rganization, compares Prozac to Valium, the popular tranquilizer that was on the market for more than 10 years before doctors discovered its highly addictive properties during the mid-1970s. "Prozac has become the Valium of the 1990s," declares Wolfe (Nichols, 4).Finally, one of the weaker arguments against Prozac is that it is very expensive, with a cost of about fifty dollars for a month's supply. It costs more than older drugs now available as generics, like amitriptyline (Aprile, 3). The Pros of ProzacIn defense of Prozac, Eli Lilly officials say that it is one of the most thoroughly tested medications in history: more than 32,000 people took part in Prozac's clinical trials, and scientist have conducted at least 3,000 separate studies. "Nothing alarming has shown up," says Cameron Battley, corporate affairs manager for Lilly. He also insist that, despite reports of the drug being used to treat people who do not really need an antidepressant, "there is absolutely no indication of any inappropriate use of Prozac" (Nichols, 2). When Eli Lilly and Co. won Federal Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approval for Prozac in December of 1987, it was specifically for the treatment of depression. But there's been plenty of publicity about the drug's potential for helping people with a host of other maladies, ranging from obesity and bulimia, to panic attacks, alcoholism, PMS, smoking addictions and obsessive-compulsive disorders (Aprile, 1). Although Jefferson County Coroner Richard Greathouse was quoted earlier to suspect Prozac in Joseph Wesbecker's violent rage, he says, "I want to go on record saying I am not indicting this drug." He says he only raised questions; he never drew conclusions. "I personally am not afraid of the drug," he said. In fact, Greathouse prescribes it in his own private pediatrics practice. He also goes on to say that his investigation-which included a study of "a complete FDA file on Prozac about yea-deep...
