Adria

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                          Information on Prozac
                       (fluoxetine hydrochloride)

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       DISCLAIMER: Medicine is an evolving science.  Information
       contained herein is believed current and accurate, but may
       become out of date as newer information becomes available.
       The information in this file is provided in hopes it may be
       useful, but is not offered as medical advice for any
       particular person.  The information in this file can not
       take the place of consultation between physician and
       patient.
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       Prozac is an antidepressant medication which was introduced
       for use in the United States in December, 1987. Since that
       time, Prozac has become the most widely prescribed
       antidepressant in America. Prozac is FDA approved for the
       the treatment of depression, and has been found useful in
       the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bulimia,
       Panic Disorder, and other conditions. Prozac is manufactured
       by the Dista Division of Eli Lilly, Inc. No generic
       equivalent of Prozac is available at this time.

       Prozac is not habit forming and does not induce euphoria.
       It exerts its effects through the neuro-transmitter
       serotonin, a substance in the brain involved with the
       regulation of mood, sleep, and appetite.   Prozac is a
       specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

       Most patients taking Prozac experience minimal or no side
       effects.  Some of the more common side effects of Prozac are
       listed below:

          - Mild, transient nausea and/or headache, which usually
            resolve over a few days.  Rarely, Prozac can cause
            loose stools or diarrhea.

          - Mild weight loss (e.g., 3-5 pounds).

          - Increased nervousness, "jitteriness", and/or insomnia:
            If these side effects occur, they often resolve over
            two to three weeks.

          - An{*filter*}ia (difficulty reaching {*filter*}):  this can
            occur in both women and men.  This side effect may be
            more frequent or more severe at higher doses.

          - Induction of mania: individuals with a history of
            Bipolar (Manic-Depressive) Illness or with a family
            history of Bipolar Disorder may be at higher risk for a
            switch from depression to mania while taking Prozac.
            All antidepressant medications may share this risk.

          - Skin rash: a focal, patchy, itchy red rash, often
            involving the arms, face, and chest, which may be
            associated with {*filter*} swelling or joint pain.  This is
            actually an allergic reaction, not a side effect.

       Sensational allegations that Prozac is associated with an
       increased risk of suicide or {*filter*} behavior have not been
       substantiated in several large scale studies.  The risk of
       suicide appears to be no different for patients taking
       Prozac compared to patients taking other antidepressant
       medication.   Suicide is a risk associated with depressive
       illnesses and with other psychiatric disorders.

       Prozac is classified as a "Pregnancy Category B" drug;
       pregnant rats and rabbits exposed to high doses of Prozac
       showed no harm to the fetus from the drug.  There are
       several reports of exposure to Prozac during human pregnancy
       with no identifiable adverse effects. Nevertheless, Prozac
       should not ordinarily be taken while pregnant or
       {*filter*}feeding, and patients who plan to become pregnant
       should be off Prozac at least one month before becoming
       pregnant.

       Patients taking Prozac generally should avoid {*filter*}ic
       beverages; Prozac does not cause cumulative sedation when
       taken concomittantly with {*filter*}, but most authorities
       recommend that recovering depressives keep {*filter*} intake to
       a minimum or abstain altogether.  Prozac can alter the
       liver's ability to clear other medications from the body,
       raising or lowering the levels of other medications.  Most
       such interactions are not clinically significant, but
       patients taking anticoagulants ({*filter*} thinners) should have
       clotting times checked.

       The proper dose of Prozac varies from one capsule three
       times a week to five capsules a day. The usual dose for
       depression is one capsule daily in the morning.  Some
       patients feel noticeably better within a few days of
       starting Prozac, but many people begin to feel better only
       after taking the medication for three or four weeks or more.
       When antidpressant medication such as Prozac is helpful,
       some psychiatrists recommend that medicine be continued for
       at least a few months after a person is really feeling well
       (for a total duration of treatment of at least six months to
       one year).  This may reduce the risk of a recurrence of
       depression after medication is discontinued.

       Patients taking Prozac should contact their doctor
       immediately if suspicious skin rash occurs, or if
       nervousness or insomnia are troublesome.

CONTRIBUTED BY:==================================================

       Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
       SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse
       October 4, 1992

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Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA