In the early 1970s, evidence of the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) in depression began to emerge and scientist began to enhance 5-HT neurotransmission to make a viable mechanism to mediate antidepressant response. In normal words, scientists started messing with serotonin in order to make a drug that would improve mood. Efforts to develop agents that inhibit the uptake of 5-HT from the synaptic cleft were initiated. These studies led to the discovery and development of the selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine hydrochloride (Wong).
When Fluoxetine ( LY110141) was first developed in 1971 depression was not widely diagnosed and anti-depressants were only used in psychiatric centers, and instead when patients showed signs of depression (nerves, anxiety, ect.) they were given tranquilizers. Eli Lily, the pharmaceutical company behind prozac, first tested Fluoxetine as treatment for high blood pressure, but the effects were nearly non existent in human, then it was tested as an anti-obesity drug, but it often caused a gain in weight. When Eli Lily tested it on five depressives they all reported being happier and changed the name to Prozac. Prozac quickly became the number one most used in history and is now prescribed to over 54 million patients.
When Fluoxetine ( LY110141) was first developed in 1971 depression was not widely diagnosed and anti-depressants were only used in psychiatric centers, and instead when patients showed signs of depression (nerves, anxiety, ect.) they were given tranquilizers. Eli Lily, the pharmaceutical company behind prozac, first tested Fluoxetine as treatment for high blood pressure, but the effects were nearly non existent in human, then it was tested as an anti-obesity drug, but it often caused a gain in weight. When Eli Lily tested it on five depressives they all reported being happier and changed the name to Prozac. Prozac quickly became the number one most used in history and is now prescribed to over 54 million patients.