Posted by stjames on December 25, 2001, at 2:06:16
In reply to Re: James' Ideas - A Question » stjames, posted by IsoM on December 25, 2001, at 1:10:53
I noticed something about my use of antidepressants & because I'm open about my use of them, many other people that I know who may never have talked about their need of them, have opened up to me. I've seen a similar pattern develop among many users. If someone has been on ADs for a relatively short period & then tapers off them after their depression is judged clinically better, or "cured", the relapses seem to be much less than those who are on ADs for a couple of years or more.
I tend to feel if one has more than 3 relapses, it is a cronic depression. While AD's control depression, they do not halt it. This is much like diabetes; the meds control but do not halt
the progress of disease. So in the case of the person on AD's for years; I would say their depression has progressed and returns with greater effect. People who can get off the meds
quickly probably do not have as significant depresson, starting out.Chronic illness is measured in lifetimes, so it is difficult to draw conculsions based on a few years data. Now with 50 years data on AD's we will be able to draw better protocals for treatment. I am leaning toward treating it sooner and aggressively as being key to keeping people from lapsing into a chronic condition.
j
poster:stjames
thread:3670
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011222/msgs/87832.html