Conference rocks::weight_control

.0>    Has anyone ever heard of the drug PROZAC or tried it??

    	Questions:
    
    	  1. What is the drug's generic name?
          2. Prescription only?
    	  3. What's your daily dosage?
    	  4. What's the cost?
    
    -mike z

    re: .0
    
    I've never heard of the drug.  It must be new since I left nursing
    in '83.  If you're interested in learning about the drug, here are
    some options:
    - speak with your physician
    - speak with your pharmacist
    - go to the library and see if they have a copy of the Physician's
    Desk Reference, National Formulary, or the Pharacopoeia.  All three
    are in wide use by medical and pharmaceutical personnel.
    
    re: .1
    See above information to get answers to your questions.
    

    
    
  The drug is new to the market, only been out 6 months or so.  It is
  by prescription only.  I think the generic name of it is Pulvule or
  that is the manufacturer.  The dosage is 20 mg or 1 pill the first
  3 days, and then you go up to two pills a day taken 4 hours apart.
 
  They will keep you up at night, so you must take them early in the
  morning.  There is a warning on the label that it may impair your
  ability to drive or operate machinery.  And to use care until you
  become familiar with its effects.
    
  As for the cost, I have a PCS card, so I only pay $4.00.  The druggist
  said they go for $38.00 for 30 usually.
    
    marcia   
 

    I'm also new to this conference.  I was surprised to see PROZAC
    mentioned, I thought I was the only one taking it for weight loss.
    I just started taking it two weeks ago; and so far, so good.
    
    My doctor echoed the information provided in .0, in addition, he 
    cautioned that depending on taking PROZAC alone is not effective.  
    A balanced low calorie intake plus regular exercise is also necessary.
                                        
    I decided to take PROZAC because I found that diet programs (WW,
    etc.) did not keep the excess weight off.  
               
    I'll keep you posted on my progress and any ill effects I see with
    PROZAC.    
               
    Pete

    
    I was treated for depression with an anti-depression medication
    on which I was taking for about 9 months. I lost 12 lbs during this
    time. I always wondered if the depression or the meds caused the
    weightloss. I lost this weight without even trying. I was only
    5-7 lbs overweight before the medication. I guess I'll never know,
    I did keep the weight off for about a year. I gained back about
    9-10 lbs of it when I quit smoking, I would still love to take
    off 7 lbs. I don't remember the name of the medication. I
    also had trouble sleeping and dizziness for about 3 weeks,
    then I had minor side affects.
    
    Let us know more about this, I am interested, since depression
    seems to run in my family.
    
    Suzanne

    Depression also runs in my family and my doctor has just prescribed
    PROZAC for me as well.  It is great to see it in the notes file!
     My doctor said it does curb appetite but we'll see.  Nothing has
    curbed this appetite yet.  Please keep everyone informed.
    
    Janet
    

I haven't seen the answer to the question "what is the generic name for
Prozac", so here goes...

The drug itself is fluoxetine hydrochloride, but people just call it fluoxetine
for short.

Prozac is put out by Dista, which is a subcompany (?) under Eli Lilly.

"Pulvule" refers to the capsule itself; don't know why they didn't just call
it a capsule...

A friend of mine was just prescribed Prozac (actually, he was given a few
sample packs to see what happens) for depression.  I hope it doesn't make
him lose weight as he doesn't have any to spare (lucky him).

Jill

SPGOPS::LEVITAN                                      37 lines  10-OCT-1988 13:03
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Due to information in this file - I kept asking my pharmacist if
    he knew about fluoxetine.  Never heard of it - but he said since
    he's on an automatic distribution from various drug companies, he'd
    be getting it.  Every few months I'd call - ask if he ever got
    fluoxetine and be told 'not yet.'
    
    Was depressed and doctor prescribed Prozac.  For some reason I asked
    the pharmacist for the literature that comes with the medication.
    I've never done that before.  He gave me the literature and it said
    PROZAC - and in small letters - fluoxetine!!!!!!!!  It was very
    interesting reading the possible side effects.  Did say that it
    was not only an anti-depressent,but did tend to curb appetite.
    
    My experience?  Didn't curb appetite - because I'm a compulsive
    over-eater - don't have to be hungry to eat.  But a wierd thing
    happened - I found that I was lighting up more cigarettes, but smoking
    less.  My ashtray was filled with cigarette butts that were less
    then half smoked.  I just didn't like the taste.  That - combined
    with the fact that I was only able to swim 3 laps - instead of the
    18 I used to do - decided me to try to stop smoking.  Well, I haven't
    smoked since June 9th - within 2 weeks was able to swim my 18 laps
    (1/2 mile).
    
    I had various other physical ailments that suddenly appeared - and
    I attributed them to the Prozac - so I threw it away.  Unfortunately,
    I was wrong - still have the various problems (yes, I'm going to
    tell my doctor when I see her next week).
    
    My pharmacist said that it's well known as an anti-depresent.  I
    was in correspondence with researchers at MIT and at McLean Hospital.
    They were surprised at my inability to lose weight - yet they said
    that I did better then their subjects re: smoking.
    
    I'd be interested in knowing if those of you who are on Prozac
    developed any wierd physical symptoms?
    
    Trudy

    rep.8
    
    Well, today I just started this medication for clinical depression.
    Depression is the way my body reacts to prolonged stress. And that
    I do have. I have a mentally disabled 17 year-old son, that is
    for another conference. The Dr. said she has had alot od success
    with this drug and it doesn't have the side-effects that most 
    anti-depressions have ie. dry mouth, dizzyness. I have been on
    other types of anti-depression meds and also had side-effects.
    
    I could use to lose 10lbs before I would say I would be too thin.
    Maybe I will. I will let you know if I have a werid side-effects.
    
    That's all for now.
    
    Suzanne

    
    
    Well, I think it's time I check in with all of you.  I've been on
    Prozac about 3 months now and have lost 25lbs.  I no longer have
    any side effects which were noticeable at the beginning.  But, I
    do find that it is harder for the weight to come off now.  At the
    beginning I felt it just melting off, but now I seriously have to
    work at it.  I've been at this plateau for about 2 weeks and I'm
    trying not to get discouraged.  So, just thought I'd give you my
    latest progress report.
    
    marcia

    
    HI. I'm here for some advice. I really think I should see a doctor
    about some problems but Harvard HMO doesn't cover psychiatric care.
    This note has sparked some motivation because this Prozac sounds
    very interesting. Would a regular doctor prescribe it? Or do you
    think I should switch to other medical coverage?
    
    Thanks a bunch, any input will be appreciated, it's pretty lonely
    here.  Stefanie

    
    Have you tried talking to the folks at the EAP (Employee Assistance
    Program)?  They could help you evaluate what sort of help you need, and
    what the best option is for you to obtain it.
    
    Beverly
    

    As mentioned earlier, I have been taking Prozac for weight reduction
    since August 1st.  Although I have lost 25+ lbs., I found the side
    effects (extreme irritability, etc.) too hard to take.  My doctor
    cut the dosage in 1/2 (2 capsules per day to 1).  The side effects 
    are now tolerable, but it remains to be seen if I can still lose 
    weight.
       
    I'll keep you posted.
       
    PWT 

    I don't take any drug, but I feel that if you want to lose weight,
    you can't depend on a drug to do it.  And with the side effects
    explained in this file, how do you know the drug isn't damaging
    to you in the long run?  I wouldn't want to feel jittery and irritable!
    A few years ago I lost 18 lbs. doing it by myself by changing my
    eating habits (not calling it a diet but a healthier way to eat)
    and exercising 3 times a week at Richard Simmons.  I lost about
    2-3 lbs. a week.  It took me 2 months to do it.  I just feel the
    healthy way to lose weight is a permanent way of living.  You can't
    take this drug for the rest of your life, can you?
    
    

    To keep you posted I have now been on prozac for two months.  In
    the beginning I did not lose weight, I actually ate more.  However,
    I have been on weight watchers now for two weeks and my motivation
    level has never been more heightened.  I believe it is curbing my
    appetite in that way.
    
    I can see why two prozac pills a day would make someone jittery...I 
    am only prescribed one capsule per day and some days I have to skip 
    because it does tend to cause the jitters.  I sware by it because it
    does not cause sweating, dizziness, or dry mouth.  
    
    Janet
    
    
    

    For some people, depression is a life-long factor so therefore must
    take the medication for life.  I am not taking the medication to
    lose weight -- I believe you also have to diet the healthy way but
    if it curbs the appetite...great!  I was shocked that doctors prescribe
    a drug for weightloss.
    
    Janet
    

    
    
    Thought I'd check in and let you know the latest with my progress.
    I've dropped 30lbs as of this morning and I'm feeling great.  A
    little tired, but I can live with that.  It's not as easy as it
    was at the beginning, but I'm sticking with it.  This is the most
    I've ever lost with any "diet" and I have too many people behind
    me to let me blow it now.  I'd like to lose atleast 60 more, with
    a little luck.  I've noticed the Prozac has helped me eat in a 
    more moderate way.  I don't pig out like I use to, and I've learned
    to like that empty feeling in my stomach once again. 
    
    I'm really starting to like myself again, and it has definitly helped
    my attitude about my job and my life in general.  
    
    I'll keep you all posted.
    
    marcia

A friend of mine has been taking Prozac for depression, and he asked his
psychiatrist about its use for weightloss.  His doctor is the head of the
Outpatient Psychiatry department at UMASS medical center.  I have excerpted
the following (with permission) from a mail message:

******************************************************************************

I asked about Prozac as a diet "pill".  He said, no it is not for weight
reduction (nor is that a real side effect). It is an antidepressant, that also
is effective on controlling various types of compulsive behavior. He said that
if you had a compulsive eating problem, he could believe it might (as a side
effect) help you lose weight.  But, he has seen no discussion of this "feature"
in the literature, and believes some doctors are taking advantage of this and
pushing it (probably for the wrong reasons).  He also said that it is a
relatively new drug that only has been available within the last year.