Prozac, the bestselling antidepressant taken by 40 million people worldwide, does not work and nor do similar drugs in the same class, according to a major review.
The study examined all available data on the drugs, including results from clinical trials that the manufacturers chose not to publish at the time. The trials compared the effect on patients taking the drugs with those given a placebo or sugar pill.
When all the data was pulled together, it appeared that patients had improved – but those on placebo improved just as much as those on the drugs.
The only exception is in the most severely depressed patients, according to the authors – Prof Irving Kirsch from the department of psychology at Hull University and colleagues in the US and Canada. But that is probably because the placebo stopped working so well, they say, rather than the drugs having worked better.
But, you do get to pay extra for the Prozac. The real stuff.
Has anyone considered the fact that sugar pills just might be a miracle drug?
“But that is probably because the placebo stopped working so well, they say, rather than the drugs having worked better.”
This makes no sense. The effectiveness of the drug is judged on its effect relative to the effect of a placebo. So when the placebo stops working but the drug doesn’t that’s an increase in drug effectiveness.
Or that treating chemical imbalances of the brain is a bit less straightforward than medical science supposed?
For me it worked so strongly that it felt like a brain transplant. It tempered my negative thoughts, it gave me more self-confidence and got rid of my anxiety disorder. On the flip side, it took away some of my drive to excel. I was on it for ten years and I believe my brain permanently changed. When I see my sister, who has the same bad genetics, I am very grateful for Prozac.
Disclaimer: We are all different and I am not saying that it works for everybody else. YMMV
For me it worked so strongly that it felt like a brain transplant. It tempered my negative thoughts, it gave me more self-confidence and got rid of my anxiety disorder. On the flip side, it took away some of my drive to excel. I was on it for ten years and I believe my brain permanently changed.
I felt the same way about marijuana. But I am sure that it’s active ingredient works.
Hmm, shoving mind altering drugs down your throat as a solution to handling life doesn’t work? Wow, who would have thought…
Looks like they sure produce a lot of shooters though.
I read that the columbine shooters were on those drugs.
#7
Yep. Most of these shooters are or were. Like I said, this wasn’t a problem before widespread drugging of children.
When people “go off” their medication, some become extremely violent! This is the dirty little secret of “prozac” (fluoxetine). Prozac’s side effects include murder! You won’t see that on the label. YMMV indeed!
-as long there is mad profit to be made, we’ll keep on producing and selling drugs that never cure.
(i’m with #1. sounds like all you
need is that sugar pill. if that.)
-NEVER doubt the power of suggestion.
We all well know of the amazing ability of Prozac and it’s SSRI kin to zombify people and give them a ‘brain transplant’, but it’s actual effect on depression is what is being questioned. Any sort of drug that provides a distraction from depression can alleviate it to some extent, but what are the long term effects? Alcohol can cure depression for a little while, but I don’t think anyone could responsibly prescribe it for that purpose. And the degree of adverse side effects to SSRI’s is quite a bit higher than a suger pill.
Not to mention the fact that virtually every one of these people shooting up our public spaces have been on, or recently been on, SSRI’s. Let’s face it; if this medication grew as a weed everywhere instead of being a highly profitable synthetic chemical, we would be seeing “Prozac Madness!” pieces on our nightly news at least once a week.
What are the chances that Eli Lilly will refund to consumers the money spent on their useless product?
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BTW, I actually have a hard time believing Prosac does not work. I have a friend who claims his life was saved by it. His is not an unusual story.
#13 “I have a friend who claims his life was saved by it. His is not an unusual story.”
I’m sure. Numbing someone’s mind can reduce feelings. So can a lobotomy, which used to be all the rage, until better ways of making $ off of gullible people were thought up.
There are many causes for depression. This drug may only be effective on one or two. Perhaps it “doesn’t work” because it was being over prescribed. That is, assumed to be a solution for all causes of depression.
Doctors can not quickly and easily pinpoint the cause of every case of depression. So they try Prozac… the downsides are minimal, so it is worth the risk that it may work.
Drugs work differently on different people even if there is or isn’t a general tendency. This allows for all kinds of fraud, even among those who mean well.
We would all benefit by learning our how own bodies work like everyone else’s and uniquely to ourselves.
Thats true in how/what we think as well.
Drugs are bad mmmmmkay?
#18–McCullough==stop trolling your own website!! (LMAO)
Some drugs are bad. Some good drugs are misused. NOBODY wants a world without drugs==ie medicine==ie cures==ie==relief of misery.
Now pull your pants up and post responsibly. To that end==what other Nanny State regulations would you approve of and why can’t individuals make informed decisions to risk their lives==whether with sharks, drugs, or blogging?
#19. Thats Mr. Mackey to you bobbo, mmmmmkay?
The FDA is the regulatory agency saddled with testing and approval of the efficacy of these drugs. As with the Enzyte post I did a few days ago, if the drugs are worthless then you may as well have Smiling Bob working as head of the FDA.
Also, the scuba thing was a sore point with me. But the comments have convinced me of my folly. If they want to hang bloody meat around a campsite to get up close and personal with a grizzly bear, then knock yourself out, just don’t expect the government to come bail you out of your predicament mmmkay? Now, back to the topic at hand.
#1 – SN,
Actually, placebos work quite well on a variety of conditions, as long as the patient believes in the cure. They work the same way as faith healing, by convincing one’s mind to heal one’s own body.
Of course, there are conditions that cannot be helped this way. And, there are probably many more effective drugs for many conditions.
But, why would anyone want to spread the word that prozac doesn’t work when it was probably helping many people through the placebo effect??!!?
Besides, a ____ and his _____ are soon ______.
And, since a huge majority of us are overmedicated fools in the U.S., ….
Does this meaen I can no longer get fries with my prozac?
#19 – bobbo,
Yeah. We want the meds we need. But, we need to find some balance here. Did you know that the U.S. is just 5% of world population and consumes 56% of world medication?
We’re not healthier … so … maybe, just maybe, things are a tad excessive toward medicating everything and everyone these days.
#20–McCullough==Yes, and Mr Mackey is a drone, stooge and a fool. That together with your anti-people as chum posting leads you pretty far down a wayward path?
BUT—-I ENVY YOU. I find great pleasure in thinking one thing and having my mind changed? It been so long, I don’t really have a memory of the last time that happened to me==except for dreams and hopes being smashed, which isn’t the positive thing I’m talking about? (Gee, I need a prozac right now!–smile).
I think the CRITICAL thing in your change of mind is to recognize how correct your attitude is for YOU but still allowing others to disagree and have the freedom to do as they wish for themselves. Too many people are all about having their own “values” enforced against other people. Its the root evil at work in many problems. Look for it, its all over the place. Something about the basic nature of FREEDOM just escapes people. FREEDOM is other people doing that which you disagree, and vice-versa. Apologies, as I know you know this already.
Scott–yes indeedy. The power of placebos (of “belief” in general) is not understood.
CES (cranial electro stimulation) would probably eliminate the need for half the anti-depressants/anti-anxiety drugs on the market.
i and a few others have been using it and it works amazingly well..
however, its too cheap and can be elf-administered. (and made) -the big corps would never let that happen..
I’ve been on Prozac for 10 years. I’ve always had depression since childhood. The Prozac does not dull my mind, it just stops the depression. It just plain works.
P.S. I haven’t murdered anyone yet and don’t plan to. 🙂