| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 1/2/2007 11:38:29 AM | @ babylonia, have you ever taken and then tried to come off of these drugs?
Anti-depressants ARE addictive..most literature states that they are not but that's because who would want to take an addicting drug???
I personally had an awful withdrawal from Paxil. I took it for 2 years because of PTSD and there came a time when I wanted to see what I felt like without it..if I could function normally. I followed the Doctors instructions and cut back slowly by like 5 - 10 mg a day but it was still insane. I threw up, had awful headaches, had chills, alternated between not being able to sleep enough and not being able to sleep for like 36 hours. The worst was panic attacks and not being able to breathe. One night I actually was convinced that someone was trying to break into my apartment. It took like 6 weeks and I was a horrible mess the whole time and barely functionable. And my situation is not isolated.. I honestly know at least 7 other people who had a horrible time trying to get off anti-depressant drugs. Any doctor will tell you that there are huge risks when coming off of these drugs and that it can be very dangerous even though they won;t use the term "addicting". But what else would you call it besides dependancy?? | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 1/3/2007 12:34:05 AM | One of the biggest problems with depression, or any illness a doctor can't x-ray or blood test etc for is the doctor can only work with what a patient tells them. Mental illness or chemical imbalances ARE hard to figure out and treat properly ~ it IS easier for many to just "take some pills" to make it all better, but unless you have lived through real depression, not just a bit of feeling down or sad here and there that is normal ~ it is very easy to stand on a soapbox and preach.
Guess what, you may not, actually, you are more than likely not going to get the right drug/dosage first try......life is not that perfect. You may be one who is lucky and doesn't need drugs and have found methods that DO work for you. If you are, be thankful but to then try to make those of us who do in fact need them to come out of h*ll and be able to function feel smaller or weak because of it......I think my point has been made. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/10/2007 10:37:05 PM | | We all know that antidepressants are bad for your health, but you have to admit that sometimes.............................just sometimes, they may save a life........don't you think?? | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/10/2007 10:49:58 PM | honestly. antidepressants are NOT "bad for your health". they treat a medical condition. if used improperly, of course they're going to be bad. for that matter, vitamins can be bad for your health if used improperly. used correctly under the supervision of qualified medical professionals, the risks are far outweighed by the benefits.
and they're not "addictive", at least not the way alcohol, opiates, etc are addictive.
it really irritates me when some uneducated guy off the street has a bad experience and makes ignorant or alarmist statements about a medication that honestly helps some people survive and function normally. no wonder there's such a social stigma attached to the use of antidepressants and other medications related to mental health. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/11/2007 12:39:00 PM | I took Paxil and it quit working. My thoughts were becoming suicidal. I would be hit by images of my wrists cut and blood flowing freely from them when I was driving down the road and I would have to pull over and wait for the terror the images caused to pass before I could continue driving. I wasn't thinking about killing myself, these images were popping into my head without any dark thoughts, bad moods, etc. Anyone care to explain that??
The doctor took me off paxil, slowlyyyyyyyyyy.. because it causes symptoms of "withdrawl" . Seems to me you can't have withdrawl if your not dependant on them.. and what is dependancy if not a type of addiction? He then tried me on Prozac. Again, they just weren't doing the trick. I still had no energy to face every day life. We increased it. BIG MISTAKE. I could barely keep awake, function and the headaches I got were horrible.
So I took myself off. Cold Turkey, I guess you would call it. Suddenly I had less problems waking up in the mornings, less headaches, i wasn't falling asleep in the middle of the day, etc.
However, now when things get too tough for me to handle, i hide my head in the sand like an ostrich. Try to just avoid the situation entirely, and when I am extremely depressed I have nothing to help me combat it. So what's the answer? I don't have a clue. Counseling? Did it to death. I know the solutions they offer. Passed all the tests so to speak. I am an intellegent woman, but I don't have all the answers. Not everything works the same for everyone.
Today I am just trying to de-stress my life. Avoid situations that over-stress me, and work on the ones I have to. Some days are dark and dreadful. Some days are full of peace. Some days, are just days. I pray for the peaceful ones and am thankful for the ones that just are days. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/11/2007 1:33:16 PM | So much ignorance in here...
I for one, am glad there are medications like this out there. They helped someone very special to me who dealt with depression, and that fact is all I need to be alright with the use of anti-depressants. If she needed more tomorrow, I would support her 100%... | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/24/2007 6:24:53 AM | i am a mental health nurse - that fortunately, has never needed antidepressants, i dish out these pills every working day. i have to agree - i would never take one of these ....
and have not seen them work. but i am just doing my job......the psychiatists tell me what to medicate and that s what i do.... if my mum, daughter, etc needed them i would advise against ................. this is sad coming from some one in theprofession. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/24/2007 6:31:50 AM | you haven't seen them work?
maybe you need to get out of the mental hospital and into the community. i suspect the people you see are not representative of people with depression as a whole. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/24/2007 10:22:22 AM |
i am a mental health nurse - that fortunately, has never needed antidepressants, i dish out these pills every working day. i have to agree - i would never take one of these ....
and have not seen them work. but i am just doing my job......the psychiatists tell me what to medicate and that s what i do.... if my mum, daughter, etc needed them i would advise against ................. this is sad coming from some one in theprofession
Above quoted statement coming from someone who works in this field puts even more doubt in my mind. Thanks for posting this mentalnursex
I am slowly starting to wonder if those meds do help. . . . I am on my 19th day of AD's and don't really feel better . If anything - the side effects are terrible and I am considering getting off them. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/25/2007 12:19:10 AM | To Hoirm: I have a brother who has taken AD drugs for a long time and I never realized what they did for him. He tried to get off of them (like a lot of other drugs when people feel better they want to quit taking them) and he just started crying all the time. Then a few years later (I think it is a genetic thing) I found myself with terrible anxiety and couldn't sleep. I finally went to the doctor and he told me I was having anxiety attacks. He gave me a mild tranq to calm me at bedtime and I was sleeping fine - no hangover in the morning. Then it started happening all day long and I was getting more and more depressed as I was losing control over myself but I didn't want to be groggy during the day. I began taking ADs in 2000. While you are taking them you feel nothing different (no grogginess or dazed feelings). I have been taking them since and other than slight dosage changes and trying different combinations, I am feeling so much better. I have tried to wean myself off to see what will happen, and I immediately begin having the same symptoms.
THE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AD'S: It takes several weeks to feel the benefits. And, even after a few weeks, if you don't feel better, consult your doctor about trying something different. There are tons of them out there now - many generic now (cheaper) and your doctor might also consider letting you try samples to see if they work on you. The thing about it is - you may be taking drugs (and you have only yourself to blame if you don't get your doctor to help you manage side effects) but it is much better than the alternative - I am a prime example.
Depression in my case is genetic. I can remember having depression as a young woman. My mother had depression problems and I know my father did even though he died at 55 and I don't know if it would have been more noticeable. I didn't start losing control of my own resolve until I was 58 and post-menapausal, and had a very stressful job.
Don't give up - just keep in touch with your doctor. Psychiatrists are better at prescribing and following you during the time you are managing your medication.
The guy who started this POST sounds like Tom Cruise - and he really made me angry when he was on the Today Show and denounced psychiatry. I only hoped at the time that Katie didn't go through post-partum depression. He would have been very unsympathetic and it could have been dangerous. I wouldn't be surprised if that is what Britney Spears' problem is - she had 2 kids in 2 years - hard enough without depression.
Hope everyone on here reads this. Think for yourself and contact a psychiatrist who is fully familiar with medicines and what works for what symptoms. Good Luck. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/25/2007 12:28:02 AM | ADs are not addictive in the way that Valium or Vicodin is. If you need them, it is hard to quit taking them without your symptoms returning. If you don't need them, you will have no problem not taking them. When you decide to quit taking ADs - for whatever reason - you need to wean off of them.
When I started ADs, my doctor said I probably would never be able to be totally without them. I was 58 and I had lost my ability to control my depression and anxiety the way I had been coping my entire life.
I know people who have done like you and used them for PTSD. If you wean off of them correctly, you should be fine. If you don't feel fine, then it is probably too soon to go off. Be sure to consult a psychiatrist! They are the only doctors who really can follow your symptoms and know which med to use for the result. There are lots of ADs out there now - much more than there were when I started taking them 7 years ago so there is no need to take something that doesn't agree with you.
Good luck. There is no shame in taking ADs. Many people are just genetically predispositioned to have depression or anxiety. Some other people have alchoholism or other illegal drug additions. At least ADs are legal and they can be used without most side effects if you adjust them according to your needs.
Good Luck.  | |
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e-wok
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Joined: 9/25/2006
Msg: 89 | |
| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/25/2007 3:04:22 AM | Strange how many of these meds were really intended for temporary
use and were suppose to be coupled with counselling, but now the
doctors have some of their patients believing this is a permanent
solution.
IMO, these drugs are useless for many people because they don't
suffer from an organic form of a mental disease...the problems
they are having is in their head....you know what I mean! LOL...so,
the solution is to calm yourself and think things through - if you're not
equipped to, then seek counselling...don't be reaching for cocaine, alcohol or
paxil...this stuff can cause more harm than good.
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/25/2007 3:30:55 AM | | I used to be on antidepressants, but after awhile they messed with my brain, mostly my memory and I kept forgetting things and still do at times, so ya I'd rather not be on any pills. | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/25/2007 6:46:46 AM | Posters 54 and 89, your understanding of antidepressants is lacking, their original intent was to fix a chemical imbalance in the brain. Situational depression is NEVER changed by drugs. I have been taking effexor xr for 12 years now, and it works wonders for me.......in fact it helps me deal with overly aggressive self professed "experts" like you two and Tom Cruise.
Now for the users of these drugs who worry about things such as dizziness, double vision, sexual side effects..........they subside at time goes on and don't become a problem. Some posters are correct you can't come off these drugs cold turkey, it takes a gradauted program of diminshing quantity........ | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/25/2007 10:17:03 PM | Poster No. 91, thank you for backing me up (I know that isn't what you were doing but it is the outcome). I am hoping that people who are saying bad things about these meds never have to take them. There is no shame in taking them - they work as long as you keep in touch with your psychiatrist and make sure the dosage is working. You may also need to adjust the amount you are taking of the prescribed drug after long periods. Things could change in your system which would require a higher or lower dose. A psychiatrist really cannot just allow you to take these drugs without following up with you from time to time. He will not refill prescriptions endlessly without knowing how you are doing. Therefore, people have no way to abuse these drugs - as if that would do any good. They aren't like Ritilan - they don't give you a high or anything. If the chemical balance is not off there will be no results.
Again, thank you readyfordating. Maybe if enough of us make our testimonies here, there will be less prejudice for people who take and need these meds.
Again, I would like to stress - don't get your knowledge from "friends" or supposed "experts" - if you have questions and/or need these meds, consult a psychiatrist. | |
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e-wok
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Joined: 9/25/2006
Msg: 93 | |
| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/25/2007 10:29:31 PM | Poster No. 91, thank you for backing me up (I know that isn't what you were doing but it is the outcome). I am hoping that people who are saying bad things about these meds never have to take them. There is no shame in taking them - they work as long as you keep in touch with your psychiatrist and make sure the dosage is working.
Actually, I was having a bad reaction maybe 3 years ago and the doctor
prescribed PAXIL to me....I got somewhat addicted to it because I wanted
to come off it because it was doing nothing for me - I kept getting a sensation
of electrical jolts in my brain as I took myself off it. After I insisted having a blood
test...he relented only after I threatened to fire him - the test showed
my Thyroid level was sooooooooo off the charts. I did much research
into thyroid problems and it is at epedemic proportions across the world and
that the study also claims that many people on anti-anxiety meds or depression
meds are actually misdiagnosed as depressives when they only need
thyroid meds.
IMO, there's no shame in anything....just keep yourself informed of
what's available and never stop at "good enough." | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/26/2007 12:06:13 AM | e-wok, I cannot believe that you got addicted to Paxil. It is not addictive. You may mean that you got addicted to the effects of the med - i.e., lack of depression/anxiety. The only effect that it could cause is a feeling of peace because you aren't depressed or are less depressed. You could, however, get an adverse reaction (not all meds are meant for all people) and that is when you should consult your psychiatrist. If anyone is prescribed AD meds, they should be seeing a psychiatrist. Regular doctors don't know what they are doing - trust me I've gone both routes. It is much better to see a psychiatrist. They don't just hand out pills, they follow-up with you to see how you are feeling. It is also a place to go if you aren't getting better or have side effects.
When you were prescribed Paxil, I am sure you were told that it may cause weight gain. I have taken Paxil and have never had low thyroid and I have mine checked every 3-6 months. There are meds that are less likely to cause weight gain. Also, when you get a new medication from the pharmacy, there should be a consult with the pharmacist or an enclosure telling you of the side effects to be looking for. One of them is weight gain in connection with Paxil.
Doctors are not Gods - you should feel free to ask them what to expect with ANY prescription you are prescribed, i.e., antibiotics, antidepressants, etc. We as patients cannot allow ourselves to be naive to the drugs we are taking. | |
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e-wok
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Joined: 9/25/2006
Msg: 96 | |
| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/26/2007 12:09:20 AM | ^^^ Actually, she stating something pretty dead on; statistically, a placebo
is almost as effective as the real deal in recent clinical tests (according to WebDr). And the
patients who claim that there was a benefit from the non-placebo are
reporting only marginal benefits.
The garden path is what many people are already on but just don't know it...perhaps
it's the placebo effect 
e-wok, I cannot believe that you got addicted to Paxil. It is not addictive.
I wouldn't say I was exactly addicted to it.....cigarettes, yeah, I know what
addiction means, but more accurately I suppose I should have stated
I had a major reaction to cutting it....this is what happens when you don't
get weened off it and I would not recommend cutting cold turkey - that was
really bad.
When you were prescribed Paxil, I am sure you were told that it may cause weight gain. I have taken Paxil and have never had low thyroid and I have mine checked every 3-6 months. There are meds that are less likely to cause weight gain. Also, when you get a new medication from the pharmacy, there should be a consult with the pharmacist or an enclosure telling you of the side effects to be looking for. One of them is weight gain in connection with Paxil.
He only told me that I would lose my desire for sex...which never happend, but
the weight gain and shift was symptomatic of a thyroid condition which he
didn't catch on to. My symptom I complained about: I had a sensation that
I was gonna get wacked by a 2 x 4 in the head...so he immediately prescribes Paxil! No
blood test...no nothing! Diagnosed in 5 minutes flat. It's so friggin easy to get these drugs. But when my
finger nails started cracking and I started to develop acne for the first time
at age 38, he had an excuse for everything but never wanted to test my
blood for something else. It was simply......"you're depressed and you
need to take this!" - so, no,
doctors are not God's you have to do your own research these days like
I said and I share your opinion on that. I'm perfectly healthy today except for
having to take synthetic thyroid for likely the rest of my life.
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/26/2007 7:58:03 AM |
There is no shame in taking them - they work as long as you keep in touch with your psychiatrist and make sure the dosage is working. You may also need to adjust the amount you are taking of the prescribed drug after long periods. Things could change in your system which would require a higher or lower dose. A psychiatrist really cannot just allow you to take these drugs without following up with you from time to time. He will not refill prescriptions endlessly without knowing how you are doing.
absolutely. unlike some people, i happen to have a GREAT doctor who reassesses me every 3 months and asks how i feel about adjusting my dosage. he's not a psych he's a family doctor, but he has mental illness in his own family and is very supportive and knowledgeable. he doesn't prescribe antidepressants unnecessarily but in my case, i DO need them. in addition i think it's necessary to do the non-pharmaceutical ways you can combat chronic illness - things like eating properly, getting exercise, bright light therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, whatever works for YOU. don't take someone else's word for it, they're not you. take charge of your own treatment and regard your doctors as your wellness team, it makes a huge difference! | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/26/2007 1:29:38 PM |
e-wok, I just happened to think of something that could have been your problem. If you were still smoking, there are some ADs that can be used to stop smoking - which would indicate to me that they may not be suitable to people who are smoking - adverse reactions, etc. I know that Wellbutrin is used for that purpose and others may react to smokers as well. I have a friend who is a smoker and was taking Wellbutrin for depression and she had a very adverse reaction - got very sick.
Hope this helps. If anyone has a similar problem, you might want to consider that if you are smoking there may be a "drug interference" | |
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| antideressants are TOTALLY bad for you health
Posted: 3/26/2007 1:30:42 PM |
e-wok, I just happened to think of something that could have been your problem. If you were still smoking, there are some ADs that can be used to stop smoking - which would indicate to me that they may not be suitable to people who are smoking - adverse reactions, etc. I know that Wellbutrin is used for that purpose and others may react to smokers as well. I have a friend who is a smoker and was taking Wellbutrin for depression and she had a very adverse reaction - got very sick.
Hope this helps. If anyone has a similar problem, you might want to consider that if you are smoking there may be a "drug interference" | |
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