Posted by ghost on October 1, 2004, at 8:14:46
In reply to Please Read!! Do Antidepressants Really Work?, posted by BRC on October 1, 2004, at 6:02:42
One of the things that keeps pharmaceutical companies in business is the fact that not everything works for everyone in the same way (or at all). If there was one pill that fixed everyone, we'd all be taking the same magic happy pill and there'd be no drug business.
Pretty much everything you take has side effects. Taking anything into the body has risks and benefits-- orange juice gives me heartburn, but sometimes I really need the vitamin C, so I drink it anyway. It's just a matter of what side effects you're willing to put up with for a medication that works.
If I may be so bold, I think that you should play a more active role in your medication maintenance. DO question your doctor. DO stand up for yourself. DO say "I don't think this is working."
I took paxil for awhile, and it made me manic. It also decreased my sex drive. I wasn't willing to put up with these side effects. This wasn't the right drug for me. I took abilify for awhile and it worked, but increased my anxiety level (we countered that with xanax PRN)-- in fact, I would still be taking it now, but financial hardships have kept me from staying on it. Currently maintaining my Lamictal, and that works great... side effects: potential killer rash and seizure, but I'm willing to put up with that if it keeps my moods from swinging so drastically. It also drops my blood pressure, but not too dangerously, so I'll put up with that, too. I just have to be careful when I get up.
I think you just haven't found the right "cocktail." Yes, drugs are dangerous. But they can save lives just as easily as they can hurt them.
Good luck,
ghost
poster:ghost
thread:397769
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040927/msgs/397799.html