Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 29

Thread: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

  1. #1
    zippy092
    Guest

    Default Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    I have been on Cipralex/Lexapro for 2 months. I seem better and more active with life as I noticed. My aunt recently passed away due to being on anti-depressants for 30 years or so "I heard" due to her body giving up from my mothers words.

    She is trying to make me stop using them. I said I would, but didnt. I dont know whether these drugs are bad for my long term health. I was personally againest going on them and was worried in the beginning but after hearing the news about my aunt, I am debating about it again. My mom would always hide the dark bad things my aunt would do such as cut herself and strongly drink but stopped about 15 years ago before her death. Bringing the topic to my mother would not work. I dont understand how the body can just give into the drugs and fail. I am worried about being on anti-depressants for my long term health.

    I would just like to know whether it is possible to die from anti-depressants (not overdose) after being on them for a long time. Whether their actually bad for the health, what is your opinon on them?

  2. #2
    Featured Member sxcbbw's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2009
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,264
    Thanks
    213
    Thanked 426 Times in 247 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    I am pretty sure there would be health warnings on anti-depressants and they'd carry more stigma than cigarettes if they killed you by taking one a day for thirty years.
    Get the fuck off my harbl, yo'.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to sxcbbw For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    Veteran Member heidimonster7's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    326
    Thanks
    33
    Thanked 57 Times in 30 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    30 years is a loooooooooooooooong time for something to take to kill you. I call BS. In 30 years a lot of factors will combine to cause ill health: stress, alcohol, etc. Your mom is most likely completely uneducated on medicine, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. Tell her you are seeing a doctor, she is NOT your doctor, and to back the f*ck off!

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to heidimonster7 For This Useful Post:


  6. #4
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Reality, usually
    Posts
    179
    Thanks
    19
    Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Quote Originally Posted by sxcbbw View Post
    I am pretty sure there would be health warnings on anti-depressants and they'd carry more stigma than cigarettes if they killed you by taking one a day for thirty years.
    I wouldn't be sure of this. Many pharmaceuticals have terrible affects on the users' health, but users aren't informed by their doctors or pharmaceutical companies.

    I don't know anything about the long-term safety of anti-depressants, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that they're harmful. One a day for 30 years probably couldn't kill a person, but there's definitely the chance that they're harmful.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to NikkaR For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Jun 2009
    Posts
    143
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 55 Times in 22 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    I just wrote a really long response to this and accidentally refreshed the page when trying to open a new tab. To recap:

    ^I'm with this post.

    Psych meds can be extremely dangerous. They can also be extraordinarily beneficial to some people's lives. Make very sure you are one of those people when deciding to continue (or start) a medication. Remember that they are drugs. The health industry does not widely advertise negative effects and they do not even know all or even most of the long term effects of the drugs they are selling you.

    If you want to know more about their negative effects, do a google search on the negative health effects of antidepressants (or the particular one you're taking). Also, http://theicarusproject.net/ is a really good resource.

    Most of all, use your best judgement and exercise caution. I have a lot more to say on this topic, if you're interested.

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Harlequin_Phoenix For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Reality, usually
    Posts
    179
    Thanks
    19
    Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    ^^ I'm sorry for the threadjack, but I wanted to say that I appreciate it when I see people expressing nuanced opinions about prescription drugs. They can be wonderful or terrible depending on the person and the drug. It's frustrating when people unquestioningly accept them as the "only" solution and trust pharmaceutical companies wholeheartedly. They are some of the greediest, most secretive, and most unethical companies around... and we entrust our health to them! No matter the drug, do your homework, get opinions, and trust your own judgement to keep yourself safe.

  11. #7
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Jun 2008
    Location
    fake-land
    Posts
    1,478
    Thanks
    184
    Thanked 330 Times in 181 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    so very true. i take various medications due to bipolar disorder and i read the every little word they give me with my meds as far as side effects, etc, etc as well as read the research. i take what i consider some pretty heavy duty meds that is changing my brain chemistry so i have to know what safe to take and the effects. unfortunately, it can be depressing to know some of the side effects of the medication as well the potential for them to not work accurately in the first place. psychiatry and pharmacology to me are not exact sciences but that's also my personal opinion being placed on a variety of meds.

    the pharmaceutical industries also can't be trusted because they're there for profit. for example there's a med that i'm currently on that wasn't allowed onto the market for 10 years despite the companies outstanding research because the drug was so much more effective than the other drugs on the market for the same illness. suffice it to say those companies being threatened by potential profit loss, they rallied together and were successfully able to keep it off the market for 10 years. during that time they researched even more and finally it's out there and considered one of the better alternatives.

    with all rambling aside, if i were not on my meds i believe the chances of having a long life much more reduced than if i were on them, and i am (which includes anti-depressants)
    Quote Originally Posted by sxcbbw View Post
    If some baristas started giving blowjobs along with their lattes, those not willing to do that would have a hard time getting custom. Same. Deal.

  12. #8
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Feb 2010
    Location
    beach area
    Posts
    238
    Thanks
    40
    Thanked 32 Times in 14 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    The best thing to do is talk with your doctor..not just a general practitioner but a psychiatrist ..and I would urge you to get the opinions of a few different doctors until you find one you are comfortable with.

    Our country is pretty fucked up now because pharmaceutical selling is big business. Some doctors will push drugs.

    BUT just as a diabetic needs insulin (and yes that can have harmful side effects), some of us need help balancing brain chemistry.

    All medications have side effects and risks. Even Tylenol can be deadly. I'm shocked at what is sold over the counter. Ever shop for something simple like cold medicine? Have you noticed how many different kinds there are? The average consumer does not know the difference between the types of ingredients and meds in each formula.

    Your aunt did not die from the use of antidepressants. You mentioned she had a drinking problem? Anti-d's and alcohol DO NOT MIX. If you take anti-d's you have to be committed to the full regimen of care ..things like avoiding crappy food, sugar, caffeine, getting enough sleep, exercising, keeping a journal ..you can't just pop a pill and expect a solution. You can't poison your body with alcohol or drugs and expect the anti-d to be a bandaid (I'm not referring to you personally but you as general)

    That said I've been on anti-d's for a few years now..I tried a handful of different kinds until I found the one that worked for me. It's not a happy pill. It takes the edge off my worry and my PMS 'snapping' temper. It is not a cure. Twice I have tried to taper off and twice I have gone thru such horrible withdrawals that I went back on. Most days are smooth sailing. There are no guarantees. I feel normal, I don't feel like an emotionless zombie. I feel like I can handle stress better. But I still have a HOST of emotional problems.

    And yes, one of the side effects of anti-d's is suicidal feelings. Weird huh.

    Finding the right pill, and the right dose, can take a while. My doctor started me out VERY SLOWLY over a six week period we slowly increased it and he gave me Lorazepam to help combat some of the side effects of the anti-d. This was after four doctors and trying a handful of other meds.

    Again it's helpful to keep a journal or at least a calendar to keep track of bad and good days and write down what's going on in your life that may have led to stress or anxiety

    Good luck, help is available.

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to catseyes For This Useful Post:


  14. #9
    Featured Member LilSweetVixen's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2005
    Location
    US
    Posts
    1,161
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 18 Times in 7 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    anti-depressants generally cause major weight gain. some cause loss of libido.

    "You have demonic genius" -Naomi Wolf
    "I very much resent it when people - maybe with good intentions or from a progressive point of view - keep telling me, 'It's their culture' ... It's like saying the culture of Massachusetts is burning witches." -Azar Nafisi


  15. #10
    Featured Member pussyinboots's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2006
    Location
    South UK
    Posts
    1,682
    Thanks
    291
    Thanked 583 Times in 397 Posts
    My Mood
    Devilish

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    As a D & A Counsellor I would make the following observations:

    1) Long term use of anti-depressents can cause dependency and have side-effects.

    2) Prescription of anti-depressants, and the stopping of their use should ALWAYS be done under the supervision and advice of a qualified Medical Practioner, as withdrawals can often occur.

    In other words, talk to your Doctor!!
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    "Good Girls keep diaries....Bad Girls don't have the time..!!"

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to pussyinboots For This Useful Post:


  17. #11
    Member
    Joined
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    52
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked 29 Times in 11 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Extremely late to this, but just in case anyone else is reading.

    If you feel better, you feel better. However, do your research, girl. These meds are scary - I stopped SSRI's (which you cannot do without doctor supervision) and it was the best thing I ever did. I wasn't depressed but my anger and moods were skyrocketing out of control to the point that I was ruining important relationships and opportunities with my mood swings. It may sound outlandish but the fact is that a "chemical imbalance" in the brain - i.e. a serotonin deficiency for example, which your particular meds are indicated for - has NEVER been proven. Thus you are medicating a condition (chemical imbalance, not the depression itself) that may not even exist. The doctor who submitted this theory to the FDA and various psychiatric organizations did not have enough evidence to prove his theory and it was rejected, yet the now-pharmaceutical companies jumped on the bandwagon and an industry was literally created around this questionable theory. Some of the stuff in the documentary below is mind-blowing. Did you know that a pharmaceutical company can conduct thousands of trials until they get the results they want because they only have to submit a grand total of TWO to the FDA. And if people in clinical trials suffer such severe side effects they drop out, the pharmaceutical companies are under no obligation to mention this when submitting the final results.

    Check out this documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=Zhwu4pSLBRk

    This is in a couple of different parts - I think the full version is on there somewhere, but you must watch it.

    Also, this Doctor is considered the authority on this http://www.breggin.com/ and one of the few people who will actually speak out against the ultra-corrupt psychiatrist/pharmaceutical interface.

    Good luck chica!

  18. #12
    Member theSweetestSin's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    25
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    I know this thread is old but I feel like I should tell you about my experience. I was on Celexa for abt a year & a half and in that time period I had gained 40 lbs and had extreme fatigue. I could barely roll out of bed at times and slept all day. I never put 2 & 2 together and I thought I had just put on weight because I had taken a break off working and thought my metabolism slowed down after highschool. It wasn't til my friend suggested it and I googled the side effects of weight gain on celexa that I realized. I immediately weaned off of it, and lost the weight, gained my energy back, and felt fine emotionally. I strongly suggest therapy over medication. You can mask a problem with meds or temporarily relieve it, or you can go thru the work and the actual healing process and change ur entire way of thinking.
    Best of luck to you hun <3

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to theSweetestSin For This Useful Post:


  20. #13
    Featured Member FiendishGyrator's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Touring Louisiana
    Posts
    1,915
    Thanks
    532
    Thanked 1,536 Times in 735 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    well, after awhile, most pharmaceuticals rewire how your brain works from what I've read. So I say, so long as you're having a positive effect on your body, and not having to up your dose, then you're probably okay. I'm not sure how long it took for your system to saturate (some drugs take 2 weeks.) Perhaps consider taking a day off once a week, or going a few days in a row once or twice a month so long as you do not experience a strong dive in behavior/brain chemistry.

    I would read up on dopamine and serotonin and see if anything sticks with you, while you're listening to your body, and reevaluating your past experiences now that you have a different viewpoint minus a lot of depression. I think a lot of physical and mental ailments have at least partially to do with our receptors of these two brain chemicals. Supplementing with supplements that help your brain use these better might take the edge off on those days off-- or it might just mean that over time, you still use anti-depressants, but you just use less.

    I think there's a lot of stuff that can harm our body, especially over time. Ultimately, it's up to you-- maybe eventually you can get to the point where you can get off the anti-depressants. Or maybe it just means you'll have to work harder in other areas like exercising, drinking enough water, eating enough whole foods, and getting enough sleep while maintaining as stress free of a life as you can.


    crap. I hate replying to old threads. I feel like I've been tricked. Oh well, hopefully other people find this thread useful.
    Ungoogle yourself:


    Also, now offering phone sexins!

  21. The Following User Says Thank You to FiendishGyrator For This Useful Post:


  22. #14
    Member
    Joined
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    52
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked 29 Times in 11 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Quote Originally Posted by FiendishGyrator View Post

    crap. I hate replying to old threads. I feel like I've been tricked. Oh well, hopefully other people find this thread useful.
    That was my fault -- I have no idea how I ended up on that thread - I could have sworn it was on the main page but I must have clicked on a 'related thread". Oh well, hopefully someone is still interested lol

  23. #15
    Veteran Member funismymiddlename's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    usa
    Posts
    393
    Thanks
    421
    Thanked 704 Times in 234 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    I took celexa for 6 months and I felt like a fat zombie. It fucked my metabolism. I have a really high metabolism actually but it completely ruined it. I had memory loss I would get up to get something in another room and forget why I was there. This happened a lot while I was taking it. Also I felt like I wasn't me a fucking zombie. In my head I would be like I'm mad or excited but I felt like it lessened my emotions like I wasn't able to feel. As soon as I stopped talking it I lost weight w/o changing my diet or exercising and the memory loss went away. I feel a live again. I read a lot of stuff about ppl saying their memory loss continued after they stopped taking it.

  24. #16
    Member mariegolden's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 18 Times in 8 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    There is a nuanced view of pharmaceutical drugs, but "they mask the real issues" and "they're moneymakers for big pharma" ain't it.

    Listen, I've had chronic severe depression since I was very little. I have a degree in biological science and I'm studying for DO school now. I've been around the block with this stuff and I have the background to evaluate the claims as well as any layperson.

    Psychiatric medicine is extremely individualized. Although in the future we will have a much, much clearer insight into what exactly is happening with our brain chemicals, we still only know the basics of neurotransmitters and that our brains are indelibly imprinted by our experiences in ways that make us unique. What we do know about the drugs we have available is first, how safe they are; second, their general effects on mood and demeanor; and third, their side effects. Sometimes we don't know how they work. Sometimes they work for some groups of people and not others, and we don't fully understand that either.

    But doctors do look at the research behind new drugs, and they will not prescribe something that might be unsafe without a pressing reason. It's important to listen to them and ask questions about any new prescription; if you drink a lot, use recreational drugs or have any other potential health issues, they need to know that. It's also wise to see a psychiatrist for mood medications.

    In my experience, my med regimen has allowed me to survive and get to the bottom of my problems without being overwhelmed by them. Most people are helped by meds like these, which is why they continue to be prescribed. Lifestyle changes are also important.

    TLR: OP, your mom is a crazy, stupid fucking bitch.

  25. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to mariegolden For This Useful Post:


  26. #17
    Featured Member pinkpvc's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2006
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    1,012
    Thanks
    130
    Thanked 252 Times in 117 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Depression runs in my family so all the women including me have had it to one degree or another. My gran has went through the mill and has tried it all including ECT. She is still taking Anti depressants and she's 85 and fit and healthy. So we are prob talking at least 40 years of using psych drugs.

    My own experience has been various anti depressants for 7 years, lithium and antipsychotics are a recent addition at 3 years. I'm healthy too apart from the weight gain/sweating side effects. It's a neccessary evil for me. I want to come off or at least reduce to a low dose but in the end I accept i have a recurring, hard to treat mental illness and i'll probably be on some form of psych meds for the rest of my life.

  27. The Following User Says Thank You to pinkpvc For This Useful Post:


  28. #18
    Senior Member Candy Girl's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2008
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    149
    Thanks
    534
    Thanked 83 Times in 53 Posts
    My Mood
    Yeehaw

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Anti-depressants are too risky. Check out www.cchrint.org/ and www.cchrint.org/alternatives.

    Exercise, meditation -- even marijuana are safer.
    Smoke good, eat good. Drink and f*** good. Comin' to the club, stuntin' how you should. My s*** on fire I don't need no gasolina. I'm comin through the block with the new two seater. Cash rules everything around me -- C.R.E.A.M. -- get the money! Dollar dollar bill, y'all!!! FREEZE!!! You know who it is!!! It's me *****es!!! Showtime!!! -Swizz Beats

  29. #19
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Great White North
    Posts
    206
    Thanks
    173
    Thanked 129 Times in 77 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Yikes! Reading this thread is scary. Depression and anxiety run in my family and I've felt mood swings, waves of depression, anxiety and stomach related problems from stress for as long as I can remember. It's all pretty hush hush, but there have been some suicides and alcohol abuse in my family and I've always tried to stay away from anti depressants and alcohol.

    I was totally against taking any meds when my anxiety started getting worse last year and I started going and talking to somebody. Subsequently she had me believing that quitting smoking weed was a good idea and gave me a bunch of tough love. 2 months later I was clean, feeling on edge all the time and having trouble eating and sleeping. Things caught up with me and the next thing I knew I was having a massive anxiety attack and on my way to the hospital.

    My GP was aware of my choice to stay med free, but began to push the anti depressants a little more after that. I accepted, under the understanding that combined therapy, good nutrition, exercise, meditation and low stress were all I needed to get through and get off of them over 9 months or so.

    Here I am 8 months later, a month away from where I ideally wanted to start weaning off, I haven't been doing therapy or the meditation or keeping my stress levels down to a minimum. And as a matter of fact, I don't really find there is much of a difference. Smoking helps keep me balanced, I don't really need anything else. Sorry, but it's the only thing I've tried that I am comfortable with, and has reasonable side effects. I can calm and relax, get pumped to workout, get an appetite or get relief from IBS...etc

    The first few weeks I was on prestiq(Effexor) I had the worst nausea ever! I was also supper edgy and couldn't really eat anything. Then came the occasional headaches and sometimes it feels like a ton of adrenaline is shooting through me for a quick moment, and shortness of breath sometimes.

  30. #20
    Member mariegolden's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 18 Times in 8 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    CCHRINT is a known Scientology front organization. They are not backed by any sort of research or science, merely speculation.

  31. #21
    Senior Member Candy Girl's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2008
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    149
    Thanks
    534
    Thanked 83 Times in 53 Posts
    My Mood
    Yeehaw

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Mariegolden, it is called Scient-ology. Cuz it studies science.

    Even the Bowling for Columbine filmmaker Michael Moore draws the connection between anti-depressant and anti-ADHD drug side effects and the sudden spate of homicidal/ suicidal acts by previously normal people. Dylan Klebold, Kurt Cobain, Marilyn Monroe, the guy from the Beach Boys, etc.

    I suggest you look further than drug company advertisements and marketing lore that makes you so wholly against even reading any critical analysis that doesn't come from sources you pre-approve.

    I hate to say it but Tom Cruise and his fellows were on to something to not just buy into medication-as-the-best/only-means-to-combat-depression.

    Remember, shock treatments, lobotomies, and "bleeding patients" had their heyday at one time as well.

    Lay off the anti-depressant Kool-Aid and read widely.

    Good discussion, OP!
    Last edited by Candy Girl; 07-09-2013 at 10:26 PM. Reason: error
    Smoke good, eat good. Drink and f*** good. Comin' to the club, stuntin' how you should. My s*** on fire I don't need no gasolina. I'm comin through the block with the new two seater. Cash rules everything around me -- C.R.E.A.M. -- get the money! Dollar dollar bill, y'all!!! FREEZE!!! You know who it is!!! It's me *****es!!! Showtime!!! -Swizz Beats

  32. #22
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Feb 2010
    Location
    beach area
    Posts
    238
    Thanks
    40
    Thanked 32 Times in 14 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    PLEASE think long and hard and do due diligence for your own health before succumbing to the hells of antid's. Do a google of Effexor withdrawal for example, and read what absolute torture people are going through to get off these meds. Google Dr Peter Breggin, Dr. Whitaker, get the facts first. I beg to differ that doctos WILL prescribe unsafe medications. Not all, but many lack the expertise in properly managing side effects and the withdrawal process (and they get incentives from big Pharm to prescribe the latest patented med). Watch the medicated child on Netflix. Watch Prozac nation. While a certain population may benefit short term from these meds, they are also setting themselves up for hell when they wish to withdraw, a hell MUCH worse than just dealing with what's going on in life. Consider psychotherapeutic talk, cognitive training, support groups, lifestyle change, checking for any UNDERLYING conditions before putting this crap in your body. All too often people will have an adverse reaction, then misdiagnosed as bipolar or something else, soon find themselves on a merry go round of 8 to 10 different mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, sleep aids, pain pills. PLEASE consider it before choosing this option. Doctors need MORE education on the drastic sometimes fatal effects these drugs can have on an individual before writing a script. And hardly any of them are competent in SAFELY slowly tapering people off them when the 'condition' improves. Paxil, Effexor, Prozac, celexa..etc none of that is deficient in your body, by putting it in your body you will change your brain chemistry and you may have a very hard time getting off them and restabilizing. Have your hormone levels checked, do a blood test to check your thyroid, blood levels, etc. DO NOT resort to these meds to put a bandaid over a problem. I don't mean to sound militant but if I can save one person from going thru what others have gone thru, it will be worth it. Do not let psychiatrists trick you into thinking these meds will help you. Short term therapy is one thing but please consider that even a short term dose of an antid may throw you into a toxic loop that will be very difficult to crawl out of. Many people have committed suicide. Do some digging, you will find that many of these drug manufacturers hide evidence of correlations with violence and suicide. It's not worth it. I speak from personal experience, and 12 years as a behavioral health nurse. You have a choice.

  33. The Following User Says Thank You to catseyes For This Useful Post:


  34. #23
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Enceladus
    Posts
    1,315
    Thanks
    1,145
    Thanked 1,567 Times in 673 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    ^ As an individual who has hypothyroidism, I couldn't agree more with the above. Sometimes psychological conditions are actually a valid symptom of an underlying medical condition. Therefore, treating the psychological symptoms doesn't actually benefit the patient in the long run.

    I.E. I swing between debilitating depressive downs and manic, speedy highs in a fashion that mimics bipolar disorder. Prescribing me antidepressants or lithium wouldn't be beneficial at all in my case, however, because for me my bipolar tendencies are due to my body's inability to produce hormones, and convert my supplemented hormones into active ones.

    So just make sure to rule out the possibility that depression/bipolar/anxiety/etc/ is not a symptom of a medical condition before going forth with antidepressants I don't think antidepressants are bad, but I do think that conditions such as hypothyroidism are grossly underdiagnosed.
    Last edited by MyButter; 07-11-2013 at 04:37 AM.

  35. The Following User Says Thank You to MyButter For This Useful Post:


  36. #24
    Featured Member sierra.'s Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2010
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    904
    Thanks
    1,484
    Thanked 1,166 Times in 427 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    Quote Originally Posted by Candy Girl View Post
    Mariegolden, it is called Scient-ology. Cuz it studies science.
    The word "Scientology" literally means the study of truth. It was given this name by L Ron Hubbard.

    It is not called this because it is an actual scientific field of study, in the way that Biology or Geology is. It is just the name that the guy who came up with it wanted to call it.




    I used to be very against antidepressants. Not in general, but for myself. I tried it, hated it, and refused to try it again for a long time. At the suggestion of a counselor, I tried it again. It has helped me tremendously. I would not be where I was today without the help of medication. I know I will likely be on it all my life, but that's OK. If I had to take a pill everyday to ensure my arm worked correctly, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Why shouldn't I treat my brain the same way?

    Obviously, everyone is different, and all medications have side effects. It is up to the individual to decide what it best for them, and if they need medication or other forms of treatment would be better. I don't think it should be a first option, and I don't think people should go into it blindly. It hasn't been all roses, I tried a few different medications (some that I experienced nasty side effects from) but the improvements in my life once I found one that worked for me was well worth it.

    When talking about the possibility of non-violent people suddenly turning violent or suicidal, I'm not sure you can really blame medication in all these cases, and if they did play a role I don't think they were the main catalyst. Of course, that's just my opinion. But one thing I think you should consider is how many people harm themselves or others, because they are not getting the treatment that would help them (specifically those that need medication)?

    To those that had a bad experience with medication, I am sorry you went through that. But understand that there are many people who benefit from medications a great deal, especially where alternative therapies have been inadequate.

    hot flirting tips 2k13: tell him, “I’m not like other girls,” then pull down the secret zipper at the back of your neck to reveal your true reptilian form


  37. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to sierra. For This Useful Post:


  38. #25
    Member mariegolden's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 18 Times in 8 Posts

    Default Re: Is being on anti-depressants for a long hurtful?

    I beg your pardon, but I'm not on any sort of Kool-Aid. Scientology is known for packing lawyers, not scientists, and that's because it is a lying sack of liars. Perhaps individual Scientologists may have done good for people, but Scientology as a whole has fully convinced me that the upper echelons know full well that it is nonsensical falsehoods mixed with itty bits of obvious truth(for instance, that people wanting to kick drugs need support), and their opinions on medical science are worth exactly nothing. I once had an open mind about Scientology, but the more exposure I had to its own dogma, the more clearly I saw that it was not reliable for spiritual, moral or scientific guidance.

    I won't deny that medical science is imperfect. It's certainly true, and in fact the established order of how things should be, that all patients complaining of sudden psychological conditions be examined physically, and that isn't always how it goes. (But let's not get into the imperfections of the American health care system..) But nonetheless, it is true that almost all doctors, psychiatrists and pharmacists care very deeply about their patients' well-being, and will do their best to avoid harming them at all costs. Yes, even the ones who have the bedside manners of robots, and believe me, I've met them.

    I would remind you that there is such a thing as an industry that opposes Big Pharma, one that is not regulated by the FDA, one for which there are few or no controlled studies, one for which we know approximately nothing about the products it pushes. That industry is called largely the wellness industry, and it includes the vitamin and supplement companies, the herbologists, the chiropractors, the "neutraceuticals", the juicers, the iridologists, the Ayurvedic facilities, the Chinese medicine producers, the chelation therapists. They take therapies that mainstream medicine has rejected, uses for different purposes, or has not yet evaluated and makes money off pushing them on people. The Scientologists' E-meters fit right in here. They also have a profit motive for convincing people that pharmaceutical medicines are dangerous or unnecessary, and that "Big Pharma" is evil.

    Mind you, I believe that all of the people we are discussing mean well, for the most part; however, I know enough to know that the scientific process is the only way we can know anything reliably, and so I must reject the use of therapies and medicines that have not passed that test. (This makes it doubly distressing that a pharmaceutical company could possibly pull a trick like getting a new medication through the FDA by running study after study.)

    Mainly, I'm just upset that anyone could be so plain foolish that they could look at someone suffering from chronic suicidality, schizophrenia, or extreme anxiety completely against their will and say, "Medications are worthless! Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps, junior!" Therapy does not solve all problems. Lifestyle changes do not solve all problems. Sometimes they're not even part of it at all. Meds can be a gift from the good Lord, and the wonderful thing about them is that in general, if they aren't, you can bloody well get off of them.

  39. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to mariegolden For This Useful Post:


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Natural Anti-Depressants
    By cinammonkisses in forum Body Business
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 08-26-2013, 07:17 AM
  2. coming off anti depressants
    By pinkpvc in forum Body Business
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 09-19-2008, 06:29 AM
  3. Anti depressants
    By sent_from_heaven11 in forum Body Business
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 06-14-2007, 03:33 AM
  4. anti-depressants... sigh
    By tampadancer in forum Body Business
    Replies: 53
    Last Post: 04-20-2006, 05:06 PM
  5. Coming off Anti-depressants
    By Lola Lee in forum Body Business
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 03-31-2006, 05:02 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •