Fluoextine and Stroke: Will Prozac Regain "Wonder Drug" Status?

Fluoxetine, the main ingredient in the antidepressant Prozac, is in the news again. This time research shows that this multipurpose drug could help victims recovering from stroke. Will this new research help Prozac regain its wonder drug status? Does fluoxetine help with stroke?

Prozac was released in 1986 as a different type of treatment for depression. By treating chemical imbalances with a different approach, it was very effective in the treatment of depression without the same side effects of the previous classes of antidepressants. Prozac was also found to be helpful in treating other mental health issues such as anxiety, bulimia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others. Prozac became known as a wonder drug.

One side effect of fluoxetine can be increased energy and confidence in the user. People may become more assertive as well. This led to an increase in requests for prescriptions for use other than what the drug is intended for. I remember news stories from the 1990s where people were asking their doctors for Prozac for personal benefits of the side effects, such as getting ahead in business.

Prozac began falling out of favor when there were reports of increased suicide for some who started using the antidepressant. Although this can happen with any antidepressant as someone suffering debilitating depression gets enough energy to attempt suicide, reports seemed more prevalent with those using Prozac.

Another factor in Prozac's fall from grace were reports of increased violence for users. This is not common in most other antidepressants and became a great cause for concern. Meanwhile, other pharmaceutical companies began creating their own brand of this type of antidepressant without causing the troublesome side effects associated with Prozac. Some of these are Celexa, Paxil and Zoloft.

A recent research study is bringing Prozac, or its ingredient fluoxetine back into headlines. The study showed that patients who received fluoxetine shortly after stroke in connection with physiotherapy showed improvement in motor skill functioning after three months.

Other, smaller studies have shown positive effects of fluoxetine after stroke. If more studies can prove the benefits of taking fluoxetine after a stroke, it will be a major breakthrough in the treatment of stroke victims. In addition to the mental health benefits, if indeed fluoxetine can help stroke victims, Prozac may yet again be able to claim the wonder drug title.

REFERENCES:

Prof Francois Chollet MD, et al.; Fluoxetine for motor recovery after acute ischaemic stroke (FLAME): a raondomised placebo-controlled trial; The Lancet Neurology, Early Online Publicatoin, 10 January 2011

Prozac Website

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; Fluoxetine; PubMed Health