Quote:
Originally Posted by kestrelx
About 6 years ago there was a big hoohah about anti-depressants not working, there were reports in all the papers like the Independant claiming this as fact.
There was also a program on TV around similar time that gave evidence that a lot of people commit suicide after being put on anti-depressants such as Seroxat, by GP's in America and this country.
These issues now seem to have been swept under the carpet.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kestrelx
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Yes that Panorama prog about Seroxat was a few years ago now.
Several points can be made about that drug and others that are used for similar conditions. Some apply to other drugs in general as well
- Even the largest and best structured clinical trial cannot hope to discover all side effects in all people. Only use of a drug in the wider community can find these out
- Would you rather have depression or take a pill to try and help it? The taking of any drug carries risks and consequences
- You don't hear from folks who have used the drug successfully
- While people may expect the drug to be an instant fix, these things take time to enter the system. This may account for the initial occurrence of anxiety, suicidal tendencies etc which may be caused by the drug or by the underlying condition which has not yet been affected by the drug. These effects should clear up as the drug is continued
- For similar reasons the drug should not be stopped suddenly but come off gradually so that its effects on the mind and body can be controlled
- Some of the unwanted effects of the drug may be due to reactions with other medications or treatments
- Other antidepressants have side effects too, it would probably be impossible to design a drug that was totally free of them
- As the link in Kes's post suggests, other substances have been linked to increased suicide risk as a side effect
So the drug continues to be prescribed and appears to have fewer side effects than older antidepressants. Only further research and trials may lead to anything safer and better tolerated.
On a personal level, and slightly off the subject of mind altering drugs, some Accywebbers may know that at the moment I am undergoing a course of chemotherapy. The possible known side effects of the drugs used were pointed out to me at the start and it has been interesting to note how and when these occur during treatment. As I mentioned above in respect of Seroxat, the drugs take time to work their way in to the system and the side effects show up when this has happened. They may be unpleasant and unpredictable but at least they show something is going on and anything unusual will be reported and added to the volume of data known about such substances. So our knowledge increases.