Antidepressants may not be worth the risk, researchers say.

Spenjamins

MrsAxilla:

Spenjamins:

Sibil:

MrsAxilla:

BarefootContess:

Does it bother any of you how much money big pharma makes off these drugs?  And all the advertising they do?  And how much they fund research?  I am glad that someone out there is doing some independent research on these drugs.  I have not read the article closely but at least someone is looking into potential unknown side effects.   

Yes.  Does anyone remember that commercial for Abilify (I think) that said "two out of three people taking antidepressants still experience symptoms of depression.  Abilify can help!"  If two thirds of people on antidepressants are still depressed, maybe the answer isn't more antidepressants.  IDK, just a thought...

 

Or maybe it's legitimate that another med can help.

I've been in counseling, more than once, and I've never been pushed meds.  It was offered, but entirely my choice.  It has never been offered initially, either.  IME, people treat is as a last resort, although I don't particularly agree with that as much as I don't agree with pushing meds as a first answer.

I've had a PCM offer meds the first time I spoke with him, but no counselors.

Or maybe depression is extremely hard to treat. Or maybe depression can be that debilitating that meds simply are not a cure-all. Too many patients think a little pill should make their lives happy. Not the case.

Exactly.  I'm not knocking antidepressants, I'm just saying that if two-thirds of people taking them are still depressed, clearly other avenues need to be explored.  But, you know, Big Pharma doesn't make money off of exercise or MMJ (yeah, I went there.)

Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

Sibil

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

copzgirl

I take something for OCD and it was encouraged that I exercise, eat well and drink lots of water. On my really active days I can almost feel myself relax my brain....stressful days where I can't exercise or do something physical are when I have more thoughts. Direct correlation?? Um, yes.

MrsAxilla

Sibil:

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

:::shrugs:::  I'm not going to argue with either one of you on medical stuff, especially now that I no longer play a doctor on the Internet.  Although its possible I do have more experience with MMJ.... (insert winking smiley here.)

KateAggie

MrsAxilla:

Sibil:

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

:::shrugs:::  I'm not going to argue with either one of you on medical stuff, especially now that I no longer play a doctor on the Internet.  Although its possible I do have more experience with MMJ.... (insert winking smiley here.)

And less experience with depression. 

MrsAxilla

KateAggie:

MrsAxilla:

Sibil:

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

:::shrugs:::  I'm not going to argue with either one of you on medical stuff, especially now that I no longer play a doctor on the Internet.  Although its possible I do have more experience with MMJ.... (insert winking smiley here.)

And less experience with depression. 

Yes, isn't that what I just said?

KateAggie

MrsAxilla:

KateAggie:

MrsAxilla:

Sibil:

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

:::shrugs:::  I'm not going to argue with either one of you on medical stuff, especially now that I no longer play a doctor on the Internet.  Although its possible I do have more experience with MMJ.... (insert winking smiley here.)

And less experience with depression. 

Yes, isn't that what I just said?

Kind of...you said you aren't playing internet doctor, but you also said you have more experience with MMJ.  My point is that you're not using MMJ to treat depression, because if you were, you'd know just how unhelpful it is, and that the suggestion is actually harmful. 

notquiteblushing

KateAggie:

MrsAxilla:

KateAggie:

MrsAxilla:

Sibil:

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

:::shrugs:::  I'm not going to argue with either one of you on medical stuff, especially now that I no longer play a doctor on the Internet.  Although its possible I do have more experience with MMJ.... (insert winking smiley here.)

And less experience with depression. 

Yes, isn't that what I just said?

Kind of...you said you aren't playing internet doctor, but you also said you have more experience with MMJ.  My point is that you're not using MMJ to treat depression, because if you were, you'd know just how unhelpful it is, and that the suggestion is actually harmful. 

I'm a big mmj proponent - with experience to boost - but not for depression.  If you're not motivated to live life normally then certainly mmj will not help.

tartaruga

DownToEarthGirl:

I do think it's about time to see if there are major effects in infants of pregnant moms taking antidepressants - you can't add those women to blind studies and so the drug companies and doctors are basically going off animal studies and this might be the first generation of kids from moms with widespread antidepressant use to be studied.  (I don't know but the article seems to discuss that a little.)

Why is it wrong to say that it's a good time for the medical community to reassess the stats and risks in certain populations - pregnant women on antidepressants, elderly people on antidepressants, etc.?   

It's not wrong. I don't think there's anything wrong with more research into something that's not been fully explored, especially something that affects so many people. 

But it is wrong to say "the risks outweigh the benefits" full stop when that may not be true for many, many people with depression. And when "risks" and "benefits" seem to include quantity only and not quality. I don't think many people suffering from severe depression would say "I'd rather live depressed for 30 years than not depressed for 29".

tartaruga

Sisugal:

Antidepressants may literally be a life saver for many, but often they are also overprescribed .

Exercise, life style changes, avoiding alcohol and drugs as well as talk therapy all have significant benefits for those who are mildly depressed.

Should I even bother to ask for a source for this? 

KateAggie

tartaruga:

Sisugal:

Antidepressants may literally be a life saver for many, but often they are also overprescribed .

Exercise, life style changes, avoiding alcohol and drugs as well as talk therapy all have significant benefits for those who are mildly depressed.

Should I even bother to ask for a source for this? 

Duh.  

 

tartaruga

KateAggie:

tartaruga:

Sisugal:

Antidepressants may literally be a life saver for many, but often they are also overprescribed .

Exercise, life style changes, avoiding alcohol and drugs as well as talk therapy all have significant benefits for those who are mildly depressed.

Should I even bother to ask for a source for this? 

Duh.  

 

/dead

LaurierGirl28

tartaruga:

Sisugal:

Antidepressants may literally be a life saver for many, but often they are also overprescribed .

Exercise, life style changes, avoiding alcohol and drugs as well as talk therapy all have significant benefits for those who are mildly depressed.

Should I even bother to ask for a source for this? 

I am a staunch defendant of AD's, but I do agree with Sisugal that they are overprescribed. And I think because of this, we have studies that come out showing they  "may not be worth the risk" because everybody and their grandma is on them. If only people who truly needed them used them, the studies may show something else. Does that make sense?

I also agree that they should be monitored closely in pregnancy, but at the same time, a mentally stable pregnant woman/mother is imperative for a healthy baby too. And if that takes AD's, fine. I'm not about to legislate what women can do wtih their bodies, including during pg. 

MrsAxilla

KateAggie:

MrsAxilla:

KateAggie:

MrsAxilla:

Sibil:

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

:::shrugs:::  I'm not going to argue with either one of you on medical stuff, especially now that I no longer play a doctor on the Internet.  Although its possible I do have more experience with MMJ.... (insert winking smiley here.)

And less experience with depression. 

Yes, isn't that what I just said?

Kind of...you said you aren't playing internet doctor, but you also said you have more experience with MMJ.  My point is that you're not using MMJ to treat depression, because if you were, you'd know just how unhelpful it is, and that the suggestion is actually harmful. 

I suppose it wasn't clear from the flow of the posts, but I was speaking more in general about Big Pharma's motivation for patients to use a "magic pill" for everything and the marketing dollars they spend to get patients to believe that will work.  I then made an internal leap to MMJ since Big Pharma spends tons of money to keep it illegal (so does the liquor industry, but that's a different topic.). I wasn't trying to suggest that it helps with depression; I've not seen research on that one way or another and don't have access to a medical library or pharmacology researchers anymore (you know, so I can play doctor).

gracendantho26

My mom has dealt with severe depression almost my whole life and has been on medication since I was in elementary school (I'm 37). I think for parents on AD's it is imperative that they model ways to handle stress, depression, anxiety etc. in ways aside from AD's. This will go a long for their children as they mature into adults knowing healthy ways for managing their own stress/emotions. I really worry about kids of parents on AD's who will not have been modeled the skills needed to deal with a range of emotions. And I know for a fact that it is easy to fall into that.

Heather R

gracendantho26:

My mom has dealt with severe depression almost my whole life and has been on medication since I was in elementary school (I'm 37). I think for parents on AD's it is imperative that they model ways to handle stress, depression, anxiety etc. in ways aside from AD's. This will go a long for their children as they mature into adults knowing healthy ways for managing their own stress/emotions. I really worry about kids of parents on AD's who will not have been modeled the skills needed to deal with a range of emotions. And I know for a fact that it is easy to fall into that.

I would worry more about the kids of parents who SHOULD have been on meds and were not because their need was stigmatized by people thinking that meds are over-prescribed and that hitting the gym instead would make them right as rain.

KateAggie

Heather R:

gracendantho26:

My mom has dealt with severe depression almost my whole life and has been on medication since I was in elementary school (I'm 37). I think for parents on AD's it is imperative that they model ways to handle stress, depression, anxiety etc. in ways aside from AD's. This will go a long for their children as they mature into adults knowing healthy ways for managing their own stress/emotions. I really worry about kids of parents on AD's who will not have been modeled the skills needed to deal with a range of emotions. And I know for a fact that it is easy to fall into that.

I would worry more about the kids of parents who SHOULD have been on meds and were not because their need was stigmatized by people thinking that meds are over-prescribed and that hitting the gym instead would make them right as rain.

+1 

Spenjamins

MrsAxilla:

Sibil:

Spenjamins:

 Few people are compliant with my recommendations to exercise. When you are severely depressed hitting the gym and going to therapy are the last things you want to do. Several are happy to smoke weed which does nothing to treat depression and in fact can make it worse.

I think this is the first time I've agreed with you on weed

And, once again, lol at sisugal. 

:::shrugs:::  I'm not going to argue with either one of you on medical stuff, especially now that I no longer play a doctor on the Internet.  Although its possible I do have more experience with MMJ.... (insert winking smiley here.)

You think so? OK.

gracendantho26

Heather R:

gracendantho26:

My mom has dealt with severe depression almost my whole life and has been on medication since I was in elementary school (I'm 37). I think for parents on AD's it is imperative that they model ways to handle stress, depression, anxiety etc. in ways aside from AD's. This will go a long for their children as they mature into adults knowing healthy ways for managing their own stress/emotions. I really worry about kids of parents on AD's who will not have been modeled the skills needed to deal with a range of emotions. And I know for a fact that it is easy to fall into that.

I would worry more about the kids of parents who SHOULD have been on meds and were not because their need was stigmatized by people thinking that meds are over-prescribed and that hitting the gym instead would make them right as rain.

I'm not really seeing this happening at all. Are you? And FWIW my post was meant to say that other methods of dealing along with AD's would be helpful.

edited to say that I did not phrase my first post right. Aside was the wrong word. I meant with. Honestly my mom would not be alive today without AD's..I have no problem with them.

Spenjamins

KateAggie:

Heather R:

gracendantho26:

My mom has dealt with severe depression almost my whole life and has been on medication since I was in elementary school (I'm 37). I think for parents on AD's it is imperative that they model ways to handle stress, depression, anxiety etc. in ways aside from AD's. This will go a long for their children as they mature into adults knowing healthy ways for managing their own stress/emotions. I really worry about kids of parents on AD's who will not have been modeled the skills needed to deal with a range of emotions. And I know for a fact that it is easy to fall into that.

I would worry more about the kids of parents who SHOULD have been on meds and were not because their need was stigmatized by people thinking that meds are over-prescribed and that hitting the gym instead would make them right as rain.

+1 

Yes.

Spenjamins

gracendantho26:

Heather R:

gracendantho26:

My mom has dealt with severe depression almost my whole life and has been on medication since I was in elementary school (I'm 37). I think for parents on AD's it is imperative that they model ways to handle stress, depression, anxiety etc. in ways aside from AD's. This will go a long for their children as they mature into adults knowing healthy ways for managing their own stress/emotions. I really worry about kids of parents on AD's who will not have been modeled the skills needed to deal with a range of emotions. And I know for a fact that it is easy to fall into that.

I would worry more about the kids of parents who SHOULD have been on meds and were not because their need was stigmatized by people thinking that meds are over-prescribed and that hitting the gym instead would make them right as rain.

I'm not really seeing this happening at all. Are you? And FWIW my post was meant to say that other methods of dealing along with AD's would be helpful.

Really? I see it all the time. No one would say just hit the gym if someone had high blood pressure. With depression, "just get over it" is the norm.

gracendantho26

Back when I was a kid and my mom was in a hospital being treated it seemed like no one else was dealing with this. Now it seems much less stigmatized and it seems like people are on board with treating it with meds.

Heather R

gracendantho26:

Heather R:

gracendantho26:

My mom has dealt with severe depression almost my whole life and has been on medication since I was in elementary school (I'm 37). I think for parents on AD's it is imperative that they model ways to handle stress, depression, anxiety etc. in ways aside from AD's. This will go a long for their children as they mature into adults knowing healthy ways for managing their own stress/emotions. I really worry about kids of parents on AD's who will not have been modeled the skills needed to deal with a range of emotions. And I know for a fact that it is easy to fall into that.

I would worry more about the kids of parents who SHOULD have been on meds and were not because their need was stigmatized by people thinking that meds are over-prescribed and that hitting the gym instead would make them right as rain.

I'm not really seeing this happening at all. Are you? .

assuredly, yes, I encounter many teens yearly who have grown up amidst untreated mental illness in the home.

Spenjamins

gracendantho26:

Back when I was a kid and my mom was in a hospital being treated it seemed like no one else was dealing with this. Now it seems much less stigmatized and it seems like people are on board with treating it with meds.

There may be less stigma but it still very prevalent.

gracendantho26

I have studied/worked in mental health and I am aware that their are untreated people out there and I am aware that in many cultures there is still a big stigma attached to mental health problems. But there has been a huge and undeniable cultural shift over the past 20 years.

And my point was that it's best to model other ways of emotion management in conjunction with AD's so that the kids of depressed parents have those skills as they mature into adulthood. 

Heather R

The National Alliance for Mental Illness says 2/3 of people don't seek treatment. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/12/29/even-today-the-stigma-of-mental-illness-wont-fade

gracendantho26

I don't have time to read that right now but will later.

And FWIW I was not intending on getting into an argument about this. I have a huge heart for those suffering and have dealt with this most of my life. I just feel strongly that kids of parents suffering from mental illness are modeled alternate ways of dealing with stress/emotions.

But I for one am happy that it is talked about today much more than when I was younger. No one wants to feel isolated.

edited to add..I am sure this will go over  like a turd in a punch bowl.. but many meds used to deal with extreme depression do dull emotions so that alernate methods of dealing with lifes ups and downs are not necessarily used. Sorry but it's true!

tartaruga

I don't think anyone would argue against providing kids (or adults) with emotional coping skills. That's a good idea no matter what. But sometimes coping skills aren't enough.

Maybe I'm just not hanging out with the right people but I don't know anyone who wanted to go on antidepressants just for the fun of it or when they didn't really need it. If anything, it's the opposite - they really need medication, and their doctors have suggested it, but refuse to consider it because they feel like they shouldn't need it, that they should able to do without it, they don't like the potential side effects, they don't believe it will really help.

gracendantho26

tartaruga:

I don't think anyone would argue against providing kids (or adults) with emotional coping skills. That's a good idea no matter what. But sometimes coping skills aren't enough.

Maybe I'm just not hanging out with the right people but I don't know anyone who wanted to go on antidepressants just for the fun of it or when they didn't really need it. If anything, it's the opposite - they really need medication, and their doctors have suggested it, but refuse to consider it because they feel like they shouldn't need it, that they should able to do without it, they don't like the potential side effects, they don't believe it will really help.

I don't think I said any of that! Just for the fun of it? What?

tartaruga

gracendantho26:

tartaruga:

I don't think anyone would argue against providing kids (or adults) with emotional coping skills. That's a good idea no matter what. But sometimes coping skills aren't enough.

Maybe I'm just not hanging out with the right people but I don't know anyone who wanted to go on antidepressants just for the fun of it or when they didn't really need it. If anything, it's the opposite - they really need medication, and their doctors have suggested it, but refuse to consider it because they feel like they shouldn't need it, that they should able to do without it, they don't like the potential side effects, they don't believe it will really help.

I don't think I said any of that! Just for the fun of it? What?

No I wasn't responding o you specifically just the argument that they are overprescribed and that too many people take them unnecessarily.