Posted by 49er on November 8, 2008, at 12:11:03
In reply to Re: What is your definition of a 'Miracle Drug'?, posted by SLS on November 8, 2008, at 9:16:44
Hi Scott,
<< That is a question that has been answered. The answer is YES. People have been kept well on antidepressants for decades. I have had the privilege to encounter these people and the doctors who treat them to be able to report with surety that your question has THE answer, and it is in the affirmative.>>
Hmm, I know people who have a different answer, including myself. Antidepressants have destroyed my life. I will spare you the details but you can find similar stories on the Paxil Progress Boards, run by an RN whose son almost committed suicide/homicide on Paxil. The board gets about 1 million to 3 million hits per month.
<< Will the drug not cause irriversable damage to their brain or body?
>
> 50 years of tricyclics and MAOIs, and 20 years of SSRIs cast doubt that such things occur.>>You might want to look at these two citations:
http://tinyurl.com/3va3j2
http://tinyurl.com/6h89p2Also, check this site out:
http://qualitycounts.com/drugs/antidepressants.html
It has some articles in favor of ADS but also has some articles that show they have long term risks.
<<It is much more dangerous to allow someone to remain severely and suicidally depressed than to take a "chance" that these will eventually show themselves to be toxic in real life years and years and years down the road. As of now, they do not seem to be toxic IN REAL LIFE.>>
Now, we're getting to the crux of the issue. Regarding when side effects start appearing, I started having problems 5 years after starting ADS. Many I know report similar experiences, including some who have adverse reactions immediately.
A far as someone being suicidally depressed, meds is not the only answer. Fish oil capsules, vitamin D, and CBT are among many things that have shown to help. Charles Barber, who is not antimeds and is in the mental health field, wrote about CBT helping severe depression in some cases.
Also, recently, a study came out in Science Daily that shows St. Johns Wort to be helpful with major depression. St. Johns Wort is not side effect free but in my opinion, compared to psych meds, it is a piece of cake.
If the person who is suicidally depressed makes a fully informed choice to go on meds, I have no problem with that. But since these are powerful meds, the physicians should reassess on a regular basis with the patient whether the meds are still needed. Sentencing someone to life on meds is simply wrong and unjust the links I have provided show the risk of long term side effects.
Again, if the person feels their risk of suicide is greater than the med risks and is fully informed of all the options, I have no problem with that. But many times, that is not the case.
Scott, I am happy the meds are working for you and have given you a new life. But as with any issue, there is always another side to the story and I hope you will take the time to understand my point of view.
Obviously, I totally agree with what Linkage has posted.
49er
poster:49er
thread:861166
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081106/msgs/861476.html