Posted by snapper on March 29, 2004, at 21:44:50
In reply to Do antidepressants really work?, posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 20:23:39
hey lexman, the official answer is Yes....and No
I have heard that for some where near 75-80% is just a placebo effect....however I think the reason you are obsessed w/taking them is because you and I and a whole lot of others just don't have many other options than to take them...I will add that for conditions like panic,ocd,and certain other conditions they do seem to be effective for a portion of people who take them for these reasons... I have panic, and ocd, and depression,and some bi-polar tendancies--but I am delving deep into other treatment modalities to heal my broken brain... the big thing is this: these multi-billion dollar drug companies to some degree have manufactured a lot of the {conditions, indications , labels and diagnostic codes; that seem so conveniently intertwined into very words of the DSM-IV} (The Psychiatric Bible ).... that thier wonder drugs are supposed to treat!I will admit that for some, these meds are "life savers" but for a bigger majority of people who are really suffering from some sort of "mental anemia" IMHO these pills are expensive-highly touted, Extremely and aggressivly marketed chemical versions of psuedo-happinness that just dont quite make the grade or hit the mark as much as people would like to believe that AD's 'should' do --- I am, I suppose a bit ambivelant about these drugs- But that is only because I have been on over 50 different meds in the last 14 years or so and none of them really brought me true happiness, Except for the few that made me hypo-manic....Yipppeeee!!! I want to Buy the world a Coke ..lol, hey bottom line is this if you are getting relief from AD's then keep taking them - if not then you might want to consider other options! I am saying options because after 14 yrs. and 50 different meds and med combos there is something that it is not working ( my brain !)
and for probably for the first time in my life , i AM BEING FORCED INTO LOOKING into why I became so miserable in the first place!! It is hard work! I do know meds can be helpful but for the larger majority and again IMHO believe that people are looking for normalcy or happiness in a pretty, precisely packaged neat little super pill. I am sorry that I sound soo cynical but AD's are just a double edged blade that can cut like a knife (no Pun Intended) no matter which side of the fence you happen to be on in regards to how these pills make you and I feel or NOT FEEL!! [ emphasise on NOT FEEL !]
best wishes
Snapper
poster:snapper
thread:330066
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040329/msgs/330108.html