Concerns about Prozac and direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs

Abstract

This literature review outlines a brief history of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs. Concerns about the safety and effectiveness of DTCA, particularly as it relates to the marketing of Eli Lilly's widely-used anti-depressant drug Fluoxetine (Prozac), are also discussed. Additionally, this paper raises questions about Fluoxetine's stimulant-like properties, and highlights various concerns about the way in which the Food and Drug Administration's product safety trials were conducted during Fluoxetine's approval process.

Keywords

Advertising anti-depressants clinical trials consumer psychology consumer safety deceptive advertising depression depression treatment direct to consumer advertising DTCA drug companies drug lawsuits drug recalls drug research drug testing drugs Eli Lilly Food and Drug Administration FDA Fluoxetine marketing medicine off-label pharmaceuticals prescription drugs product liability product testing Prozac psychiatry psychology psychotropics selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs suicide suicide prevention Zoloft