Anti-depresants WARNING

[dcentity2000]

After following a number of threads here and elsewhere on the topic of anti-depressants (as well as other psychiatric drugs), I felt compelled to post this here.

Psychiatric drugs are serious things.

No-one even knows how they work yet.

Currently the "in thing" for doctors to do is to prescribe anti-depressant drugs to people who show even the whisperings of being depressed, even though they are indicated for Major Depressive Disorder. Typically, psychotherapy is not tried on it's own as it should be in the vast majority of cases.

Usually the drug concerned is an SSRI, a modern family of drugs still in patent today. Examples include Fluoxetine (US brand name: Prozac) and Sertraline (US brand name: Zoloft; UK brand name: Lustral). The more effective and older anti-depressants such as Dothiepin are more rarely prescribed as, being out of patent, they are no longer pushed by the drugs companies.

More worrying still, it appears that many psychiatrists readily prescribe anti-depressant medications to minors where the symptoms of depressions are mild to moderate.

Why is this worrying?

Well, psychiatric drugs mess with your head in ways that have not been sufficiently researched. This is especially true in regards to children, where there is evidence that anti-depressants can precipitate suicidal tendencies.

As such, all SSRIs are to be contraindicated for use in children INCLUDING Fluoxetine in the UK; anti-depressant drugs will only be prescribed when there is a real and immediate danger as to the child's life. The FDA in America is looking into following suit.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that people are too trigger happy with psychiatric medications and as such put a large group of individuals at risk of anything from tremor to hypertensive crisis resulting in strokes needlessly.

PLEASE remember that psychiatric medications are intended for serious cases only. If your doctor suggests them, make sure to quiz them about therapy (not counselling) and about older, more tried and tested drugs. This applies doubly to children - I'd strongly recommend getting a second opinion if medication is offered.

It's not that psychiatric medications are evil - far from it. They can help tremendously as well as harm people - it all depends on the patient. All I'm asking is for people to be a little more cautious.



Rich::

 

[C.Ann]

Like most medications, there are times when they are truly needed and there are times when a doctor tries to "push" them on a patient - or - the patient insists on having them..

I don't agree with prescribing anti-depressants when not coupled with therapy because the underlying need for help is two-fold and usually one without the other will not produce the desired results..

As for anti-depressants for children, some of the things I have read makes me very uncomfortable and I would be extremely cautious in that situation.. However, there are some children who really do need them - along with therapy, of course..

 

[nliedel]

I am in some serious pain because I need surgery (long story the muscle at the end of my bile duct spasms for up to 6 hours at a time and causes excruciating pain. I need it cut but we need to arrange 4 weeks of daycare for the babies and that has been tough) and I am in fear of the pain because I can go days without it then WHAMMO there it is for up to 6 hours. Really bad too and I have given birth without pain meds three times. I know pain!

So I tell my doctor that I am depressed about the pain, because I am, and he says, "I can prescribe you an antidepressent".. Ummm pardon me? Do I need to clean my ears? I could have sworn you just offered me a drug that you, a GI doctor, will not be able to properly monitor for a situational depression that will be cleared up once the surgery is scheduled (probably within the week). That you expect a pill to stop my fear and sorrow over pain that I cannot control.. I am pretty sure that is not what I heard was it?

"Maybe it was a bad idea"

No kidding.

For certain disorders they are life savers but just because you can prescribe it does not mean you should. If he wasn't a great GI guy I would run, not walk, to the nearest exit (this is the same bozo that told me to eat an 1800 calorie a day diet and get exercise. He did not read my chart. I burn 1800 calories in exercise a day training for triathlons).

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I suffer from chronis insomnia and when I first started getting meds to help control it the first two I received were antidepressants--I was floored--When I called the doc after leaving the pharmacy I was told that the reason the meds were given to me is because these antidepressants had the side effect of causing drowsiness--Well I took them and no they didn't work--But then neither did the actual sleep meds I'm on now---But I agree w/the OP they pretty much just hand them out now!

 

[jel0511]

I'm currently taking Zoloft and Wellbutrin to fight my depression, I'm also in therapy. For me these have been a life saver. Ever since I had the strokes (at 35) with no solution in sight, it has really helped me get through the bad times.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm currently taking Zoloft and Wellbutrin to fight my depression, I'm also in therapy. For me these have been a life saver. Ever since I had the strokes (at 35) with no solution in sight, it has really helped me get through the bad times.

-------------------------

A perfect example of how these drugs should be prescribed - in conjunction with therapy - not handed out like candy or forced on people who don't need or want them..

I'm so glad you found a combination that is working for you - most of the time that's the hardest part!

 

[DebbieB]

I think there should be limits on non-psychiatrists prescribing them. My sister-in-law is having serious mental problems and her PCP is giving her antidepressents. Meanwhile, she's worse than ever (although she doesn't see that). She really needs a psychiatrist to evaluate her.

 

[lsyorke]

As a Mom who as seen the horrible side of these drugs I couldn't agree more. I have seen these prescribed for abdominal pain, situational depression, warts, headaches,hemorrhoids. Sadly the abdominal pain and warts patient's killed themselves.

I don't think that people realize that the action of these drugs is "unknown". The link below is only some of the recent information being made public regarding the "chemical imbalance" theory.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthology/story?id=1671001

Add to this the new pregnancy warnings, suicide and aggression warnings, and withdrawal.. and these are not the miracle drugs that they originally thought.I talk to thousands of people going through the horror of antidepressant withdrawal. The public has the right to KNOW what to expect if they are going to take one of the ssri's. Only then can they make a determination of risk vs benefit.

 

[lsyorke]

I think there should be limits on non-psychiatrists prescribing them. My sister-in-law is having serious mental problems and her PCP is giving her antidepressents. Meanwhile, she's worse than ever (although she doesn't see that). She really needs a psychiatrist to evaluate her.

It doesn't matter who writes the prescription. If you have a bad reaction, it's the drug.. not the doctor.

 

[beckmrk04]

I don't agree with prescribing anti-depressants when not coupled with therapy because the underlying need for help is two-fold and usually one without the other will not produce the desired results.

Actually, I disagree. I tried a couple of different therapists and felt like I was getting nowhere, much to the detriment of my bank account. Granted, I worked in a therapy field, so I felt like no one had any insight to offer me that I hadn't already thought of. Antidepressants have worked just fine for me, once I figured out the right one and the proper dose with my psychiatrist. That was really all I needed.

I understand the benefit of both, but I don't think all people need both. For some one or the other does the trick.

 

[clarabelle]

Don't assume that just because you need therapy -that you can get it. (It takes months to get in with a child psychiatrist around here). Or that insurance will pay for it.
Or that people will go.

 

[Buckalew11]

I was just talking to DH about this because my parents have both been prescribed antidepressants. Dad zoloft; because he has terminal prostate cancer and mom (??) because she is dealing with it all. I am not sure what they gave her but it isn't zoloft and isn't something to take everyday--just when she "needs" it?? I need to find out what it is.

Anyway, when I was talking to DH about it he was very leery. As a FF/paramedic, he has seen some bad things with people who have taken antidepressants. He agrees that are too freely given and not monitered correctly.

I have a client who recently lost her DD (about 30). Probably because she was on this type of drug and not monitered correctly. She was sweating profusely and the doctor said it would stop when her body adjusted to the drug and the new dosage (which he had doubled!). The sweating was so bad that she was literally carrying a towel around with her to soak up the sweat. She ended up dying in her sleep!
We think she may have become so dehydrated from the sweating that she went into cardiac arrest or something happened to her heart. Truly a sad situation.

Truly drugs not to be taken so lightly.

 

[ducklite]

My son takes a cocktail of antipsychotrophics and antidepressents prescribed by a psychiatrist. After three psychiatric hospitalizations and twelve years of therapy, he's finally stable enough to hold a job and be left alone for a few days at a time. He's not in therapy right now, although he does see his pshrink every 2-4 weeks and they discuss anything on his mind. Should the doctor, myself, or my son feel that psychotherapy would be beneficial, he will begin again. At this time his issue is a chemical inbalance in his brain which is controlled by the medications he takes. In his case, strong drugs have been literally lifesaving.

That said, I feel that all too often antidepressents are being prescribed as a catch-all by doctors who are not qualified to fully understand the implications of using them, or understand the need to closely monitor their use.

Part of the problem is that many of these drugs have multiple uses that are not all psychiatric in nature. Risperdol and Depakote are antisiezure medications. Topamax is prescribed for migraine control. The list goes on...

Anne

 

[alliecats]

Sorry to be ignorant, but what is the difference between therapy and counselling?

 

[ducklite]

Sorry to be ignorant, but what is the difference between therapy and counselling?

They are interchangeable.

Anne

 

[beckmrk04]

ducklite: very good point. I also take topamax for migraine control. And it is an antiseizure medication with mood stabilizing properties, so it's uses are multi-purpose. But I think it's MOST important to be an informed consumer! Read upon your medicines, ask lots of questions, be aware of the side affects, take them as prescribed, and if you feel unsure, ask even more questions or find a new Dr.

 

[dcentity2000]

Risperdol and Depakote are antisiezure medications.

Just chiming in - did your psychiatrist tell you that Risperdol is in fact a very potent anti-psychotic? It's used primarily to fight psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

I must admit that I'm not fond of the drug - it interfered with my breathing in a very nasty way



Rich::

 

[dcentity2000]

Sorry to be ignorant, but what is the difference between therapy and counselling?

In the UK you can either visit a counsellor who listens to your problems and tries to find emotional weaknesses, or you can visit a trained psychotherapist of any one of a bazillion fields; the most common prescribed therapy is cognitive psychotherapy as it's the "in thing". Therapy involves tasks such as a work booklet and is far more confrontational than counselling.



Rich::

 

[Caradana]

Rich, would you mind telling us your psychiatric and pharmaceutical history? Because I am sure there is some connection between that and your point of view.

Maybe there should be an alert on antidepressants. Maybe it should say something along the lines of: "Alert: Prior to the Invention of These, A Hell of a Lot Of People Killed Themselves Needlessly. These Drugs Have Saved Lives"

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

After having visions that I could possibly do something as horrible as Susan Smith (had PPD ignored it for too long and watched a documentary on her and cried not for her children--but for mine).....

So I am thankful for the anti-depressants.

I only took them for a short time and went off of them as soon as I could.

I'm not one to take meds lightly for any reason (i.e. no antibiotics for colds no pain meds unless it really hurts). My first bout with PPD--counseling and lifestyle adjustment worked. The second one I let it go for too long without saying anything and it just didn't improve. By the time I asked for help--I was beyond counseling.

I do think that there is some credence that meds are too easily described in some cases. But some personal responsibility on the patient is in order. Some do think that it is the golden ticket for any med--"oh doc says I need these meds--I must be really sick then."