by Julie Marquis

About the author: Julie Marquis is a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times.

It’s just a little green and white pill, but it’s got the name recognition—and some would say the devoted following—of a rock star.

Twice, the antidepressant Prozac has been featured on the cover of Newsweek. It has been the subject of several books, including one bestseller.

But not everyone is an avid fan. Critics say that it is grossly overprescribed and that its long-term effects are unknown. Others say it is no replacement for a stint on the psychotherapist’s couch.

Rising Popularity

Meanwhile, more than 20 million people in 100 countries have partaken of this flagship drug, the first in a new generation of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake...