Posted by Larry Hoover on November 18, 2002, at 10:48:12
In reply to This might be a foolish question....., posted by Phyl on November 18, 2002, at 10:32:41
> I was just wondering what the effect of an AD would be on a perfectly well-adjusted individual (rare?) who has no history whatsoever of depression, anxiety, etc. Do they test these AD's on people with no need for AD? What does the AD do for (to) them? Is there absolutely no affect; the med just gets passed through the system.
All medication has to be tested on healthy people first, unless there is clear knowledge that taking it will make them sick.
People who criticize SSRIs often argue that the drug companys' testing showed serious side effects in normal people taking the meds. That's not a fair argument. You have to also look at the population for whom the drug is intended. If you gave insulin to a normal person, it would make them ill. For someone with a faulty pancreas, it will make them well.
Because a normal person could not benefit from antidepressant or antianxiety effects (by definition), the only effects that could be observed would be negative ones (those that we trivialize by calling side-effects). Normal people taking SSRIs (for example) had side effects, like agitation, sexual problems, etc.
> Sorry if this is a dumb question but I have never taken any meds before ...
> Thanks.In my humble opinion, the only dumb question is the one that is never asked.
My answer is my opinion, and may differ radically from other people's opinions.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:128116
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021116/msgs/128120.html