First of all, I hope that you’re enjoying your retirement.
Well, in reference to the article title, Depression has a very real and well known dark side too.
I currently take 10mg Prozac (Fluoxetine) / day.
It was the only thing that worked to lift me out of a dark pit that gradually decended on me when I was in my early 40’s. I can see why some people with Depression kill themselves. you don’t know what’s happening to you - I thought I had early onset alzheimer’s because I could not think straight and felt like I was in a dark pit all the time.
It took a few weeks to start to work, but over several (about six) months I was back to normal as I was before. Wow - Amazing stuff.
However, I think it is wrongly prescribed or over-prescribed in some cases. Keeping in mind that with SSRI’s the patients can somestimes flip over to Mania, it’s not like taking aspirin for a headache. Which is how I think some people look at anti-depressants.
I take 10mg Fluoxetine because 20 mg a day makes me too jumpy. On the other hand, my sister takes 60 mg a day because less than that is not as effective for her.
A friend of my wife takes Paxil. So after taking to my doctor I gave it a try. On the second day I woke up shaking like a leaf and seeing sparklies all around and things seemed to be jumping off the wall at me, plus a loud rumbling / rushing sound all around. I called the doctor, took an Ativan, took the day off work and slept the rest of the day and went back to my dose of Prozac.
Only thing I can guess is if a brain chemical such as 5HT is pushed by Anti-Depressants in the same way Serotonin is, and if brain chemicals like 5HT are part of what gets affected in the brain during LSD experiences, that might explain my reaction. If so, sure glad I never dropped acid...
Well, I guess everyone’s different. Seems to me most of the problem is not treating SSRI’s as just a Tylenol or Advil for the brain, instead of the powerful drugs that they are.
Yeah, I see that often...and I don't let it persist. I either switch or reduce the Rx and watch carefully. It's common to have different doses for different patients. The key is careful monitoring and, yes, some practitioners fail to do that.
Have you tried fish oil, Vit D, zinc and other natural remedies? Prayers for your recovery.
Have you tried fish oil, Vit D, zinc and other natural remedies? Prayers for your recovery.
Do you see yourself every getting off these meds, or do you think you will take them for a lifetime? I am not being judgemental with this question - if you think it is in your best interest to take them the rest of your life, that’s your decision and I respect it. I take thyroid every day and will until the day I day.
Do the meds continue to work as well five or ten years down the road, or does their effectiveness wane after a while? If it does, what do you do then?