, it has also been known to be treatful for bulimia nervosa (common eating disorder) and panic attacks. Since this drug alters serotoninergic systems, then you should expect side effects and reactions that regard mood swings, aggressiveness and irritability, abnormal sexual behavior, insomnia, nausea and many other common reactions.

Since this drug is supposed to maintain the flow of pleasing hormones, then wouldn’t that be an effect that would lead someone to want more pleasing sensations? Isn’t that why more abusers are motivated to abuse during their addiction? “When can I get my next escape?” Now that we are familiar with the drug, lets just see where this drug came from and who we have to thank for this 2nd scheduled prescription medication…

Origin of Prozac and the Eli Lilly Company

Eli Lilly Company Logo (The Biotechnology research team that brought us Prozac)

The prescription drug Prozac was first introduced back in January of 1988 to the United States. As described by Mary Bellis’ article The History of the Antidepressant Prozac (2017), Prozac “gained its most prescribed status within two years”. Man, I never realized just how quickly a new drug could become so popular. The drug was led by Ray Fuller and his research colleagues from the Eli Lilly Company (As of 2001, Eli Lilly was worth 10.9 Billion dollars a year). This company both created and distributed Prozac and still to this day, Prozac is one of the most promoted prescriptions in the U.S. Prozac is the companies best-selling drug, bringing in approx. 23.1 billion dollars in sales as of 2014 among all their prescription drugs. Lilly is also the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of psychiatric medications. Ideally this drug is intended for users who are suffering from depression and those other disorders mentioned before. Here is a brief statement that Eli Lilly has to say about the company they run and the mission they hold:

We were founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that met real needs in an era of unreliable elixirs peddled by questionable characters. His charge to the generations of employees who have followed was this: “Take what you find here and make it better and better.” More than 140 years later, we remain committed to his vision through every aspect of our business and the people we serve starting with those who take our medicines, and extending to health care professionals, employees and the communities in which we live.

Unfortunately it is one of the many abused anti-depressants on the market.

At the end, Prozac is still a drug and not an answer…

Overall, this drug is extremely helpful to those who suffer depression, panic attacks, and bulimia nervosa; however, since it is an addictive drug, Prozac still is categorized as a 2nd scheduled drug by the FDA. Prozac is a serotonin up-taker, not a drug that should be taken forever. The problems or feelings that users have are ones that can’t be healthfully solved just be taking a pill, it is an escape. I think in general, abusers of drugs are mistaken; prescription drugs like anti depressants are not supposed to be a permanent dependency. Wouldn’t you want to cut your losses from the harmful effects of drugs, especially after your reasons for depression are no longer a worry? Quite frankly I think that is what a psychiatrist is for. I recommend talking about your depression, learn from it, and use what you learned to get back on track and produce your serotonin independently. Prozac can help, but Prozac can only help when you realize that you need to help yourself. Talk to your friends, family, and peers for social support. Help Guide (2017) makes a lot of suggestions including changes you should try in your lifestyle. Try some new and interesting things; hobbies, exercise, go out. I hope that you all have learned a little bit more about the anti depressant world of prescription drugs. Think about what choices you make and how will those choices work in the long run, rather than a temporary means to forget about depression.

 

References

Alban, D. (n.d.). Serotonin Deficiency: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions. Retrieved October 21, 2017, from https://bebrainfit.com/serotonin-deficiency/

Bellis, M. (2017, August 29). The History of the Antidepressant Prozac. Retrieved October 21, 2017, from https://www.thoughtco.com/history-antidepressant-prozac-4079788

Hanson, G. R., Venturelli, P. J., & Fleckenstein, A. E. (2015). Drugs and Society (12th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett learning. Print.

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