Posted by bulldog2 on April 17, 2008, at 12:10:26
In reply to Re: They just don't work. FACT. - Who cares? :-), posted by Betula on April 17, 2008, at 9:13:07
> Sure, I could find magic pills that would relieve me of my OCD/anxiety/depression, but they would just mask the underlying cause. The depression etc would return once I quit the pills. And this I know because I've been down that route.
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> I do not think it is healthy to take these pills indefinately. I view them as short term band aids to help you get through tough periods. That is all. I do not think they were even designed to be taken for extended periods of time, or at least, certainly the SSRIs weren't. And I certainly do not want to be one of those ones who become addicted for life or have terrible discontinuation sydromes. And let us not forget they haven't been around for all that long - who knows what happens to you if you take Effexor (yes, I know not technically an SSRI, but the same principles apply) for 20 years and try to wean off?? The drug companies sure as hell don't know. I am really not convinced we know enough about SSRIs to really say for sure. And let us not forget the pharma companies hiding information about the increased risk of suicide. Even if they didn't hide it, at least this is something unpredicted to come out of these drugs. Who knows what'll happen with say, 25+ years of use of lexapro? No-one simply knows for sure.
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> Actually, for me, therapy is proving to be a far far better remedy for me than any pills were. Its really great I have to say.
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> Contrary to what you might think, I am actually open minded about the whole thing - it was my belief a few years ago that there was a 'cure' but now, after everything I've seen, I think SSRIs, in particular, are not very good - to put it mildly, and I don't think the pharma companies are being particulary honest about their findings either.
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> Hence why I like this study because it actually includes unpublished data that the pharma companies didn't publish (presumably because it shows their drugs in a bad light).
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> So. I used to be pro-SSRIs, now I'm very much anti. Or rather, I just don't think they work particulary effectively and I wish people would see that. And I think you'd be better spending your health and time and money doing something else to help. And I think there's alot to be said for getting to the root cause of the depression/anxiety etc rather than just using drugs to mask the symptoms - because otherwise you'll end up with a lifetime of AD drug use, which I don't consider to be particulary healthful. You might want to take that risk, but I certainly don't and won't.
>Some have endogenous depression and do not respond to talk therapy. For years before the age of ADs people did only talk therapy and some just did not respond.
I agree if talk therapy plus diet,supplements and exercise, transendental meditation work than that is the best road. Also maois and tcas have been around for around 50 years. There is so much more than ssris if you have a skilled pharmacologist.
There are some who have depression caused by life circumstances and they may respond to talk therapy. But like any organ in the body the brain can also be malfunctioning and talk therapy cannot fix that. Many people committ suicide each year because their depression is not adequately treated. All meds have potential sides and we treat our high bp, high cholesterol etc..Yes diet and exercise would be preferable for these conditions but drugs still are there when other measures have failed.
Really won't post more on this thread..It's getting beaten to death. But remember what worked for you won't necessarily work for others and what didn't work for you may work for others.each person't situation and chemistry are unique. We have a tendency to think that we can extrapolate our experiences and believe that's how it will play out with others.
poster:bulldog2
thread:823248
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080412/msgs/823796.html