Discuss the controversies surrounding the use of antidepressant drugs.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students' answers may vary.

Antidepressant drugs are likely to produce side effects such as drowsiness and cognitive deficits such as memory loss. Evidence also suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), typically used as antidepressants, can increase the risk of suicide in children and adolescents-clearly a significant concern. Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on antidepressant drugs. Ten percent of Americans now take antidepressants, and for women in their 40s and 50s, the figure is 25%. In particular, the antidepressant fluoxetine, sold under the trade name Prozac, has been highlighted on magazine covers and has been the topic of best-selling books. Prozac is effective and has relatively few side effects. Furthermore, many people who do not respond to other types of antidepressants do well on Prozac. On the other hand, 20-30% of users report experiencing nausea and diarrhea, and a smaller number of users report sexual dysfunctions. Another substance that has received a great deal of publicity is St. John's wort, an herb that some have called a "natural" antidepressant. Although it is widely used in Europe for the treatment of depression, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers it a dietary supplement, and therefore, the substance is available here without a prescription. Despite the popularity of St. John's wort, definitive clinical tests have found that the herb is ineffective in the treatment of depression. However, because some research shows that the herb successfully reduces certain psychological symptoms, some proponents argue that using it is reasonable. In any case, people should not use St. John's wort to medicate themselves without consulting a mental health-care professional.