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American Morning

Should U.S. Become a Prozac Nation?

Aired January 13, 2003 - 08:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Should the United States become a Prozac nation across the board? This week's "Time" magazine said if society would be better off if everyone took the popular antidepressant. Interesting issue, interesting question. We are going to page Dr. Sanjay Gupta for his insights on this.
What is the issue, Sanjay? Good morning.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Well, Prozac, since it's sort of got introduced into the United States about 15 years ago, not only changed the people's conception of depression, it really expanded the antidepressant market multiple fold. About between six and 10 million people have taken or trying to Prozac for the first time now.

Sort of an interesting issue, though, because If you look at Prozac, and look at the flashy marketing campaign that really came about, people started to ask the question, if it is so remarkably effective and if it has such few side effects, why shouldn't we all be taking it? That's what my article in "Time" magazine explored this week -- Bill.

HEMMER: Does anyone out there within the medical world, does anyone suggest that everyone should take this right now?

GUPTA: Well, what is sort of interesting, first of all, it's important to point out, Prozac has significant side effects. I think that's something that a lot of people need to recognize at the top. If you look at some of the side effects, you'll see such things as insomnia, dizziness, you'll sexual problems. About 60 percent of the time, headache, nausea. You can read the list. And that, for sure, is reason why probably everyone should not be taking Prozac. It can be effective for people with depression.

But I think the more interesting question really, Bill, let's say you make the medication totally side-effect free, let's say it has absolutely no side effects, then would it then be an option for making everyone feel better than well? As one of the authors of a book recently said, if anyone feels a little bit better than they otherwise would and no side effects, should we be taking it? And I asked a lot of psychiatrists that question, and they sort of were equivocating a bit and said there is inherent value in working through our problems, both emotionally and otherwise in order to develop the society the way we see it. Sort of an interesting point, a little esoteric, no question. But the answer for most of the people in the psychological and psychiatric community was it probably is not an option for everyone, although a lot of people get some benefits.

HEMMER: So clarify this, then. It's a nonstarter if there are side effects, right, and as you pointed out, there are side effects for some people, correct?

GUPTA: That's right, it's one of these sort of philosophical questions almost. Certainly it's remarkably effective. It has fewer side effects than probably any of the antidepressants before it. And again, it's been around for about 15 years. But still, because of these significant side effects, both physical and otherwise, it is probably not an option for everyone.

But, again, Bill, the sort of interesting thing about this antidepressant is that even people who aren't depressed, people who don't meet the clinical diagnosis of depression, seem to get some benefit from it. It makes them feel a little bit better, a little bit cheerier. So it sort of raises an interesting question, why shouldn't the entire nation feel a little bit cheerier? We could use all that at certain times.

HEMMER: Let's be happy?

GUPTA: Sure, why not? Do it naturally. Thank you, Sanjay. Sanjay Gupta at the CNN Center.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired January 13, 2003 - 08:41   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Should the United States become a Prozac nation across the board? This week's "Time" magazine said if society would be better off if everyone took the popular antidepressant. Interesting issue, interesting question. We are going to page Dr. Sanjay Gupta for his insights on this.
What is the issue, Sanjay? Good morning.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.

Well, Prozac, since it's sort of got introduced into the United States about 15 years ago, not only changed the people's conception of depression, it really expanded the antidepressant market multiple fold. About between six and 10 million people have taken or trying to Prozac for the first time now.

Sort of an interesting issue, though, because If you look at Prozac, and look at the flashy marketing campaign that really came about, people started to ask the question, if it is so remarkably effective and if it has such few side effects, why shouldn't we all be taking it? That's what my article in "Time" magazine explored this week -- Bill.

HEMMER: Does anyone out there within the medical world, does anyone suggest that everyone should take this right now?

GUPTA: Well, what is sort of interesting, first of all, it's important to point out, Prozac has significant side effects. I think that's something that a lot of people need to recognize at the top. If you look at some of the side effects, you'll see such things as insomnia, dizziness, you'll sexual problems. About 60 percent of the time, headache, nausea. You can read the list. And that, for sure, is reason why probably everyone should not be taking Prozac. It can be effective for people with depression.

But I think the more interesting question really, Bill, let's say you make the medication totally side-effect free, let's say it has absolutely no side effects, then would it then be an option for making everyone feel better than well? As one of the authors of a book recently said, if anyone feels a little bit better than they otherwise would and no side effects, should we be taking it? And I asked a lot of psychiatrists that question, and they sort of were equivocating a bit and said there is inherent value in working through our problems, both emotionally and otherwise in order to develop the society the way we see it. Sort of an interesting point, a little esoteric, no question. But the answer for most of the people in the psychological and psychiatric community was it probably is not an option for everyone, although a lot of people get some benefits.

HEMMER: So clarify this, then. It's a nonstarter if there are side effects, right, and as you pointed out, there are side effects for some people, correct?

GUPTA: That's right, it's one of these sort of philosophical questions almost. Certainly it's remarkably effective. It has fewer side effects than probably any of the antidepressants before it. And again, it's been around for about 15 years. But still, because of these significant side effects, both physical and otherwise, it is probably not an option for everyone.

But, again, Bill, the sort of interesting thing about this antidepressant is that even people who aren't depressed, people who don't meet the clinical diagnosis of depression, seem to get some benefit from it. It makes them feel a little bit better, a little bit cheerier. So it sort of raises an interesting question, why shouldn't the entire nation feel a little bit cheerier? We could use all that at certain times.

HEMMER: Let's be happy?

GUPTA: Sure, why not? Do it naturally. Thank you, Sanjay. Sanjay Gupta at the CNN Center.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com