A Black Day for Anti-Depressants
The FDA has mandated that antidepressant prescriptions feature a black label to warn consumers aged 18 to 24 of possible suicidal tendencies when first taking these drugs. This is a follow up to their 2005 ruling where labels were required to warn of this same suicidal effect on children and adolescents. Of course, many psychiatrists are concerned that people in need will be scared away by these labels. This concern was even reflected in the FDA's announcement. However, the cynic in me wonders if these psychiatrists I've seen quoted in various articles concerning this new mandate are really concerned for people's wellfare. It has been reported that there was a drop in patients under 17 when the first warning labels were mandated in 2005. Gee, I wonder why people would be concerned that expensive medications might have a fatal side-effect for their children? I won't speak for all psychiatrists, but many require patients to have the utmost faith in pharmacology and their services. It can be very lucrative for them. Beyond the steady stream of billable hours, Big Pharm offers financial incentives for doctors and psychiatrists to get patients to try new medications. Doctors I know see this as a win-win situation. They get a chunk of cash in their pocket and people like me get cutting edge help.The big problem with that scenario is, of course, that the doctors aren't the ones taking the medications or dealing with the side-effects. As a person begins to take antidepressants, chemical changes begin to occur in their brain, often centered around the neurotransmitter, seratonin. Simply put, the "magic" behind antidepressants is the inhibiting of seratonin reuptake. This allows for increased levels of seratonin in the neurosynapses which should equate to happier patients. However, there is a chance when going on these meds that the brain becomes unbalanced as it struggles to cope with the new changes. It is during this period that people can become agitated and, actually, seratonin deprived. This is the side-effect that is suspected to cause suicidal tendencies.
Until now, these people were considered aberrations and predisposed towards suicide to begin with. After extensive testing, however, the FDA has determined that these cases are not as uncommon as Big Pharma would have us believe. Why this testing wasn't done before is a question left on many people's minds. On one hand, early and overoptimistic marketing of these antidepressants has led to deaths. On the other hand, people clamor for speedier testing so that they can get their hands on new treatments for their loved ones. There does not seem to be an easy solution to this dilemma for the present.
Still, I wonder how much greed has to play in this tragedy. Depending on the studies I've read, either one third or one half of people given antidepressants do not respond and find no relief for their depression. How many of these people end up bouncing from one med to another trying to find happiness while mistaking side-effects as the efficacy of the drug at work? Other studies have found that antidepressants have had no more affect than placebos. What does that tell you? It tells me that people thought the "drug" would help them, and they experienced happier moods. Thought alone led to a reduction of stress levels and a more harmonious balance of chemicals in the brain. Mind over mood.
In light of the evidence showing a link between antidepressants and suicide, I would recommend that all who read this blog look first into cognitive behavior therapy and other alternative therapies before latching desperately onto the pharmaceutical roulette wheel of chance. Some side-effects last a lifetime. Others end a life.
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What I have learned is that very few doctors actually know how to help. But they want to help so they offer what they know. If the medicines aren't working for your husband, you need to find new solutions, not new medicines.
Have you tried Cognitive Behavior Therapy? It won't work unless your husband wants to improve on his own. If he's waiting for the drugs to do it for him, then he won't benefit from CBT at all.
What does he want?
(BTW, got your email. Haven't had time to properly respond to it, sorry)
~Douglas
BTW, my husband suffers from migraines and some mild/moderate depression..... we have found the best solution for his depression ....... physical labor..... I'm hoping that moving back to the farm and him having lots of physical labor will help tremendously with his depression...... he can tell a big difference on days when he is out and can physically get something accomplished.
And as far as the migraines...... the docs don't really know what is causing them.... many tests, many drugs, and many dollars later we are still at square one.....we are working through it and have has some success with change in diet but still there are days we simply cannot find the trigger to his migraines.
Well, all of that to say ..... Hi and I liked the post..... you know we Southern gals have to talk....LOL
As for migraines, I have no ready solution. My twelve year old suffers from them frequently. I kid with her and tell her, "It's only in your mind. Now think happy thoughts and the pain will go away." She just glares at me and says "ha ha..." We both know that optimism has it's limits. Usually, a good long nap in a dark and quiet place will work much better.
Thanks for posting. Good luck finding his trigger. Wish us the same for our girl.
~Douglas
I give a lot of credit to the intelligence of this article that does say it as it really is.
this model of fixing problems with psychotrophic drugs is horrible... for some types of conditions such as schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder, or the postpartum depression, perhaps there is a need for carefully monitored use of drugs, but when doctors are prescribing these powerful drugs without a real concern about risk, and then hiding behind "depressed people kill themselves", it verges on the criminal. The newer black box warnings will put accountability back on doctors, and to be honest, about 80% of the shrinks should be working in factories or wall street, not hurting people as so many of them do.
Sam
Our counselor has been trying CBT with him for two years. The trick, as I understand it, is to keep going with the first step as you move on to the next one (ie: smiling practice first, then a few days/weeks later, add exercise, then a bit later add positive affirmations or whatever the heck works). The problem we find with Rick is that he will dutifully try an idea for three or four days, and then quit. Then, when he should be ready to add something to the regimen, there is no base. We started with a new psychiatrist last month, and what we heard was remarkably refreshing: Quit the caffeine (Rick was back up to 800 mg a day at least) because it negates the effects of at least two of the medications. Exercise for an hour a day, no excuses. Develop a routine and stick to it. Eliminate glucose from your diet, no exceptions. Shut off the computer after 6:00 pm (by far the most painful of the prescriptions). Take a good multi-vitamin daily. He gave us some websites to research, as well. He didn't reduce the polypharmacological cocktail, yet, but he refused to even look at the chemical imbalances until Rick was willing to truly show some effort. I am pleased to say that he has exercised almost daily since the appointment, he has eliminated caffeine completely, he has added the vitamin in, and he is only on the computer one or two evenings a week instead of every night. I can now say that yes, I think he is willing to try to get better. A month ago I would have told you I was giving up on the process. We went to a camp for a weekend as chaperones for my 21 middle school students, and Rick was the biggest behavior problem I had. My 7 yr old ADHD/DSI kid handled himself more appropriately than my 40 year old husband. I am still probably going to lose my home because I have to find a new job that is full time. We will move wherever the job is. Rick is still incapable of working full time. But, there are a few glimmers of hope (and boy do I need them right about now).
Perhaps for some, but there are a few problems with the analogy. A large percentage of people don't respond to anti-depressants. A smaller percentage have uncomfortable side-effects. Some side-effects are even harmful as was the case with me. I now have permanent neurological damage because of anti-depressants and AD/HD meds.
There is also the uncomfortable aspect of anti-depressants that Big Pharma likes to push them through psychologists who simply medicate and provide no coping strategies. Therefore there are dangers to relying on meds instead of learning to cope with this disability on your own.
People who cannot find relief through the very popular path of antidepressants either endlessly mix cocktails with one psychologist after another or suffer needlessly. Those who reject the path of antidepressants (out of choice or necessity) need resources, which is what I try to provide here on this blog.