Do You Really Need That Antidepressant?

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At Sober living by the Sea some people need medication - though a lot of us find that as we stay sober - many conditions correct themelves.
meetings on the beach help some. http://www.soberliving.com

kelly of CA 3:41PM January 18, 2010

- The Guardian (26 February 2008): Prozac, used by 40M people, does not work, say scientists… Analysis of unseen trials and other data concludes it is no better than placebo...
- ‘St John’s Wort plant as effective as Prozac for treating depression’, say scientists…Ritalin ADHD Drug Linked to 500 Percent Increased Risk of Sudden Death in Children...
- FILM: Bruce Lipton - The New Biology - Where Mind and Matter Meet:
http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2010/01/cnn-for-people-with-milder-cases-of.html

Fred 3:38AM January 07, 2010

I think we should try to find the CAUSE of depression. I guarantee it is not because you did not get your MDR of antidepressants. So if lack of meds is not the problem. How then is it a solution? We live in a self absorbed society. My best results as a doctor with depression is to have the person change their diet and get off sugar in all forms. Next is 30 minutes of exercise daily. Even walking helps. When all else fails, "get off your butt and help someone less fortunate". These pills are killing people. Take responsibility for a change.
We live in such a misled society, one totally educated by the drug companies that we think a headache is an asprin deficency. Sounds dumb but if that is not the cause of the headache why take asprin? Do you think it's not there just because you can't feel it? Our society in general has a attitue something like this. I am sick, I want someone to fix me, I want someone else to pay for it and I don't want to participate, I am a victim. And if you don't fix me I might sue you!. It's not my fault......

Dr. John Sullivan of LA 5:24PM January 06, 2010

The critical failing of this widely reported 'study' is that it doesn't examine the differences between responders and non-responders beyond the meaningless labels of 'severe' versus 'mild' depression. Anti-depressants act on specific receptors in the brain to modulate the levels of different molecules, such as serotonin. If one has the 'blues' but no underlying serotonin imbalances, taking a SSRI to elevate serotonin in your brain will have no useful effect (other than a potential placebo one). The patient with a purely emotional depression and one with a biologically driven condition may present with the same symptoms. Yet no testing is done on depressive patients to determine whether their symptoms are likely to have an underlying biological origin other than trial and error prescription of various medications. By definition, that means patients with no biological component to their condition are being overmedicated, and others may be receiving the wrong medication altogehter.

SLT of CA 4:21PM January 06, 2010

Ken and Anon--
both good comments. The point I'm trying to make is that docs need to do a better job of evaluating patients for depression rather than just writing a prescription. Yes, sometimes antidepressants can be truly lifesaving, but that's mainly in those with very severe depression who often don't get in to see their doctor. Patients also need to know that these drugs may be just as good as a placebo (and no I'm not minimizing the wonders of the placebo effect) but often do have real side effects. --Deborah

Deborah Kotz of DC 3:51PM January 06, 2010

The point is NOT that these drugs fail to outperform placebos-- the point is that both placebos AND drugs help ameliorate real suffering. Both the placebo group and the drug group are less depressed than those with no treatment!! If there were some way to prescribe placebos, great, but its hard to do. Also, many people who are mildly or moderately depressed feel too horrible to exercise. writing "exercise" on a prescription pad will not reduce depression in anyone. The real take-away should be to figure out creative ways of harnessing powerful placebo effect, not new ways to blame depressed people for their illness

Anon of NY 3:41PM January 06, 2010

I think you are going to sour people into not taking antidepressants who really need them. Millions of people are helped by these medicines, and you might wind up having some of them stop them on their own thinking they don't need them, resulting in a suicide.

Ken Ready of ME 3:31PM January 06, 2010