Posted by Bob on July 13, 2002, at 13:14:51
In reply to Re: Real Depression, posted by cybercafe on July 12, 2002, at 2:39:57
> Actually that was a quote from LostBoy but I'll argue his side on this
>
> ---- my father is psychotic and takes perphenazine (Trilafon) ... he claims his side effects are
>
> Severe chronic sinus infection, congestion
> Rippled Cornea (visual impairment)
> Anal Leakage
> Asthma
> Major weight gain
> Much Sedation
> About 20-30 points off his IQ
>
> ... and a whole host of other symptoms he indicated were permanent ...
>
> .. i'd say that is much worse, ... but in my case there was no question that i would be taking the medication no matter what ... i just don't see how there's any choice involved ...
>There is no question that psychosis and the meds used to treat it are a whole other league of horror. I am truly sorry to hear about what your father goes through. It sounds quite unpleasant.
There is another "choice" for us, and a certain percentage of people eventually take it. I'm not advocating it at all, I'm just saying sometimes it gets to be too much for people.
> .... yep... but isn't the quality of life raised more by the antidepressants themselves?
Yes, in the vast majority of cases. However, it is all relative, and for each person becomes a trade-off between what their life is like off meds, and what it's like on. Sometimes, people's bodies are very intolerant of meds.
> Chronic constipation is easy to deal with... i can recommend several different oil or fibre supplements... one pill you take once or twice a day with other properties (i.e. anti-oxidant, etc)
Are you referring to fish oil?
> .... okay so you're saying that i'm 100% recovered, happy, non-depressed, but i have no libido, or were dizzy and weak? ... well i wouldn't be bothered, if i am happy :)
No, I'm not saying that, because in my personal experience, no such med exists.
> .... on the other hand... if i were always lying in bed ruminating about how horrible the side effects were, totally unproductive, miserable, unable to concentrate, unbearably depressed... well i would postulate that the antidepressant isn't working more than 50% :)
50%? You basically just described my life presently, and I wouldn't place it at 50%.
> ... sorry if i come off a bit harsh, ... i just hear from so many people claiming they suffer more than everyone else when their behaviour totally does not seem to support this....
Actually, I agree. When physical dysfunctionality comes into play it becomes a whole other ballgame.
> .. and if i can back up lostboy's trivial statement... i refer you again to the top of my mail listing what my father tells me were his side effects... hell why not throw in movement disorders like TD and diabetes... these things don't go away ...
No question, there are a host of horrific possible effects out there.
> .. i also wish people would stop using recreational drugs and screwing up their heads...Uh-huh. I never touched a rec drug in my life. My brain and autonomic nervous system got totally wacked all by itself. Lucky me.
> ... as for the public expectation being higher.. yes you're right.... i just wrote a letter to a university professor of psychiatry who had all of these noble claims about pdocs and continuing education ... pleeeeeeeeease! how can people have such distorted views...
> ... hell i would be happy if a doctor would ADMITT a patient is beyond his ability and refer or consult another doc...I think it comes from people not seeing the reality of the big picture. There are many people out there suffering unimaginably, and there are many drugs out there with many problems. We are not currently at a point where we can sit back and say that we have "excellent" tools to fight this problem. If you cold measure our progress towards a cure for mental illness in terms of sailing across the Atlantic, I think we'd still be well within sight of the port from which we'd disembarked.
> take care ;)
you as well.
poster:Bob
thread:91928
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020709/msgs/112223.html