A quarter century ago, Prozac came to America. It was seen as a feel-good medication that anyone could pop into their mouth and all would be hunky-dory.
That was then. This is now. We have learned that Prozac is much different from an ice cream cone or a massage — just something to make you feel good when you don’t.
Depression is common among older adults. The National Institute of Mental Health considers depression in people 65 and older a major public health problem. But depression is not a normal part of aging. Sadness is not the main symptom. They may have less obvious symptoms of depression or they may not be willing to talk about their feelings. So, doctors may be less likely to recognize their patient has depression.
Meanwhile, many classes of anti-depression medications have been developed since Eli Lilly won FDA approval of Prozac in 1987. The current regular treatment for depression involves a drug class known as selective serotonin.
Scientists think depression is caused by a lack of the chemical serotonin in the brain. The most common forms of depression involve serotonin inhibitors.
Some people may experience only a single episode within their lifetime; but more often a person may have multiple episodes. Others face dysthymic disorder – depressive symptoms that last two years or more is a mild but chronic form of depression.
Minor depression is similar to other forms of depression. Symptoms, however, are less severe and may not last as long. According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, depression in older persons is closely associated with dependency and disability and causes great distress for the individual and the family. Depression in the older population often goes untreated because many people think that depression is a normal part of aging — a natural reaction to chronic illness, loss and social transition.
For the elderly population, depression can come in different sizes and shapes. Many elderly people and their families don’t recognize the symptoms of depression, aren’t aware that it is a medical illness, and don’t know depression often responds to treatment. The outcome is usually better for people who have access to social services, family, and friends who can help them stay active and engaged.
The most worrisome complication of depression is suicide. Men make up most suicides among the elderly. Divorced or widowed men are at the highest risk. Families should pay close attention to elderly relatives who are depressed and live alone.
Others may mistake the symptoms of depression as signs of dementia, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke.
Many older persons think that depression is a character flaw and are worried about being humiliated. They may blame themselves for their illness and are too ashamed to get help. Others worry that treatment would be too costly. Yet research has also shown that treatment is effective and, in fact, changes the brain when it works.
Researchers continue to study Prozac’s effects on the body, and new information about potential complications is still coming to light. One of the biggest concerns is that the drug is over-prescribed, unnecessarily subjecting patients to adverse side effects and possible withdrawal symptoms.
Patients taking Prozac may experience a host of side effects, including sexual dysfunction, dry mouth, nausea, headache, diarrhea, nervousness, restlessness, agitation, increased sweating, weight gain, insomnia and drowsiness.
Although antidepressants like Prozac are not technically considered to be addictive, at least in the sense of inducing cravings in patients, doctors say they do make users dependent. Drug dependency means that the body has adapted to a chemical to the point that it requires steady doses to function normally.
Tait Trussell is an old guy and fourth-generation professional journalist who writes extensively about aging issues among a myriad of diverse topics.