Latest news with #Prozac
IOL News
3 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Mental health pills for pets? The rise of psychiatric medication in dog behaviour therapy
We love our dogs like family, but putting them on medication for 'behavioural problems' may not be the answer. We love our dogs like family . They greet us with wagging tails, comfort us on tough days and ask for little more than a walk and a treat. But lately, a question has been quietly echoing online and in vet clinics - "Are we medicating our pets for just being themselves?" A recent viral TikTok video by content creator Dr Jef has stirred the pot on pet parenting, sparking fiery debate about whether we've lost sight of what it means to let animals just be animals. The clip zooms in on an unsettling trend: more and more dogs are being prescribed psychiatric medication like Prozac, not for serious mental health disorders, but for simply behaving like right. Barking. Chewing. Running wildly around the house. Behaviours that were once shrugged off as part of the canine experience are now being 'treated' with pills. And it's not just social media buzz. Data backs it up. Dr Diana Neil at the UK's Royal Veterinary College analysed data from over 2.3 million dogs and found that 1 in every 500 dogs was prescribed Prozac for behaviour-related issues. Just a decade ago, that number was 1 in 10,000. The reasons range from barking excessively and chewing furniture to showing separation anxiety or general restlessness. Research confirms that mood stabilisers for pets, often the same ones prescribed to humans are becoming more common, especially post-lockdown. Covid created a generation of 'lockdown puppies' who missed critical early socialisation. When their humans returned to the office, many dogs were left with high anxiety levels they didn't know how to cope with. The stress is real for both the dog and the owner. Are we projecting our mental health struggles onto our pets? Melissa Bain, a professor of veterinary behaviour at the University of California, Davis, told STAT News, "When we start to recognise things in humans, we recognise it in our dogs too." She believes the growing focus on human mental health, especially since the pandemic, has made us more conscious of our pets' emotions. But while awareness is essential, experts warn that not every 'bad' behaviour requires a pill. Breed choices and lifestyle mismatches High-energy breeds like Border Collies, Labradors and Belgian Malinois - historically bred for work - top the list for behavioural drug prescriptions. Why? Because we bring them into small apartments, work long hours, and expect them to be Instagrammable cuddle companions. We're medicating normal animal behaviours because they don't fit into our lifestyles. If a dog has too much energy for your schedule, that's not the dog's fault. That's a mismatch. And let's be honest: many of us pick pets based on cuteness, not compatibility. The rise in popularity of working dogs with strong instincts and high prey drive clashes with our urban, high-stress lives.
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Health
- Boston Globe
Healthcare exchanges in New England shared users' sensitive health data with companies like Google
The exchange websites ask users to answer a series of questions, including about their health histories, to find them the most relevant information on plans. But in some cases, when visitors responded to sensitive questions, the invisible trackers sent that information to platforms like Google, Advertisement The Markup and CalMatters audited the websites of all 19 states that independently operate their own online health exchange. While most of the sites contained advertising trackers of some kind, The Markup and CalMatters found that four states exposed visitors' sensitive health information. Nevada's exchange, Nevada Health Link, asks visitors about what prescriptions they use, including the names and dosages of the drugs, to help them find their best options for health insurance. When visitors start typing, it suggests specific medications, including antidepressants, birth control and hormone therapies. As visitors answered the questions, their responses were sent to LinkedIn and Snapchat, according to tests conducted by The Markup and CalMatters in April and May. When an individual indicated that they took Fluoxetine, commonly known as Prozac, on Nevada Health Link, the information was sent to LinkedIn. The Markup/CalMatters On the other side of the country, Maine's exchange, sent information on drug prescriptions and dosages to Google through an analytics tool. It also sent the names of doctors and hospitals that people had previously visited. Advertisement Rhode Island's exchange, HealthSource RI, sent prescription information, dosages, and doctors' names to Google. Massachusetts Health Connector, another exchange, told LinkedIn whether visitors said they were pregnant, blind, or disabled. After being contacted by The Markup and CalMatters, Nevada's health exchange stopped sending visitors' data to Snapchat and Massachusetts stopped sending data to LinkedIn. Additionally, The Markup and CalMatters found that Nevada stopped sending data to LinkedIn in early May, as we were testing. The Markup and CalMatters discovered the sharing after finding that California's exchange, Covered California, Experts said state health exchanges' use of advertising trackers was troubling if not entirely surprising. Such tools can help organizations to reach visitors and tailor ads for them. Google Analytics allows website operators to better understand who is coming to their site and to optimize ad campaigns. The LinkedIn and Snap trackers, like a similar offering from Meta, help companies target their social media ads. Nevada uses the trackers to help target marketing at uninsured residents, according to Russell Cook, Executive Director of the state agency that operates Nevada's exchange, Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. But health care services need to be especially careful with those tools, said John Haskell, a data privacy attorney who has previously worked as an investigator for the Department of Health and Human Services. 'It doesn't surprise me that organizations that have these massive tech stacks that rely on third party-resources don't have a full understanding of what the configuration is, what the data flows are, and then once they go to somebody, what that data is being used for,' Haskell said. 'It's something that needs to be addressed.' Advertisement How was state exchange data tied to users' identities? After The Markup and CalMatters then examined websites operated by 18 states other than California, as well as Washington, D.C., to see what information they shared as users navigated them. The sites were established under the Affordable Care Act, which requires states to offer health insurance either through their own exchanges or one operated by the federal government. To test them, we first ran the sites through The results showed that 18 used some sort of tracker. Some were filled with them. Nevada, for example, used nearly 50. By contrast, Blacklight found no tracker of any kind on Washington, D.C.'s exchange. Popular websites use on average seven trackers, according to Many of the sites used trackers in relatively innocuous ways, like counting page views. The four exchanges we found sharing sensitive health data sent varied responses to questions about the tracking. Advertisement Cook said in a statement that trackers placed by his Nevada agency were 'inadvertently obtaining information regarding the name and dosage of prescription drugs' and sending it to LinkedIn and Snapchat. Cook acknowledged such data was 'wholly irrelevant to our marketing efforts' and said it had disabled tracking software pending an audit. Jason Lefferts, a spokesperson for Massachusetts Health Connector, said in a statement that 'personally identifiable information is not part of the tool's structure and no personally identifiable information, not even the IP addresses of users of the tool, has ever been shared with any party in any way via this tool.' But LinkedIn's Spokespeople for the Rhode Island and Maine health exchanges said that they pay a vendor, Consumers' Checkbook, to run a separate site that allows visitors to explore what plans are available to them through their states' exchanges. It was from these sites that sensitive information was shared to Google. Consumers' Checkbook's sites are at different web addresses than the exchange sites, but are prominently linked to on the exchange sites and display identical branding like the state health exchange's logo, making it unlikely that an average visitor would realize they were no longer on a state-run domain. Christina Spaight O'Reilly, a spokesperson for HealthSource RI, said the company uses Google Analytics to study trends but not to serve ads, and 'disables Google Signals Data Collection, ensuring that no data is shared with Google Ads for audience creation or ad personalization, and no session data is linked to Google's advertising cookies or identifiers.' HealthSource RI's terms of use mention the use of Google Analytics, she noted. A spokesperson for made similar points, saying that the agency 'does not collect or retain any data entered into the tool.' Advertisement When an individual selected a doctor on HealthSource RI, the doctor's name was sent to Google Analytics. The Markup/CalMatters Consumers' Checkbook declined to comment beyond the exchanges' statements. All of the exchanges said that individually identifiable health information, like names and addresses, wasn't sent to third parties. But the point of the trackers is to enhance information sent about a user with data the platforms already have on that user, and every tracker found by The Markup and CalMatters logged details about individual visitors, such as their operating system, browser, device, and times of visit. In response to requests for comment, the tech companies whose trackers we examined uniformly said they do not want organizations sending them potentially sensitive health data, and that doing so is against their terms of use. Steve Ganem, Director of Product Management for Google Analytics, said that 'by default any data sent to Google Analytics does not identify individuals, and we have strict policies against collecting Private Health Information or advertising based on sensitive information.' A spokesperson for LinkedIn, Brionna Ruff, said that advertisers are not allowed 'to target ads based on sensitive data categories,' such as health issues. A spokesperson for Snapchat owner Snap said the same, noting that sending purchases of supplies like prescriptions would run afoul of the company's rules about sensitive data. Advertisement 'It is important to ensure that your implementation of Google Analytics and the data collected about visitors to your properties satisfies all applicable legal requirements,' the page reads. More incidents State exchanges aren't the only health sites that have sent medical information to social media companies. In 2022, In 2023, a New York hospital agreed to pay a $300,000 fine for violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. In response to a series of incidents, the Some plaintiffs have used state laws, like those in California, to argue that they should be compensated for having their health data sent to third parties without consent. Others have argued that this kind of tracking runs afoul of 'Organizations aren't investing enough time and resources into properly vetting everything,' said Haskell, who advises clients to be very careful about the information they track on their sites. 'When organizations are saying, 'we didn't understand that there's a certain configuration of this tool that we're using,' well, I can't really not put that on you.'
New York Post
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Drug that makes our ‘brains happier' can also fight tumors: study
This will brighten your mood. A surprising new study has found that some common medication used to make people feel better might also be effective in the fight against cancer. 'These drugs have been widely and safely used to treat depression for decades, so repurposing them for cancer would be a lot easier than developing an entirely new therapy,' Dr. Lili Yang, a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA, said in a press release. 3 A surprising new study has found that some common medication used to make people feel better might also be effective in the fight against cancer. Tyler Olson – Yang and her team found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs — medications like Prozac and Celexa that millions of Americans take daily — can help T-cells tackle tumors with greater aplomb. 'It turns out SSRIs don't just make our brains happier; they also make our T-cells happier — even while they're fighting tumors,' she said. In lab tests using both mouse and human tumor models — spanning melanoma, breast, prostate, colon and bladder cancers — SSRIs shrunk tumors by over 50%. The drugs heightened killer-T‑cell activity, enhancing their ability to locate and destroy cancer cells. 'SSRIs made the killer T cells happier in the otherwise oppressive tumor environment by increasing their access to serotonin signals, reinvigorating them to fight and kill cancer cells,' Yang said. 3 Yang and her team found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs — medications like Prozac and Celexa that millions of Americans take daily — can help T-cells tackle tumors with greater aplomb. KMPZZZ – While serotonin is primarily known for regulating mood, it also plays a crucial role in managing sleep, gut health, appetite, libido and blood clotting. Now, it's being given its proper due in combatting this devastating disease. The research, which was published in the journal Cell, has exciting implications for cancer treatment, since SSRIs are already FDA-approved, paving the way for clinical trials. 'Studies estimate the bench-to-bedside pipeline for new cancer therapies costs an average of $1.5 billion,' she said. 'When you compare this to the estimated $300 million cost to repurpose FDA-approved drugs, it's clear why this approach has so much potential.' 3 'It turns out SSRIs don't just make our brains happier; they also make our T cells happier — even while they're fighting tumors,' she said. Daniel – Even better? When SSRIs were paired with existing cancer immunotherapy, the results were even more dramatic. Treated mice saw tumors shrink dramatically, and in some cases, vanish altogether. 'Immune checkpoint blockades are effective in fewer than 25% of patients,' study co-author James Elsten-Brown, a graduate student in the Yang lab, said. 'If a safe, widely available drug like an SSRI could make these therapies more effective, it would be hugely impactful.'
The National
10-06-2025
- Health
- The National
Prozac users in the UAE concerned as supplies of 'life-changing' drug run out
Concerns are growing among Prozac users in the UAE around dwindling supplies of the drug after its global discontinuation last year. Pharmaceutical giant Lilly decided to cease production of the medication due to "evolving business priorities", however it has left patients and psychiatrists in the Emirates worrying about either how to source the drug internationally, or finding an alternative. Considered a cornerstone treatment for conditions like depression and anxiety, the medication is now fast disappearing from pharmacy shelves as stocks run out. Internationally, the medication is widely available under other brand names however in the UAE Prozac has historically been the only option with this formula. Finding alternatives Prozac, originally manufactured by US drug company Lilly, is the brand name for fluoxetine, a type of medication known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It has been used for mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and bulimia nervosa since its launch in 1987. It is available on the market as a controlled medication and accessible to patients when prescribed by a psychiatrist. Now, patients may have to source their medication out of the country or try alternative pharmaceuticals, such as Zoloft (sertraline) or Cipralex (escitalopram), which have different base formulations and therefore different side effects depending on a person's biology. 'This decision is not related to the safety or efficacy of the medicine, but reflects the availability of broad alternative treatments and evolving business priorities,' a Lilly spokesperson told The National. 'We encourage patients currently on Prozac to speak to their healthcare provider about treatment options available to them. While no new supplies are being planned, limited stock may still be available locally through licensed distributors.' The National was able to locate some Prozac at pharmacies with leftover stocks at the time of writing, but many contacted were completely out. Global antidepressants usage While Prozac has been one of the most widely prescribed drugs of its kind for decades, the global antidepressant market is growing rapidly. It was valued at $18.7 billion in 2024 and is estimated to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent from 2025 to 2034, when it is forecasted it will be worth $37.9 billion, according to Global Market Insights. This is being driven predominantly by mental health awareness and rising demand for effective treatments for various conditions. 'Impact was life-changing' One Dubai-based mother, who wished to remain anonymous, is concerned for her 11-year-old daughter, who has been taking Prozac for the past 18 months. "She is autistic and struggles with severe anxiety, OCD and specific phobias," she told The National. "We tried other SSRIs before, but none were effective. Prozac has been the only medication that made a noticeable difference, particularly for her OCD symptoms." The mother said since they'd heard Prozac is going out of stock in the UAE, they've been trying to source an alternative fluoxetine product from their home country. "Switching to another SSRI is not a viable option for her right now ... I trust that the authorities will take this matter seriously and work toward a solution, especially for children and families who rely on this medication for daily functioning and well-being." Dubai resident Victoria McKeown, who lived with 'crippling' anxiety for years until she was prescribed Prozac, is also concerned about the lack of availability in the future. 'While I wouldn't describe myself as clinically depressed, I tried several antidepressants over the years with little effect,' she told The National. 'That changed when I was prescribed a low dose of Prozac. The impact was life-changing – not just for me, but for those around me.' Ms McKeown's psychiatrist contacted her to say she will need to consider trying medications that had previously been ineffective. 'Right now, it seems my only option is to travel overseas, obtain a prescription there, and bring it back with me," she said. "It's incredibly disheartening that a medication which has helped so many people is no longer available here.' Experts are hopeful that an appropriate alternative will soon be available in the market, however. Dr Teizeem Dhanji, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical director at Dubai's Sage Clinics, said there is currently no confirmed guidance from authorities, but 'it is expected that substitute options will be introduced in due course'. The National has contacted the Emirates Drug Establishment for more details on when an alternative will be registered, but there was no confirmation at the time of writing. What patients can do now Dr Dhanji advised individuals taking fluoxetine to consult their treating psychiatrists to discuss the best course of action. 'Clinicians can help develop a personalised plan to safely and gradually taper the current medications and transition to an appropriate alternative if necessary," she said. "There are a number of safe and effective antidepressant options available in the UAE and so patients should consult their psychiatrist early.' It may also give some individuals the chance to reassess treatment needs and explore additional coping strategies or therapeutic options that may complement or replace medication, Dr Dhanji added. But the disruption could have a significant impact on the market, said Antony Bainbridge, head of clinical services and clinical lead at Resicare Alliance, a UK-based assessment and residential provider for children with mental health issues that plans to open a Dubai boarding facility soon. Mr Bainbridge said the lack of a substitute could require potentially disruptive changes in medication, particularly for patients who respond well to fluoxetine. 'Alternative SSRIs like sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine are available, but they have different side effect profiles and may not be as effective for every individual.' Patients switching from Prozac to another SSRI may experience withdrawal symptoms, relapse or other side effects during the transition, he added. 'The unavailability may lead to worsening of symptoms in some patients, increasing the burden on mental health services.' Mr Bainbridge also expressed concerns that patients could resort to unregulated or illegal sources to obtain the medication, 'posing significant safety risks'.
The National
10-06-2025
- Health
- The National
Prozac users in the UAE concerned as supplies of 'life-changing' drug dry up
Prozac users in the UAE are concerned about dwindling supplies after its global discontinuation last year, sparking conversations among patients and psychiatrists about available alternatives. Considered a cornerstone treatment for conditions like depression and anxiety, the medication is now fast disappearing from pharmacy shelves as stocks dry up. Internationally, the medication is widely available under other brand names however in the UAE Prozac has historically been the only option with this formula. Finding alternatives Prozac, which was manufactured by US drug company Lilly, is the brand name for fluoxetine, a type of medication known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It has been used for mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and bulimia nervosa since its launch in 1987. It is available on the market as a controlled medication and accessible to patients when prescribed by a psychiatrist. Now, patients may have to source their medication out of the country or try alternative pharmaceuticals, such as Zoloft (sertraline) or Cipralex (escitalopram), which have different base formulations and therefore different side effects depending on a person's biology. 'This decision is not related to the safety or efficacy of the medicine, but reflects the availability of broad alternative treatments and evolving business priorities,' a Lilly spokesperson told The National. 'We encourage patients currently on Prozac to speak to their healthcare provider about treatment options available to them. While no new supplies are being planned, limited stock may still be available locally through licensed distributors.' The National was able to locate some Prozac at pharmacies with leftover stocks at the time of writing, but many contacted were completely out. Global antidepressants usage While Prozac has been one of the most widely prescribed drugs of its kind for decades, the global antidepressant market is growing rapidly. It was valued at $18.7 billion in 2024 and is estimated to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent from 2025 to 2034, when it is forecasted it will be worth $37.9 billion, according to Global Market Insights. This is being driven predominantly by mental health awareness and rising demand for effective treatments for various conditions. 'Impact was life-changing' One Dubai-based mother, who wished to remain anonymous, is concerned for her 11-year-old daughter, who has been taking Prozac for the past 18 months. "She is autistic and struggles with severe anxiety, OCD and specific phobias," she told The National. "We tried other SSRIs before, but none were effective. Prozac has been the only medication that made a noticeable difference, particularly for her OCD symptoms." The mother said since they'd heard Prozac is going out of stock in the UAE, they've been trying to source an alternative fluoxetine product from their home country. "Switching to another SSRI is not a viable option for her right now ... I trust that the authorities will take this matter seriously and work toward a solution, especially for children and families who rely on this medication for daily functioning and well-being." Dubai resident Victoria McKeown, who lived with 'crippling' anxiety for years until she was prescribed Prozac, is also concerned about the lack of availability in the future. 'While I wouldn't describe myself as clinically depressed, I tried several antidepressants over the years with little effect,' she told The National. 'That changed when I was prescribed a low dose of Prozac. The impact was life-changing – not just for me, but for those around me.' Ms McKeown's psychiatrist contacted her to say she will need to consider trying medications that had previously been ineffective. 'Right now, it seems my only option is to travel overseas, obtain a prescription there, and bring it back with me," she said. "It's incredibly disheartening that a medication which has helped so many people is no longer available here.' Experts are hopeful that an appropriate alternative will soon be available in the market, however. Dr Teizeem Dhanji, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical director at Dubai's Sage Clinics, said there is currently no confirmed guidance from authorities, but 'it is expected that substitute options will be introduced in due course'. The National has contacted the Emirates Drug Establishment for more details on when an alternative will be registered, but there was no confirmation at the time of writing. What patients can do now Dr Dhanji advised individuals taking fluoxetine to consult their treating psychiatrists to discuss the best course of action. 'Clinicians can help develop a personalised plan to safely and gradually taper the current medications and transition to an appropriate alternative if necessary," she said. "There are a number of safe and effective antidepressant options available in the UAE and so patients should consult their psychiatrist early.' It may also give some individuals the chance to reassess treatment needs and explore additional coping strategies or therapeutic options that may complement or replace medication, Dr Dhanji added. But the disruption could have a significant impact on the market, said Antony Bainbridge, head of clinical services and clinical lead at Resicare Alliance, a UK-based assessment and residential provider for children with mental health issues that plans to open a Dubai boarding facility soon. Mr Bainbridge said the lack of a substitute could require potentially disruptive changes in medication, particularly for patients who respond well to fluoxetine. 'Alternative SSRIs like sertraline, citalopram and paroxetine are available, but they have different side effect profiles and may not be as effective for every individual.' Patients switching from Prozac to another SSRI may experience withdrawal symptoms, relapse or other side effects during the transition, he added. 'The unavailability may lead to worsening of symptoms in some patients, increasing the burden on mental health services.' Mr Bainbridge also expressed concerns that patients could resort to unregulated or illegal sources to obtain the medication, 'posing significant safety risks'.
