Prozac Is Nearly 40 Years Old. Why Are There Still Unanswered Questions?

Pretty balanced article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/...e_code=1.EU8.sWCJ.dtwloqYk0kN0&smid=url-share

 

I think it can be summed up in one word: incentives.

There are very few incentives to do those kind of long term studies. And very strong incentives to not do them. So it won’t happen anytime soon.

 

AD’s should only be prescribed if and only if the MD also gives a withdrawal plan or prescription and advises the patient that it will be very likely that it will be very difficult to withdraw from them.

 

Many people have a desire for a pill to exist that will magically solve their problems, and prefer to keep wearing rose-coloured glasses. Also, while the suppliers have strong disincentives to look for problems, there are also bureaucrats and politicians who have disincentives to push for proper studies.

I think there are plenty of SF stories of governments who keep their population drugged for political convenience.