Posted on 02/19/2012 6:07:06 PM PST by MindBender26
(CBS News) Do antidepressants work? Since the introduction of Prozac in the 1980s, prescriptions for antidepressants have soared 400 percent, with 17 million Americans currently taking some form of the drug. But how much good is the medication itself doing? "The difference between the effect of a placebo and the effect of an antidepressant is minimal for most people," says Harvard scientist Irving Kirsch. Will Kirsch's research, and the work of others, change the $11.3 billion antidepressant industry? Lesley Stahl investigates.
For example lets take anxiety disorders. Most mental health specialist assumes the SSRI protocol or antidepressant protocol is the answer. True but only if it is an actual chemical issue. Just as common for triggering anxiety is Vestibular {meaning Inner Ear, hearing and the Cerebellar portion related too it} issues doctors often miss. Give them antidepressants and you may see a real horrid adverse reaction basically like giving them LSD.
This isn't junk science it was discovered back in the 1970's but only considered seriously in the past decade or so maybe a little longer.
For these patients another medication route must be taken that most Psychiatrist say so no too especially long term. I'm talking about Benzo's. I am one of those patients myself diagnosed 17 years ago with General Anxiety Disorder. No antidepressants would help and actually made it far worse. Xanax helped but only part time.
About a year into it I found an excellent book called Phobia Free by Harold Levinson who linked anxiety and forms of ADD ADHD and even dyslexic symptoms to vestibular disorders. My medical history matched Vestibular origin. It was at that point I had to get firm with the doctors treating me who insisted antidepressants were to be used. Finally I just walked out and found a doctor who had seen it and he understood how too properly prescribe Xanax too where it worked and continued to work even now.
My initial dosage was 2mg twice a day. Wrong dosage wrong strength. New doctor went to .5 or half mg 4 times a day. RELIEF! It worked most the time.
It is Non Phobic Anxiety. IOW no phobia or even a sense of dread. But rather an intolerance to certain auditory and visuals stimulation that I now know from my own research gives me Myoclonic Seizures in the upper Torso.
For what it's worth my wife is a Vestibular patient due to quadriplegia. Antidepressants will put her into Serotonin Syndrome. This is not something you ever want too see or experience. Six doctors missed it and kept calling for more Zoloft.
I looked up her medication Trazadone +Zoloft +adverse reaction and found it in a few minutes after about 5 days into it. I showed the into too the doctors and was told "that's rubbish" exact words used.
Antidepressants are great for those who need them. But some caution needs to be given and patients and their family warned of the potential for this.
When I was young, a doctor put me on one of those medicines. If anything, they seemed to make me ‘worse’. While taking it, I seriously contemplated suicide for no good reason. I stopped taking it, and felt MUCH better. It was like a dark cloud lifted away.
I’d advise someone feeling ‘bad’(as long as it isn’t too often) to simply pick up a bottle of spirits for after work, rather than taking that garbage.
With that said, I've been on several prescription antidepressants over the years. *What follows is not medical advice*: what I have found works for me as well or better than any prescription antidepressant is a daily supplement of 5-HTP (do an internet search of it) plus vitamins B & D.
Having dealt with these meds the majority of this existence, I've never thought of a 'placebo' effect. What ususally happens is once the proper dosage is figured out (which seems to take FOREVER), the theraputic effect lasts about a year and a half, when I guess tolerance builds up or something, and then you have to start that excruciating process all over again.
I'm currently not on any meds, I can recognise the symptoms when they occur and just deal with them. I don't recommend that approach for everyone.
It turns out that semen from no-condom sex has a pronounced anti-depressant effect on women.
Now no drug company is going to study this, and conservatives will go into fits wondering about what unmarried women should do, but the data is from a very reputable source, and has been reproduced many times. Just Google the terms "semen depression" and see how many hits you get.
No word on what men should do, but I suspect that helping to prevent depression in women is going to have an effect.
It's more likely to do with the fact the person actually had depression, anxiety, etc as a symptom of a missed ailment that after a few month cleared itself up. meaning ailment {could even be an infection} clears up and depression does.
Don't get me wrong there are those with long term depression and the meds do work well for them. But I think a lot is simply being missed these days in initial exams.
The only approved treatment by this administration is a monthly governtment check
I tried it and ended up on day 3 with severe nausea and dizziness. I could not walk, lie down or even close my eyes for a moment without wanting to vomit. I called the doc, the RN told me I had an inner ear infection (I know the difference). I simply stopped the drug and was fine in about 8 hours.
Never again.
“Actually I think Welburtin is fairly effective for folks trying to quit smoking. Not sure how effective it is for depression.”
It is also good for A.D.D. and weight management.
I like Wellbutrin and it is covered on my plan. Doc put me on Aplenzen and when I went t pick up the prescription, it was over 500 bucks.
You were very lucky she and the doctor were on top of it. Read post 20. Yea I took Wellbutrin once also. Never again. Paxil never again either. Paxil resulted in having to have a folley for two weeks. The things they don’t warn you about LOL.
Sorry, but don’t shoot the messenger. Read # 33.
Another clue that something more than a placebo effect is occurring are the often dramatic and very unpleasant symptoms that can occur especially when a short-acting SSRI such as paroxetine is abruptly withdrawn. Not uncommonly the original depression/anxiety will be augmented by any number of bizarre and uncomfortable sensations. Depression support group forums are full of such stories. Some patients actually titrate down (medical, not chemistry definition lol) by half a milligram a week to avoid this!
I started Paxil more than 10 years ago. I can see a big difference in me. I hate being a bitch.
“Company and FDA knew there are dozens of studies that show SSRIs have major negative side effects and little or no positive effects, but ignored those studies in approving drug.”
Where do you suppose our explosion of children with autism over the last 20 years has come from?
Perinatal antidepressant stunts brain development in rats
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2011/nimh-24.htm
Or how about long term SSRI use Worsening depression?
Now Antidepressant-Induced Chronic Depression Has a Name: Tardive Dysphoria
http://www.psychologytoday.com/print/68229
And then there’s all that drug co. advertising garbage about antidepressants curing a brain chemical imbalance
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0030240
Serotonin and Depression: A Disconnect between the Advertisements and the Scientific Literature
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392
Don’t let anyone buffalo you on this because it came from CBS and not Fox. It’s a great post no matter which MSM outlet ran the story.
Several years back, I took the antidepressant Pamelor for about a year, and it really seemed to help me with depression and anxiety.
I haven’t taken any psychotropics since then, but I really felt the effect of those pills. To say they have no effect at all, or are the same as sugar, just isn’t right.
Worse than useless ! DANGEROUS !
“and conservatives will go into fits wondering about what unmarried women should do, “
I wouldn’t be in fits. I think most women should marry. There are a FEW who are given the GIFT of singleness, that is to say, they can be content outside of marriage. But the vast majority of women should marry. And take their so to speak natural anti-depressant.
Some may say it is hard for women to find a good man. Sometimes perhaps. But if you “lower your standards” - not that you have to marry a big jerk, but one who is maybe heavier or poorer or isn’t as “cool” as you dreamed of - there’d probably be a good man for you.
Big difference between the numbers of men and women on dating/marriage sites, so, to sum up, I wouldn’t have fits, I’d recommend marriage to almost everybody.
for later
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