Posted by Conundrum on October 25, 2010, at 16:16:12
In reply to Lou's request-one of 6 topics, posted by Lou Pilder on October 18, 2010, at 15:55:15
I've seen a lot of threads where a problem with lou has emerged. I think I can be of some help, because I may be able to relate with lou.
When I was 13 I started playing guitar. Between that and video games it was my favorite thing to do.
When I was 16 I had a lot of anxiety and depression emerged. I was prescribed prozac and started to feel better.
After 4 years I decided to stop taking the medication and the sh*t hit the fan. I experienced derealization, akaethesia, anhedonia, my memory became horrible and I lost the ability to concentrate. In the first 2 years after stopping I was extremely paranoid and had relgious spiritual thoughts that were bizarre and did believe that psych drugs were part of a larger mind control/mind numbing gov't operation.
I started taking gingko biloba for memeory and after 2 years on it, my memory had not improved. So I stopped it. The paranoid and spiritual feelings, left and I became much more realistic and logical, but the anhedonia became worse.
For 7 years I have suffered with anhedonia, poor memory, lack of confidence and worst of all I don't enjoy music like I used to. It doesn't have the same emotional "umph!" it used to. I can't play by ear as well, and its very hard for me to concentrate on playing difficult peices. I have trouble maintaining motivation when working. I feel mentally slowed down and somewhat robotic.
My personal relationships have suffered, since the anhedonia, and lack of color, prevents me from feeling the true effects of love.
I know this was from the psych drugs and not just a returning depression. The depression may have returned, but the drugs took something away from me. This is far worse than I felt prior to taking prozac. Now their is less sadness and anxiety and more a feeling of, I"ll never feel human again.
Anyway. I see where Lou may be coming from, and if his head is where mine was and sometimes still is, he is just trying to prevent others from getting hurt by these drugs.
I truly believe psych drugs should be the last resort for depression, anxiety, and ADHD. They are loaded with side effects.
Yes Lou, the drugs they give kids for ADHD are addictive, and it can lead to a greater chance of abusing drugs as an adult.
Of course the APs can cause diabetes and TD.
People need to know the good and the bad that can come from taking these drugs, and decide for themselves what is best. I think that is the reason for the black box warnings on so many antidepressants, because the FDA has acknowledged that psych drugs can actually make people who were never suicidal before, want to kill themselves.
These are powerful mood altering drugs. I think Lou was a victim of the effects of a powerful AP, Zyprexa, if I remember. He now also has trouble playing music and I can tell you that I'm in that place and it is very frustrating. I think Lou really wants to prevent harm that drugs can cause.
I think Lou, you need to realize that many people are helped by medications, not everyone ends up dead who takes them.
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=11909
Read some of the peoples reviews here. You will see many claiming nardil saved/restored their life. Nardil is one of the most dangerous psych drugs available! It can kill you if you eat the wrong foods! Yet it is life saving for some who are educated and follow the correct lifestyle guidelines.
Lou, you are right in pointing out the side effects of many drugs. Most people would not make the effort that you have, but if you do not acknowledge that drugs can help people, you're going to be seen as off on the fringe and dishonest. No one will take your message the drugs have critical side effects seriously.
Millions of people would not be taking/have taken these drugs if all they did was cause harm. You need to think more critically about the media you consume. If a person overdoses on valium, alcohol, and heroin, you can't just say that the psych drug made them do it! You have to look at the situations in the persons lives, and how the drug works when it is not being abused. Most people who take valium do not have the urge to kill themselves. Yes valium can be bad if you are suicidal, but so can a rope, a knife, a bathtub, a window. Its almost like you are saying no one should use knives because they could hurt themselves. People shouldn't use knives unless they know how to use a knife and the dangers of using one.
Until you look at the benefits of psychotropic drugs, no one will take your criticisms of them seriously.
Complaints: post-SSRI problems: anhedonia, memory and concentration problems, sexual dysfunction. )
Country:USACurrently taking Lamictal, mirtazapine.
Does humor belong in depression?
poster:Conundrum
thread:966159
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20101020/msgs/966945.html