Medical Does any here have experience with antidepressants?

[Evo]

SSRIs can be stopped, but with the supervision of a physician. Just as the initial dosing is gradual so too is the process of coming off SSRIs-a slow reduction.

What I meant by "you can't stop taking SSRI's" wasn't literally you can't stop taking the medication, but that the medication isn't a cure. It's not like taking an antibiotioc for a bacterial infection. You get rid of the infection and stop taking the antibiotic. This is not so for clinical anxiety, depression, OCD, etc... If you find an SSRI that helps relieve your symptoms, if you stop taking it, the old problems will return. SSRI's are not capable of "curing" anything, they work as long as you take them, they don't work if you don't take them.

I know people that were mislead by their doctors that they could just go on SSRI's for a few months then stop. Turned out the doctors never believed that they actually had a real problem and prescribed it as a placebo. They figured a few months then declare them cured and that would be it. Quacks.

 

[alxm]

What I meant by "you can't stop taking SSRI's" wasn't literally you can't stop taking the medication, but that the medication isn't a cure. It's not like taking an antibiotioc for a bacterial infection. You get rid of the infection and stop taking the antibiotic. This is not so for clinical anxiety, depression, OCD, etc... If you find an SSRI that helps relieve your symptoms, if you stop taking it, the old problems will return. SSRI's are not capable of "curing" anything, they work as long as you take them, they don't work if you don't take them.

Saying "the old problems will return" is overstating it quite a bit. I've personally gone on SSRIs, had benefit from them, and gone off them without any immediate/related recurrence of depression. Clinical depression isn't typically a persistent condition in most cases/ most people, either. (clinical anxiety/GAD and OCD, on the other hand, usually are).

Besides some weak nausea that I felt during the brief period of withdrawal, I didn't have any problems going off SSRIs. My depression didn't return; quite the contrary. Most people noted a markedly improved mood.

 

[Nan]

Again this points to the complexities regarding depression/anxiety and individuals. Because the mechanisms are not fully understood, different people will have different responses. In a previous post, I tried to point out that not all depression is created equal and may arise from different sources some of which may be temporary, others not. For individuals seeking relief from depression/anxiety it is important that they identify why they are depressed and if it may be temporary, if it is profound enough to interfere with their daily lives and abilities to function. If it is, then it is mandatory to seek professional help rather than self-treat and medicate. These days, finding a good physician who is versed in treating depression is now like choosing a good mechanic, ask around and do some research.

Everyone gets the 'blues', everyone will experience situational depression in their lives. Using supplements in place of professional assessment, is risky. I will never understand why anyone would play around with their brain chemistry! Thats playing with fire. Just because you can do it and the means is available doesn't mean you should.

As I stated before and bears repeating, SSRIs are not a panacea, it takes months for them to become really effective, sometimes people just stop them thinking it does no good. Some folks won't respond but like other problems, it can be a trial and error process to find what does, it requires patience sometimes which is difficult when one is stressed in this way. For some individuals, SSRIs are inadequate or need additional medications but that is only for a physician to determine.

Finally, I have to vent off a peeve. Self-diagnosis and treatment has been encouraged. There is a plethora of information available on the internet some which is nothing but snake oil, 30 second Ads for medications which seeks to replace the education/experience of a physician in determining the need/appropriateness of serious medications, some even pitched by fear. There are OTC supplements which are dangerous that include those to build muscle, etc. and can by themselves produce problems unforeseen by the user. Although people have the capacity to understand more, that decade or more of education of a physician cannot be short-circuited with a 30minute or even a 30day PhD on the net.

 

[Evo]

Saying "the old problems will return" is overstating it quite a bit. I've personally gone on SSRIs, had benefit from them, and gone off them without any immediate/related recurrence of depression. Clinical depression isn't typically a persistent condition in most cases/ most people, either. (clinical anxiety/GAD and OCD, on the other hand, usually are).

Besides some weak nausea that I felt during the brief period of withdrawal, I didn't have any problems going off SSRIs. My depression didn't return; quite the contrary. Most people noted a markedly improved mood.

It could very well be that the depression was only temporary to begin with. I'm talking about a person with such severe anxiety that they cannot work, they cannot go out, travel, talk on the phone to people they don't know, they have OCD, etc... After several doctors wouldn't even listen to them, one doctor said they'd put them on SSRI's for a few months, then take them off because it's really all just in their head and they can "get over it" if they want.

 

[Evo]

As I stated before and bears repeating, SSRIs are not a panacea, it takes months for them to become really effective, sometimes people just stop them thinking it does no good. Some folks won't respond but like other problems, it can be a trial and error process to find what does, it requires patience sometimes which is difficult when one is stressed in this way. For some individuals, SSRIs are inadequate or need additional medications but that is only for a physician to determine.

I agree, it takes trial and error, and it's not something you should expect to be on for just a few months. I've seen them help people to some extent, but never 100% and the symptoms return and sometimes seem worse once the medication has stopped, again, it takes a while for the symptoms to return as the medication's effects decrease.

There are many people on this forum that admit they were non-functioning before taking SSRI's and have been on them for years and are doing fine as long as they take them.

 

[Galteeth]

Everyone gets the 'blues', everyone will experience situational depression in their lives. Using supplements in place of professional assessment, is risky. I will never understand why anyone would play around with their brain chemistry! Thats playing with fire. Just because you can do it and the means is available doesn't mean you should.


t.

We are always playing around with our brain chemistry. it's called being conscious.

 

[Galteeth]

Finally, I have to vent off a peeve. Self-diagnosis and treatment has been encouraged. There is a plethora of information available on the internet some which is nothing but snake oil, 30 second Ads for medications which seeks to replace the education/experience of a physician in determining the need/appropriateness of serious medications, some even pitched by fear. There are OTC supplements which are dangerous that include those to build muscle, etc. and can by themselves produce problems unforeseen by the user. Although people have the capacity to understand more, that decade or more of education of a physician cannot be short-circuited with a 30minute or even a 30day PhD on the net.

I supposse this touches on a hot political topic, but I have to express my STRONG disagreement with your point of view. For many years I went to various psychiatrists and went through the gauntlet of various SSRIS. they were totally ineffective (as in zero percent) yet I kept getting prescribed them. I knew from researching (again, for years, not thrity days), that their were other options available. Most docs didn't want to "take the risk". Anyway, long story short, I had to doctor shop to try MAOIs, which have so far been the only helpful thing.
Critical thinking does not just mean being selectively skeptical. i would encourage anyone who is suffering from any medical problem to research for themselves and not just blindly trust someone because they have a piece of paper from the government.

 

[Proton Soup]

yes, SSRIs have become a bit of a panacea. how they may or may not work is sketchy at best. for example, another drug used to treat depression is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianeptine" , an SSRE (selective serotonin reuptake enhancer).

and http://www.deplin.com/DeplinFacts,HowItWorks" is a TMM that enhances synthesis of all three monoamine transmitters.

 

[Nan]

I supposse this touches on a hot political topic, but I have to express my STRONG disagreement with your point of view. For many years I went to various psychiatrists and went through the gauntlet of various SSRIS. they were totally ineffective (as in zero percent) yet I kept getting prescribed them. I knew from researching (again, for years, not thrity days), that their were other options available. Most docs didn't want to "take the risk". Anyway, long story short, I had to doctor shop to try MAOIs, which have so far been the only helpful thing.
Critical thinking does not just mean being selectively skeptical. i would encourage anyone who is suffering from any medical problem to research for themselves and not just blindly trust someone because they have a piece of paper from the government.

True, critical thought is necessary. Your experience points to a major flaw in the delivery of health care today. You obviously are capable of research and understanding. No everyone is or has the capacity to understand and sort out complex data/research, pathophysiology, the extremes in textbook cases, etc. The government quite complicit in this very fine mess. It is an extremely complex maze which is unfair in countless ways to patients and those health care providers who are there as a vocation.

Not to get too political: Tort reform is a critical element in reform of health care. Doctors are risk adverse in particular fields to almost a total seizure of their abilities to practice, even forcing some out after decades of practice (see obstetrics). A little bit of sunshine is necessary.

I wish you the best of luck in finding effective therapy and a physician who can help. It is a very long row to hoe for all too many which is unnecessary and unfair.