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The Effectiveness of Fluoxetine
in Treating Unipolar Depression |
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Michael Hofkamp |
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Additionally, the HIV-infected patient study suggested that fluoxetine could be administered on a regular basis. "The absence of specific side effects indicates that this treatment could be prescribed at day clinics without unduly increasing case-management resources" (Cazullo, Bessone, Bertrando, Pedrazolli, & Cusini), This part of the study is significant because it paves the way for fluoxetine to be given on an out-patient basis. A drug that has extreme side effects needs constant monitoring; this is an example of a case when the cure is worse than the disease. In this case, the practicality of implementation drastically decreases. However, this study concludes that the administration of fluoxetine to HIV-infected patients proves feasible on a realistic level.
Even though fluoxetine enjoyed success in treating the depression of HIV-infected patients, its success is far from universal. When a drug proves to be successful, there is often a rush to examine other cases where it could be applied. The use of fluoxetine proved, not to, be universally successful; a study involving the administration of fluoxetine to patients suffering from anorexia nervosa indicated that fluoxetine had little clinical value.
A study was conducted to determine whether or not fluoxetine would have an effect on patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. According to the researchers, evidence from previous studies implicated fluoxetine as a possible cure for depression and weight gain in anorexia-nervosa patients. "Several anecdotal reports have suggested that SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) might be valuable in the treatment of underweight patients with anorexia nervosa. Therefore, the present
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