Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

sleepinbutey — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:18:00 GMT

Having Narcolepsy with Cataplexy being extremely severe, I would not have been able to lead a near normal life (I am 66) without such anti-depressants as: Tofranil, Prozac, Zoloft, and Anafranil. They may, in your opinion, not be of significant help to people who are depressed, but they are certainly a life saver to people like me.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

jlmel — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:27:27 GMT

You can't make an objective distinction between clinical depression and feeling momentarily sad because Depression is not an illness. There's no organic etihology for no mental illness. In Mental Health illness is a metaphor. And if someone believes that antidepressants saved them from the dwindling spiral of existential hurt this study would mean that that person would have felt better with a sugar pill anyway. Psychiatry is not based on objective science. It's based on ideology of social control and it's brutal and dangerous. There'snever been proof of any mental illness and therefore there's never been a cure. Because in the beginning there was nothing to cure. The only people who should be taking antidepressants are the insane people who produce them, the psychiatrist who would have to be diagnosed as schizofrenic and on antipsycotics (if it were really a desease) for actually believing they are doctors, and a couple of members of the FDA. That's about it.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

stephanieLina — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:10:43 GMT

(i also walk 30 mins everyday)

i wish doctors would stop overprescribing meds to people who don't really need them, so people like me won't feel like crap (pathetic, weak) for using medications as a tool, whenever articles like yours are written (which is everincreasing, due to "sad" people wanting a quick fix)

i actually had a friend who wanted them prescribed due to feelings accociated with her boyfriend not wanting her to continue being a call girl!

i hope in time i don't need these stupid pills anymore, and will continue to fight this darkness, BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE, POPPING A LITTLE OMEGA IS JUST NOT GONNA CUT IT

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

stephanieLina — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:00:18 GMT

i've been taking medications for depression since i was 16. i've been depressed for as long as i remember, believe it or not, i had depressive thought when on vacation when i was less that 4 year old.

every year or so around mid winter (yes' i'm aware of the seasonal negative mood thing) i've had to swich to a different type of pill or add new ones, because i would spend many days around this time being near suicidal or crippled by the misery in my own head. (i've been told that 10 minutes of sun a week can give the required amount of vit. d we need to function properly, which i'm sure i got, so in that aspect lack of vit. d is not a major factor

while i can control my moods when i'm rational (not depressed), when PMS comes, my mood disorders come into full swing, not suprisingly, i recent times my job was threatened due to my negative and unstable moods.

i'm frustrated that there is not more wide spread information regarding womens hormones and brain chemicals/receptors. my depression first came in fully as my hormones were going through major fluctuations

as a teenager. i recently read a book that said that estrogen has a DIRECT effect on serotonin, and have found many other sources to back it up.

sorry that i'm going all over the place on this,i have a lot to say on this subject

to get to the point, i hate relying on pills to keep me happy, but as i'm a firm beliver in the placebo effect, one example is, while still on meds, it was pointed out how depressed i've been, and i didn't even notice, because i had been like that for so many weeks. i wish the placebo effect had been working!

i'm trying to replace negative thought patterns, seeing a therapist, resarching foods and things to elevate mood. take 4 omega oil pills daily as well as a mulitvitamin, b complex vits.magnesium, iron, vit c for the iron, and recently zinc. i'm trying to eat more vegetables and fruit, lowering my suger (which i have a lot of)

i would love to hear any other sugestions

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

saynotoquacks — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:29:08 GMT

Why does nobody mention that THESE DRUGS ARE MORE ADDICTIVE THAN HEROIN OR COCAINE??? The protracted withdrawals continue for years. Take it from one who knows.

At least sugar pills aren't addictive.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

dairyfree — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:47:31 GMT

I had never experienced depression in my life until I was 31. I went thru something horrilble and have a good doc who suggested I try natural remedies and more exercise for my extreme depression. I lost 20 pounds, hair was thinning, family was suffering. I wanted out of the sadness like you would not believe and naturals did not work. My doc finally prescribed Effexor and I felt noramal again. I know that Effexor does work because I was very sceptical and felt better. The good news is that after 6 mos. of being on them and reclaiming my life I was able to get off of them! I use to judge people on depression pills too.....that is until I went thru something very painful. Now I am much more compassionate and I encourage anyone on them to work on getting off because you can! Yes there are side effects but they do go away once you get off.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

irun — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:05:08 GMT

No, the FDA would do this to us. LOL Yea they should would!!

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

Fionagirl — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:45:42 GMT

It depends on what you mean by "Work". If your saying they don't cure depression, I would agree with that. If your saying they don't have a real effect on our physical response to it, I strongly disagree. As with most drugs, the outcome of usage is a reduction in or masking of symptoms and and not a cure. Wether it be a physical propensity (brought on by genetics or poor self care) or a psychologically induced (which may require therapy) scenario the basic deficit can be successfully addressed with an SSRI. Speaking from my own experiences over the years, I will tell you without a doubt the effect of SSRI's on my brain chemistry was and remains to be dramatic. The first time I took them many years ago, I had to stop after a few weeks due to cluster migraines but I had been greatly relieved of the moderate to severe depression I was experiencing. Over the last 20 or so years I've tried a few different medications to get a break from my transient depression and anxiety. I am not a supporter of long term use of SSRI's for a few reasons, such as dependance, cost, anorgasmia and the fact that while pain can be reduced so can joy. I just felt numb and that wasn't good enough. I now use a lot of supplements, sleep as much as possible and do moderate exercise at least 4 times a week. Any less and I will be ill again. I do agree that these and most drugs are grossly over prescribed, but If someone I care about is overwhelmed physically or emotionally and is no longer functioning properly I would support their use and I feel it is somewhat irresponsible to suggest they are no more effective than a placebo.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

QueenV — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:08:26 GMT

I don't think people who have never experienced severe depression should judge those of us who need medication. I was given different medications over the years, by my doctors, to alleviate my anxiety, stress, and depression. Nothing worked, so I lived without energy, and experienced shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, etc etc, for years. I guess I wasn't one of those for whom placebos would work. After a serious car accident, my doctor gave me Effexor to try. I didn't think it would because pills aren't my thing, and no medication had ever worked before. To my surprise, the drug gave me my life back! I am not tricked into believing something will work, until it does. I know those who believe it's a placebo effect will continue to do so, regardless of what I say. I hate pills, but if it makes my life worth living, I will take them.

I am happy, and healthy, and have no problems that I can't deal with. I eat fresh, organic foods, and work out. I have a great spiritual life, and I spend a lot of time helping others. I want to quit taking these stupid pills, but I go back to my depressed state whenever I try. I want off! The idea that placebos would work as well in pure nonsense!

Giving children, and merely sad adults, drugs is stupid! I agree that our society is over-medicated, but there are those who are, legitimately, needing antidepressants. I wish this wasn't true.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

Wizdum — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:12:41 GMT

They never worked for me and I was very depressed. Depression is caused by bad karma and there is no escape, but it does end when your karma is balanced.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

curious7 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:17:56 GMT

Too many of discount the value of good nutrition, exercise, friends, play, positive distractions from this rat race, and the positive effects it has on the mind. Although we are very willing to be brain washed by mainstream doctors, and the boob tube. May as well lock us all away.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

Nicole2777 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:05:56 GMT

I will have to say that I have been on Zoloft for pain since early February. It has been the difference between pain all the time and hardly any pain at all. I am also on Mirpex for RLS and doing exercises, keeping room dark, etc. to help with that also.I am still trying at the same time to "detox" my body with better food, better personal care items and cleaning items, but I just can't afford to do a total flip of my house so I am doing it as I go. I am hoping to get off of my of those meds soon, but right now it is so much nicer to have my life back with the help of these meds.

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

Enoch S — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:04:06 GMT

In the majority of cases, the mental health of those taking antidepressants improved little more than those on dummy pills...so said the article in UK's Daily Mail. This shows that the placebo effect is alive and well in orthodox medicine. So, why are we spending so much money on making the drug companies rich? But, apparently, the placebo effect is used to discredit homeopathy. A paradox indeed!!!

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

otgary — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:58:37 GMT

You have taken "antidepressant" drugs and say they work, but you're missing the whole point about placebos ---- the tests proved that IF you had been given a "sugar pill" instead and NOT KNOWN IT, you would have had the same result in the vast majority of cases.................... get it?

re: Antidepressants Are No Better Than Placebos

otgary — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:53:44 GMT

Dr. Ann Blake Tracy's September 13, 2004 testimony to the FDA

I am Ann Blake Tracy, PhD, head of the International Coalition for Drug Awareness. I am the author of Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare and have testified in court cases involving antidepressants for 12 1/2 years. The last 15 years of my life have been devoted full time to researching and writing about SSRI antidepressants.

Research on serotonin has been clear from the very beginning that the most damaging thing that could be done to the serotonin system would be to impair one’s ability to metabolize serotonin. Yet that is exactly how SSRI antidepressants exert their effects.

For decades research has shown that impairing serotonin metabolism will produce migraines, hot flashes, pains around the heart, difficulty breathing, tension and anxiety which appear from out of nowhere, depression, suicide - especially very violent suicide, hostility, violent crime, arson, substance abuse, psychosis, mania, organic brain disease, autism, anorexia, reckless driving, Alzheimer’s, impulsive behavior with no concern for punishment, and argumentative behavior.

How anyone ever thought it would be "therapeutic" to chemically induce these reactions is beyond me. Yet, these reactions are exactly what we have witnessed in our society over the past decade and a half as a result of the widespread use of these drugs