Posted by Viridis on September 7, 2003, at 21:58:34
In reply to Re: anti-depressants given to those not depressed, posted by HenryO on September 7, 2003, at 4:30:51
I wouldn't give my prescription meds to someone else -- for one thing I need them, for another they might do some real harm, and finally, if it did hurt someone I'd be liable (as well as guilty of illegally dispensing drugs in the first place).
But I understand your point -- a lot of people still think of antidepressants etc. as "happy pills" that give some kind of instant high. My response to that attitude is to suggest that the person ask their doctor for some, then wait out the six weeks or so it might or might not take to get a positive response, see if they can tolerate the side effects (which I list in detail), and then tell me how much of a buzz they got. That usually makes the point.
I think that attitudes are changing, but many people still see ADs as equivalent to tranquilizers, which do have pretty immediate effects (how many times have you heard someone say "take a Valium"?).
poster:Viridis
thread:256878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030907/msgs/257942.html