Posted by linkadge on November 30, 2002, at 16:29:41
In reply to Re: READ, posted by k on November 30, 2002, at 13:13:32
For starters, you need to let us know what
your specific symptoms are and what meds you
are on so we can help. If I sounded condescending I am sorry, I am not attempting to understand what you are going through.When I made that statement, I was trying to
say that many people won't take these drugs
because they are afraid of them. I've seen
some that will live in perpetual depression
for fear that these drugs will ruin their brain.What I do know is that prozac and similar drugs
are some of the most studied medications available. Their growing perscription rates
are conscerning, but it is also true that they
are improving the lives of many who were suffering.You must understand that there are benefits
and possible risks with any drug treatment, but in terms of the safety we understand, they are
safe drugs. They are safer than the TCA's the MAO's and Electro Convulsive therapy, all of which were up to recently the only treatments for depression.If you lived 500 years ago with a crippling mental illness, you would probably be addicted to opiates or stimulants or a combination of drugs that would have to be continually increased to be effective.
From all our research, SSRI's in conventional doses, to not appear to dammage the brain.
Ecstacy, cocaine, ampetamine, PCP, LSD, and
other illegal drugs do dammage the brain and
have measurable neurotoxisity. SSRI's appear even safer than Alchohol. It's true that they induce changes in biochemistry, but this is not brain dammage, this is what helps relieve the depression.There are many who believe that the dammage induced by untreated depression - in particular - unrestraied stress hormone cortisol - has a measureable damaging effect on the brain.
It is true that these drugs do cause problems for some people. They certainly don't have a clean record. But if you want to be concerned,
asprin has killed more people than prozac.I am no trying to deminish the cases of people who have had adverse effects. Even the people who have developed TD, recover almost completely after they are discontinued.
You are incharge of your own brain, and nobody is forcing you to take these. All I am saying is that they have helped so many more than they have harmed.
Yes they are powerful drugs, but depression is
a powerful illness.Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:130020
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/130055.html