20 Years of Anti-Depression - December 28, 2007

It's hard to believe there was ever a time when Americans were incapable of overcoming depression without the aid of chemistry. Such a time there was, though, and it was only as recently as 1951 that it became medically possible to relieve the otherwise-crippling effects of depression. Drug companies weren't as savvy then as they are now (it was estimated that fewer than 100 Americans in a million would benefit from anti-depressants), so such drugs as Isoniazid, iproniazid, and Imipramine were more or less ignored. In 1987, however, the good people at Eli Lilly finally saw the benefits (and marketing potential) of Fluoxetine hydrochloride, and on December 29 of that year, began selling it under the trade name of Prozac. While Prozac had some minor side effects -- headaches, fever, insomnia, and homicidal rages among them -- millions of people (over 20 million in 2006) have been able to lead productive lives over the last two decades thanks to a little green and white capsule filled with C17 H18 F3 NO. Suggested Sites... Prozac.com - official site of Fluoxetine, with news and information on Prozac and other anti-depressants. Yahoo! Health: Fluoxetine - pharmaceutical information about Prozac. Eli Lilly and Company - Prozac's parent company. Mayo Clinic: Prozac - precautions, proper use, and side effects. Wikipedia: Antidepressant - a history of treatments for depression.