Antidepressant expose

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On Sun, 09 Apr 2000 08:44:45 Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar) wrote:

 

Tim wrote:

>>the SSRI antidepressants can be temporarily

>> helpful to those who are deeply depressed or suffering from panic disorder,

>> and are not responding to conventional treatments. To regard them as a

>> "panacea" is dangerous - but to regard them as dangerous and to be avoided

>> may also be unwise.

>>

>> As in all "anti-chemical rants" I've read, there is some misinformation

>> contained in the post.

>>They are tools, more or less

>> effective depending on the body they are administered to. In the hands of

>> the wise, they can be of benefit. In the hands of the foolish, they can be

>> destructive.

>>

>> Above all, I think the thing to remember is never to view the doctor or

>> psychiatrist as a God, and to participate in your own treatment.

>>Educate yourself

>> thoroughly before trying a chemical that may be harmful! Weigh the

>> potential risks and potential benefits.

 

 

Dear all,

 

This particular discussion reminds me

of the thread on the subject of depression that

was posted here about a month ago.

 

There are many pros and cons for using a

particular medicine and we depend on our

medical pracitioner to choose a suitable one

for us, when it comes to price,

availability, effects, side effects and

possible effects when combined with

other drugs.

 

Many drugs, including those that do not

specifically target the central nervous system,

such as hormones, have the potential to

effect withdrawal and what we call addiction.

 

In addition, all drugs, even anti congestants

taken against common cold symptoms and aspirin

can have potential side effects.

 

So side effects are to be expected with

both anti depressant and other

neuroleptica (drugs that affect the central

nervous system).

 

As Tim mentions, the effects and side effects

of a certain medicine

depends not only on dose but also on the

body of the individual, his or her metabolic

rates and body chemistry in general.

Of course, this makes creating a perfect

cure for everyone virtually impossible.

 

General practitioners can not be expected to

have knowledge covering all aspects of medicines

given to ppl depending on their genetic

make up. There are just too many factors

that can affect a person's particular

response to a medicine.

A general practitioner and most MDs work

according to averages, in the majority of

ppl taking this medicine, the effect is such and

such.

Most of the time, this approach does give the

desired / expected results, but sometimes not.

This is where the responsability of

the patient and the individual lies.

If side effect are felt, this must be reported

to the MD and the MD should ideally be aware

of the potential dangers and listen to the

patients complaints.

(of course, as we are aware of, this doesn't

always happen)

 

About the side effects of SSRIs mentioned in

the original post:

These included

movement disorder of a Parkinson like type

(the same kind of neurons and transmitter system

are affected as in

Parkinsons disease, hence the term Parkinson

"like")

and general cognitive impairment.

However, these side effects are classical of

other neuroleptica and anti depressants

but are most often seen sfter long term

use in treatment of serious mental disease

(schizophrenia)

after the use of anti psychotic drugs.

 

With SSRIs the side effects are slower to

appear and need higher dosage because of the

SSRIs narrower spectrum of effect.

The promise of "no side effects" with SSRIs

and other medicines is thus a wishful thinking

and has been from the start.

 

However, as with all medicines and medical

treatments

there is always the judgment to make;

the effects of the disease and the risk of

a quick deterioration in cognitive abilities

(which does happen in schizophrenia)

or improvement of the condition but with the

danger of serious side effects further down the

road.

This is why medicines with serious side

effects are always balanced against the

severity of the disease they are to treat

as well as the long term benefits.

Usually, the medicine with the least dangers

will be given first in the hope that the

patient will respond well to this.

Of course, the patient should be informed of

the risks involved and be allowed to choose

course of treatment.

 

So the same goes with medicine such as anti

depressants. The risks of addiction

(which in the case of SSRIs are purely

psychological not physical) and the

potential of creating further imbalances

of transmitters in the brain must be weighed

against the severity of the depression or

anxiety in question. For some patients,

even the simple idea that there is help to be

found in the form of medicine has therapeutic

effects.

 

With psychiatric disease, there is also the

question of informed consent and whether

all patients are able to make an informed

consent. But this is a wholly other

question I won't touch in this post.

 

I very much agree with Tim that the

original post is a rant.

The book which the poster got her information

from is also a rant of sorts, someone wishing

to ring the alarm bells in everyone's minds

and "crack down" to "hit back" on the

"evil" pharmaceutical industry.

 

It is however

clear that no medicine is a miracle

cure in itself, not even the immune suppressors

used in transplantation are, but we

seldomly hear any complaints about these

medicines and procedures as they were never

lauded as miracle cures and never

taken to the general public's heart as a

miracle cure.

 

Part of the disappointment in the miracle cures

comes from the manufacturers promises and

marketing of their product.

The other half comes from the desperation

and wish of

wanting to believe what the manufacturers

say.

But this is where

we should be aware, medicines are products and

should be viewed as such.

Anyone selling a product will try

to emphasize its positive benefits and

play down the negative effects.

In this light,

the importance of independent testing as well as

some healthy scepticism from the side of the general public and a somewhat stoic

attitude of the media

cannot be over emphasized.

 

As someone with a slight yet often glorious

feeling imbalance in the serotonin systems

as well as a background in biochemical

sciences, I would be very hesitant to all

SSRIs, including prozac.

These are medicines just like the rest and

should be used with caution and awareness.

 

I would advice everyone to be aware

and suspicious of all

other such life style or miracle drugs,

especially viagra (sorry guys) and

diet pills, which by the very way they

act in the physical body are potential

hazards.

 

By avoiding believeing in the

hype of drugs we can also avoid the equally

destructive

backlashes and thus make sure ppl can

receive the medication that is available and

appropriate for them.

 

 

Love,

 

Amanda.

 

 

 

 

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