Posted by mary on December 7, 1999, at 22:26:21
In reply to Re: joining research studies, any opinions?, posted by Adam on December 7, 1999, at 9:46:49
If I had never enrolled in an investigational study for long time use of Paroxetene years ago, I'm fairly certain I would not be here today. For years, I had tried AD after AD with little and usually no relief. Most often, the only effect was drymouth, constipation and weight gain. That Paxil study(effects of long term use of Paroxetine) saved my life. While I was in that study I had relief from depression and suicidal feelings for the first time in six years. Hope for a life did exist. This study took place long before Paxil was available at your local drug store. I doubt I would have lasted that long.
An important part of that trial was that I would definitely receive the medication. No placebo was part of the study. There were weekly visits at the onset, then monthly checkins, so much support from the drug study personnel, along with my regular psychotherapy sessions. In addition, there were scheduled physicals with yearly eye exams and x-rays. Good or bad for me (depending on whether paxil was the precipitate), a routine study x-ray one year after being on Paroxitene showed a "shadow" which on further medical investigation, and all paid for by the drug company, spelled doom for my continued participation in the study. 'Course the worry I had to endure could have been caused by the drug. Bottom line, though, the biopsy results identified a sarcoidosis and I was ABRUPTLY dropped from the study-no compassionate continuation of medication and very little concern for tapering off the medication. Nor did the study people provide any support for additional medication possibilities. Being deprived of that "life-saving" medication was quite devastating at the time. Prozac came on the market about 6 long months later and helped to control the depression for quite some time as long as I didnt dwell on the lack of sexual satisfactions.
That drug study, partially successfully and partially a failure, bought precious time and existence for me. If nothing were working for me now and if I had the assurance that I would actually get the antidepressant, there's no doubt in my mind that I would participate in such a study again. As every one else has said, read the fine print and be sure you get the drug.
A similardrug study was offered in RI area for recalcitrant depression (sounds evil to me) but it involved Zoloft vs. Prozac and some other drug (cant remember which maybe a placebo). Since I had already been on both of those drugs, I didnot inquire any further. I wonder if this is a regional study of the same drugs.
At any rate, good luck.
Mary
poster:mary
thread:16324
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991123/msgs/16404.html