Posted on 01/04/2003 11:27:19 AM PST by steplock
Be Afraid! Be VERY Afraid!
FDA Approves Prozac for Children, Teens
Fri Jan 3, 6:03 PM
The US Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) said on Friday that it has approved Eli Lilly & Co.'s Prozac (fluoxetine) to treat depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents aged seven to 17 years.
According to the FDA, Prozac is the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to receive approval for treating depression in children. The approval was based on two studies of children and adolescents with depression, which showed that the drug produced a statistically significant effect compared with placebo. The drug also produced a statistically significant effect compared with placebo in studies of children and adolescents with OCD.
Side effects associated with Prozac use among children and adolescents were similar to those observed in adults and included nausea, tiredness, nervousness, dizziness and difficulty concentrating.
The FDA noted that in one of the clinical studies, after 19 weeks of treatment with Prozac, children gained, on average, about 1.1 cm less in height (about a half an inch) and about one kilogram less in weight (about two pounds) compared with children treated with a placebo. According to the agency, "the clinical significance of this observation on long-term growth is unknown."
Lilly will conduct a phase IV post-marketing study to further evaluate the potential impact of Prozac on long-term growth in children.
Citing figures from the National Institute of Mental Health, the FDA said depression affects up to 2.5% of children and 8.3% of adolescents in the US. OCD affects roughly 2% of the population and typically begins during adolescence or childhood.
Indianapolis-based Lilly lost patent protection on Prozac in August 2001. The drug was once a blockbuster, pulling in sales of $2.5 billion in 2000. Since losing patent protection, several generic formulations of Prozac have flooded the US market, cutting sharply into Lilly's revenues.
Very rarely and then only in extreme cases.
In fact I advocate for limited or even drug-free therapy in most adult cases.
But, of course that has little to do with your initial comment and my reply to it.
That's why prayer and other methods do more to "cure" a person of depression, anger, anxiety or other unhappy conditions. I'm not condemning anyone here who chooses to use such drugs, just presenting a point of view that makes total sense to me and works. And doesn't cost any money, has no bad side effects (just good ones!) and has a long history behind it!
Plus, there's every possibility that if the brains of depressed people have certain characteristics, maybe the chemical imbalance is the result of the depression, not the cause!! Just like increased adrenalin is the result of fear, not the cause.
I agree with everything else you stated, however--especially: Most people of all ages that are prescribed psychotropins never have their root problems addressed and the drug is the Band-Aid.
Right as eversharp!
BTW, have read William James's treatise on this issue? if not, you have captured--on your own-- his point of view quite well.
Look, I'm not licensed as a therapist in my state (though I've had quite a bit of clinical training), but I'd say that depends on what you mean by "cannot accept." It's normal to still be grieving after the loss of one of the most important people in your life a year later. Generally the rule of thumb is that it can take two years to put this sort of thing to rest. You deal with it and you heal, but it always leaves a sore spot in your heart, even years later. It can take longer to resolve if you had some issues with a loved one who passes away. I speak as someone who has lost both parents in the past few years.
On the other hand, if by "cannot accept" you mean that you're not functioning well, that you're still crying all the time, that you have a hard time focusing on work or enjoying life, as is normal in the first few months after a death--in that case the doctor may be right. If so, it might be worth thinking about some alternatives, like joining a grief support group or getting some counselling.
In either case I agree with your decision (not that you asked me!) to go without drugs. I wouldn't take them unless I lost one of my children, and when I got divorced seven years ago, despite my very deep grief, I made a decision to endure it without medication. The drugs really can color your perceptions of things.
If it's any consolation: this is quite normal---it will take a little more time to heal.
Regular outdoor excercise and good nutrition are essential for a good recovery. The sense of loss will not vanish, but you will someday (and not so very long) be able to develop a much less painful perspective.
I am not positive, but I don't think the run-of-the-mill hospital laboratory can perform such screens--It does like a good idea, however.
The use of anxiolytics, however, borders on criminal, especially when given ad libitum by GP's, as they usually are. The same situation prevails with antidepressants, although with only somewhat less problems. My call is that "medical economics" has driven the diagnostic process to a point where Bipolar affective disorder--and it's attendant psychopharmacologic "mangement" will soon overtake the globe. It's a boon to psychiatry (my field) practices for those who are sufficiently unscrupulous to put money ahead of patient welfare and it is shameful.
Yeah, we agree.
The above applies, although I do function well at my job I cannot seem to find the joy of life right now but I do believe it will come back. :)
I've seen advertisments on the TV already for this new sell on bipolar medicines.
I'm very glad you're aware of this. I wish everyone was.
Keep in touch.
With true chemical imbalances, love is not enough for children. I hate giving my child medicine for his OCD but if it elps and he canhave a normal healthy social development, shouldn't we try? And with 99% of families being dysfunctional, loves not cutting it!
Can you give more information about the approval in regards to treating OCD in children, not just depression.
this is so sad. This is legal drug addiction at it's WORST....!!!!!!!!!
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