Antidepressants suck

[Dark days]

A lot of what has already been said resonates with me, and unfortunately has been a common experience for many. If only there were ways that medical professionals could be held accountable for such negligence, which is destroying patients and other people's lives. Patients have complained about the unwanted effects of medication so many times, but sadly their views and voices are often dismissed and patronised. Why do some medications not work, and others may have some positive effects and then stop working? Which medications are having what effect, in this 'trail and error standard approaches.' What concerns me is whether such damages can ever be reversed or repaired? For example, when I've complained about brain damage and other unwanted symptoms or complications as a direct result of medication, it has not been taken seriously. Medical professionals generic responses like: "It all in your mind, why do you think that?" "You're not medically trained, don't believe everything you read, especially on the internet." "When your sleep and symptoms improves memory and cognitive functioning will come back." Some patients often end up worst then when they started seeking medical help. For example, the effects on the biochemistry of the brain, that are cumulative and degenerative over time. Can cognitive impairments and memory problems ever be regenerated to how brain functioning was before or even improved? Is it downhill from here? It would be so refreshing to hear more success stories and long term positive experiences. Can alternative medicines help to achieve desired outcomes or alleviate debilitating symptoms? Experiences raises so many questions disproportionately to answers and solutions.

 

[Grandexit]

gene testing can be done to determine which med is the most effective for an individual

But it cannot prove what level of brain chemistry is oit of whack, or that any pill can make everything all better.

"Serotonin and depression

It is not clear precisely what causes depression, but a key theory in the last 50 years is that it may involve an imbalance of neurotransmitters or hormones in the body.

Depression has been linked to low levels of serotonin, but whether this contributes to depression or results from it remains unclear.

SSRIs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat depression. They are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. Examples include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa) and sertraline (Zoloft).

Normally, once a neurotransmitter has transmitted its neural impulse is reabsorbed into the body. SSRIs prevent the serotonin from being reabsorbed, leading to higher levels of serotonin in the synapses.

However, scientists are now questioning the role of serotonin or any single neurotransmitter in triggering depression."

Reasoning backwards, from SSRI efficacy to presumed serotonin deficiency, is thus highly contested. The validity of this reasoning becomes even more unlikely when one considers recent studies that even call into question the very efficacy of the SSRIs. Irving Kirsch and colleagues, using the Freedom of Information Act, gained access to all clinical trials of antidepressants submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the pharmaceutical companies for medication approval. When the published and unpublished trials were pooled, the placebo duplicated about 80% of the antidepressant response [13]; 57% of these pharmaceutical company–funded trials failed to show a statistically significant difference between antidepressant and inert placebo [14]. A recent Cochrane review suggests that these results are inflated as compared to trials that use an active placebo [15]. This modest efficacy and extremely high rate of placebo response are not seen in the treatment of well-studied imbalances such as insulin deficiency, and casts doubt on the serotonin hypothesis.

http://www.brown.uk.com/brownlibrary/france.pdf

 

[Deleted member 1465]

gene testing can be done to determine which med is the most effective for an individual

Really? Didn't know that. I wonder if anyone on here has had that done.

 

[bpdteacher]

I agree, they suck balls. But equally, I was really hoping they did something!
I just find it really funny, that my psychiatrist said anti-depressants don't work on BPD and then on reading his report my GP...prescribes me anti-depressants because 'nothing but talking therapies works for BPD' and there's a helluva waiting list in the meanwhile.
Two years later I'm now at the top of the waiting list for mental health support and I've been offered a grand total of eight sessions to solve my BPD.
12 years after taking my first antidepressant I've apparently now tried them all and they don't work.
It really feels like I've run out of options, AND I've got sodding withdrawal to go through...FML.
Sorry, rant over. I wish you well on your anti-depressant travels.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

Haha not only so they not listen to their patients they don't listen to each other! We don't know what to do so well do...something...anything...whatever!

Sorry for your experience

 

[Dark days]

So true. When medical 'professionals' are not sure how to classify or treat medical illness their go-to is BPD, which apparently is very hard to treat.
@bpdteacher thank you for sharing and I can relate to your experiences. Sorry for what you have had to endure

 

[Ghost2211]

I agree, they suck balls. But equally, I was really hoping they did something!
I just find it really funny, that my psychiatrist said anti-depressants don't work on BPD and then on reading his report my GP...prescribes me anti-depressants because 'nothing but talking therapies works for BPD' and there's a helluva waiting list in the meanwhile.
Two years later I'm now at the top of the waiting list for mental health support and I've been offered a grand total of eight sessions to solve my BPD.
12 years after taking my first antidepressant I've apparently now tried them all and they don't work.
It really feels like I've run out of options, AND I've got sodding withdrawal to go through...FML.
Sorry, rant over. I wish you well on your anti-depressant travels.

It must have been quite the uncomfortable roller coaster to have to switch between so many meds. Withdrawal does such, but taking it one day at a time and knowing it will end helps. meds are worth a try in most cases, and they can have with acute situations. I think the problem comes in when they are used to treat every mental illness under the sun, and then become a long term med. antidepressants are often used when doctors don't know what else to do.

They are talking about putting my 8 year old on them since he's been suicidal depressed since 5. I really don't want to, but he hates talking to therapists, and much like the rest of us meds are the only other thing offered.

 

[Mm80]

Just reading through and what an excellent thread.
I am currently withdrawing from venlafaxine (effexor) i tapered too quickly and its hell. Brain zaps, feeling weak,anxiety, but interestingly as underscore pointed out, i feel like my metabolism is returning to normal and im able to lose weight. No matter what i did while on them i never lost weight.
The cut that they covered up for me for the last 20 yrs was autism. They lessened the symptoms and i functioned somewhat , but at a huge cost as these posts describe. They fuck your metabolism up, hunger signals out of whack, sleep pattern, digestion, sexual disfunction, make you apathetic.They also gave me an appetite to drink more, would be interested if anyone else has had this?
They do have their place and may have saved my life at times. Problem is you are then stuck. Everytime you go back to docs they want to try another as it worked last time.
Imo they should only be prescribed for suicidal, severly depressed people. As people have said here, they are given out like sweets.
I think thats for a couple of reasons.They are relatively very safe in overdose, unlike tca s before them. I think because of this the medical profession has ignored the other problems with them because hey they are still alive.. Also they are quick and cheap. A doctor has ten mins per appointment, its very easy to write out a script rather than do a bit of digging into the persons problems. And sadly, society generally has an attitude of going to the doctors and coming out with pills to make it better.
My interest would be to know if they do permanent damage or if the brain can adapt to its natural healthy state and i wonder if any studies have been done? My guess would be that they do some irreversable damage and im sure that will be proven (if not already, some time soon.
Thanks and good luck to anyone else trying to get off them.