Talking Back to Prozac: What Doctors Won't Tell You about Prozac

Description

Prozac. Millions of Americans are on it. And just about everyone else is wondering if they should be on it, too. The claims of the pro-Prozac chorus are enticing: that it can cure everything from depression (the only disorder for which Prozac was originally approved) to fear of public speaking, PMS, obesity, shyness, migraine, and back pain—with few or no side effects. But is the reality quite different? At what price do we buy Prozac-induced euphoria and a shiny new personality? Psychiatrist Peter Breggin, MD, and coauthor Ginger Ross Breggin answer these and other crucial questions in Talking Back to Prozac. They explain what Prozac is and how it works, and they take a hard look at the real story behind today’s most controversial drug: The fact that Prozac was tested in trials of four to six weeks in length before receiving FDA approvalThe difficulty Prozac’s manufacturer had in proving its effectiveness during these testsThe information on side effects that the FDA failed to include in its final labeling requirementsHow Prozac acts as a stimulant not unlike the addictive drugs cocaine and amphetamineThe dangers of possible Prozac addiction and abuseThe seriousness and frequency of Prozac’s side effects, including agitation, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, loss of libido, and difficulty reaching orgasmThe growing evidence that Prozac can cause violence and suicide. The social and workplace implications of using the drug not to cure depression but to change personality and enhance performance Using dramatic case histories as well as scientific research and carefully documented evidence, the Breggins expose the potentially damaging effects of Prozac. They also describe the resounding success that has been achieved with more humane alternatives for the treatment of depression. Talking Back to Prozac provides essential information for anyone who takes Prozac or is considering taking it, and for those who prescribe it. Acknowledgments Acronyms of Organizations How to Use This Book Introduction One - Should We Listen to Prozac? Two - A Primer on How Prozac Is Supposed to Work Three - The Real Story Behind Prozac's Approval by the FDA Four - The Real Story Behind Prozac's Side Effects Five - Drug Addiction and Abuse A Comparison Between Prozac and Amphetamines Six - Drug-Induced Paranoid, Violence, Depression, and Suicide: A Comparison Between Prozac and Amphetamines Seven - Can Prozac Cause Violence and Suicide? What Survivors, Independent Researchers, and the FDA Have to Say Eight - Pushing Drugs in America: The Long Financial Tentacles of Eli Lilly Nine - How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Drugs Ten - Understanding and Overcoming Depression How to File an Adverse Drug Reaction Report with the FDA Notes Bibliography About the Authors Endnotes