Posted by fuzz54 on October 2, 2007, at 13:55:03
In reply to Re: not reversible damage because of ssri treatmen, posted by rskontos on September 30, 2007, at 11:46:51
I don't doubt that we don't really understand how psych meds affect the brain and body. They are almost certain to make some big changes in the brain's chemistry and structures. However, to assume these changes are "damage" is a whole different issue. Perhaps some of the changes are helpful, while others are damaging. We just don't know yet. Until psychology and psychiatry become more of a hard science there are too many unknowns. All we can do is measure progress towards some sort of goal (lower suicide rate?) and figure out why certain meds worked and how they worked (and possibly caused brain damage) later on. If that's the wrong way to do it then somebody needs to write their local government officals to do what they can to change FDA policies.
Personally, when I am down in the dumps and a danger to myself I would like to have access to a medication that solves the immediate situation rather than worry about what it will do to me 10 years down the road. When I am down in the dumps without hope the risks are acceptable.
On a side note, I have noticed that after 2 months off of any psych med my sex drive still hasn't gone back to normal. That might be permanent, but since I am alive and well with lower anxiety and depression levels it was worth it.
poster:fuzz54
thread:785115
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070929/msgs/786501.html