Term Papers on IS PROZAC SAFE?

Term Paper Title	IS PROZAC SAFE?
# of Words	954
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.82

IS PROZAC SAFE?

          Depression is decrease in functional activity, reduction in power, activity, or a deep dejection of spirit characterized by withdrawal (Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary, 359).  It breaks lives apart.  Depression hurts the person who is depressed and also the people who love them.  When a person is clinically depressed, one thing that can happen is the level of serotonin, a brain chemical, may drop.  People may have trouble sleeping, feel unusually sad or irritable, find it hard to concentrate, lose their appetite, lack energy or have trouble feeling pleasure (Eli Lilly and Company, 190).  These symptoms are just some of many that can point to depression.  To help bring serotonin levels closer to normal, the medicine doctors now prescribe most often is Prozac (Eli Lilly and Company, 191).  Prozac is not for everyone.  It is only for those who have problems coping with depression.  It has many side effects, which have risen concern about whether pregnant women should use Prozac.
          Prozac is the most widely prescribed medicine for depression (Anonymous, sec. 1, 30).  It is the world's leading antidepressant and is one of the newest drugs on the market today (Burton, sec. B, 6).  It has been praised for its efficacy and low incidence of adverse effects (Balon, 206).  This antidepressant drug was introduced in December of 1987.  It has fewer side effects than other antidepressants and has been prescribed to over two million patients (Ragan, 12).  It is effective and has safe long term use on depressed
patients (Balon, 206).  Prozac, or fluoxetine, its generic name, is a new class of antidepressant medications that effects chemical messengers within the brain.  These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters.  Many experts believe that an imbalance in these neurotransmitters is the cause of depression.  Prozac is believed to work by inhabiting the release or affects the action of serotonin (Medicine Net Pharmacy, 1).  It has become into widespread use from being the first of a new generation of antidepressants. Psychiatrists believe Prozac to be safe and effective when given under close supervision (Ragan, 12).
          Prozac belongs to a class of drug called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.  They work by boosting levels of serotonin, the brain chemical, that serves as a messenger between brain cells, believed to be in short supply in many depressed people (Langreth, sec. B, 1).  Prozac is easy to use and tolerate.  It effects the balance of brain neurotransmitters which control mood and blocks the removal of serotonin from its action site in neurons, improving mood in depressed people (Anonymous, 1).  Not only is Prozac safer, it has achieved a certain status, factors that doctors say have made them more acceptable to patients and doctors.  One of the biggest obstacles to diagnosis and treatment is people's attitudes toward their symptoms.  Some people mistakenly assume that being sad most of the time is an aspect of their personality or normal response to a tr...

This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Digital Term Papers. Please register below now!

Digital Term Papers has over 63,000 essays, term papers, and book notes online. Many paper sites will charge you hundreds of dollars for a single paper. Digital Term Papers only charges $14.95 for a one month membership with instant account activation!

Don't waste anymore time! Join NOW!!!

1 Month (automatic renewal) ($14.95)

3 Months (automatic renewal) ($29.95)

6 Months (one-time billing) ($39.95)

Pay by: