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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Regis on September 10, 2000, at 22:10:25
FYI,
I was on Prozac for about four years. At first I was taking a sub-clinical dose of 10mgs a day. Then it escalated. I remember my doctors saying try 20mgs, try paxil, try zoloft. What was I thinking? What were they thinking? Sure, like people can take a powerful mind altering chemical for years, and then just live without it? It's so wrong to PUSH a drug like that.
They say there's no withdraw problems. That's a bunch of Bullshit! I'm still dealing with the withdraw and its not pretty. If you're taking SSRI's and have tried getting off them, you've probably had some type of intense emotional response to the withdraw that convinced you that you'd better go back on. Hey, I've been there! It took me three serious attempts to get off the medication.
If anybody out there wants to go after the drug companies, I'd suggest that you start with the SSRI drug manufacturers. They're no different then the tabacco companies...bunch a pushers.
If you're trying to get off SSRI's after years of taking the stuff...you'd better plan on about six months+ of being on the edge.
DRB
Posted by stjames on September 10, 2000, at 23:46:07
In reply to Quitting Prozac - Bad Ride, posted by Regis on September 10, 2000, at 22:10:25
I've taken AD's for 15 yrs and stopped Effexor several times
with no problems. Regis, I think you are way over generlizing
and using scare tatics. People with mental illness
need facts not generalzations.You know what ? i have got a major f#$king mental
illness that causes me to not leave the house or wash
for weeks if I don't tale meds. So of course the meds are
strong ! Dah ! No shit ! We are not treating a cold here.
As I realize that if you have significant depression
it is for life I am taking these meds for life, withdrawal
is not an issue, why would I want to stop ? Go back to not changeing clothes
for months ? No thank you ! The HMO screws
around with my Effexor and I have come off it several times, from a 300 mg
dose, no taper, and a few days of atavin was all that was required.
So not everybody has problems. Go ahead, file you lawsuit, we will all pay higher
drug prices. If we continue to be litigus everytime powerful meds
have no side effects, the shear cost of legal defence will push prices up.
Thank you for higher prices !james
Posted by Regis on September 20, 2000, at 23:27:08
In reply to Re: Quitting Prozac - Bad Ride, posted by stjames on September 10, 2000, at 23:46:07
Hi James,
I'm sorry you feel your case of depression is for life. I've taken the ride a few times, but its not forever...and I don't think that SSRI drugs are the answer, sorry. That's based on trying it both ways. I stand by my statements. The medical community is pushing SSRI's as the answer to just about anything that modern life throws at us. That's so wrong man. As far as higher prices for meds are concerned...the prices never really bothered me, but then again I didn't wait around to be an addict in need of a pill cure.
Regis
> I've taken AD's for 15 yrs and stopped Effexor several times
> with no problems. Regis, I think you are way over generlizing
> and using scare tatics. People with mental illness
> need facts not generalzations.
>
> You know what ? i have got a major f#$king mental
> illness that causes me to not leave the house or wash
> for weeks if I don't tale meds. So of course the meds are
> strong ! Dah ! No shit ! We are not treating a cold here.
> As I realize that if you have significant depression
> it is for life I am taking these meds for life, withdrawal
> is not an issue, why would I want to stop ? Go back to not changeing clothes
> for months ? No thank you ! The HMO screws
> around with my Effexor and I have come off it several times, from a 300 mg
> dose, no taper, and a few days of atavin was all that was required.
> So not everybody has problems. Go ahead, file you lawsuit, we will all pay higher
> drug prices. If we continue to be litigus everytime powerful meds
> have no side effects, the shear cost of legal defence will push prices up.
> Thank you for higher prices !
>
> james
Posted by allisonm on September 21, 2000, at 21:27:27
In reply to Re: Quitting Prozac - Bad Ride, posted by Regis on September 20, 2000, at 23:27:08
< < I'm sorry you feel your case of depression is for life. I've taken the ride a few times, but its not forever... > >
And how do you know this? From your own personal experience? Four years on SSRIs makes you the expert? Is everybody just like you? I don't think so. It's rather arrogant to assume to know how any other human feels, IMHO.
And pills are not cures. Anyone on this board can tell you that. On the right drugs, I tend not to think so much about suicide. Things start looking up. I don't even notice it, but the people around me do. That tells me something. So I figure maybe it's a tradeoff. Don't take drugs, be dead. Take the right drugs, live a little longer than you would without. Maybe you've never been there. From the sound of your post, in "trying it both ways" I suspect that you have not.
I don't doubt that there are some MDs out there who will prescribe an AD to those who ask. And given the media hype in the last few years, I have no doubt there are folks out there asking for and taking Prozac or Zoloft of Paxil who don't really need it. But to proclaim that every person taking SSRIs doesn't need them just reveals your naivete. Ever read Listening to Prozac? A thoughtful discussion.
So you had bad experiences with SSRIs. That's too bad. Glad you're off them. Glad you don't need 'em. Don't even begin to assume you know the answer for everyone else in the world because sooner or later harsh reality will prove that you don't. Have a nice day. 'Bye now.
Posted by Regis on September 21, 2000, at 23:30:03
In reply to Re: Quitting Prozac - Bad Ride, posted by allisonm on September 21, 2000, at 21:27:27
Wow! So much anger, so much fear, so much hatred, and for what, an opinion on a public board? By all means continue taking the pills and live longer. God knows that there was a time when I felt the chemical fix was the only true answer. I'm just offering up my version of treatment. The ssri's contributeed to depression in "my" case. Sure they worked in the first few years, but after that it got worse, much worse. As far as not being there, well I know, and those close to me know that I've seen the abyss; but during the battle I turned it into art, which in the end brought me success. I'm sure that I never would have come back from my own maddness if I'd stayed on the ssri's. I'm certain of it. Again, my case, my story...just a share for others who might hear the call deep inside to face the beast solo.
And yes, I've read Listening to Prozac. That's what got me started, but then I read Prozac Backlash and woke up. And just so you know, I still think about suicide, but so what that's a perfectly normal creative human trait.
> < < I'm sorry you feel your case of depression is for life. I've taken the ride a few times, but its not forever... > >
>
> And how do you know this? From your own personal experience? Four years on SSRIs makes you the expert? Is everybody just like you? I don't think so. It's rather arrogant to assume to know how any other human feels, IMHO.
>
> And pills are not cures. Anyone on this board can tell you that. On the right drugs, I tend not to think so much about suicide. Things start looking up. I don't even notice it, but the people around me do. That tells me something. So I figure maybe it's a tradeoff. Don't take drugs, be dead. Take the right drugs, live a little longer than you would without. Maybe you've never been there. From the sound of your post, in "trying it both ways" I suspect that you have not.
>
> I don't doubt that there are some MDs out there who will prescribe an AD to those who ask. And given the media hype in the last few years, I have no doubt there are folks out there asking for and taking Prozac or Zoloft of Paxil who don't really need it. But to proclaim that every person taking SSRIs doesn't need them just reveals your naivete. Ever read Listening to Prozac? A thoughtful discussion.
>
> So you had bad experiences with SSRIs. That's too bad. Glad you're off them. Glad you don't need 'em. Don't even begin to assume you know the answer for everyone else in the world because sooner or later harsh reality will prove that you don't. Have a nice day. 'Bye now.
Posted by allisonm on September 22, 2000, at 18:34:48
In reply to Re: Quitting Prozac - Bad Ride, posted by Regis on September 21, 2000, at 23:30:03
Calling a person who takes antidepressants and who may not share your opinion an "addict in need of a pill cure" is not a particularly charitible, supportive or respectful description.
Again, I'm glad you don't need antidepressants and hope that you live a long, full and happy life.
With all best wishes,
Allison
Posted by Aimee on September 27, 2000, at 11:07:16
In reply to Quitting Prozac - Bad Ride, posted by Regis on September 10, 2000, at 22:10:25
I just wanted to say that I took prozac for over
2 years and had VERY minimal withdrawal symptoms.
You are seriously going to scare people who really
need to take medications from taking them.> If you're trying to get off SSRI's after years
of taking the stuff...you'd better plan on about
six months+ of being on the edge.How dare you tell people that! Maybe that was
your situation, but i assure you it is not most
other people's. We are angry because your post
could cause some serious consequences for people
who take your post to heart.Aimee
This is the end of the thread.
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