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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Zoloft, Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin ???
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.

Zoloft, Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin ???

by Becka, Apr 17, 2002 12:00AM
I feel like a damn guinea pig....



Approx. a yr.ago my obgyn put me 1st on Celexa 20mgs felt GREAT for 2 wks, then my body, i feel, got immuned to the stuff, so I up'd it to 1 in the a.m. & 1 in the p.m. felt confused, couldn't concentrate etc. He then switched me to Zoloft...sweating, bad crying dreams, more depressed so my therpist told me to stop taking Zoloft, wait until I see a "shrink" to determine what I need to take, which is a month away. My obgyn now gave me Wellbutrin if I want to try it....my heads going crazy with all this medication.   I'm 37 yrs old & I've been depressed since I was a teenager and it finally got so bad over the years that I need the right kind of med.  I'm also a recovering alcholic!!

Any suggestions would be helpful...I haven't takin any meds today, and I actually feel pretty good...but I know the panic will set in as soon as I leave work...



Thanks...

by Roger Gould, M.D., Apr 17, 2002 12:00AM
Wellbutrin takes several weeks before there is any significant effect, but at least there are not as many side effects as the others. The wellbutrin is a good choice if you want to take something in the interim, and also see if that works for you.
Member Comments (1)

by Keegan, Apr 18, 2002 12:00AM
hi, can i ask why did your obgyn dr give you this medication?? and not a regular primary dr.  thanks

by Peagee, Apr 23, 2002 12:00AM
To: SSRI users
I'm a little concerned that symptoms and 'discontinuation syndrome' of SSRI's such as Paxil don't seem to be given much attention on here? One example:



A quote from one of the messages:  ..."But when I move my eyes to the left or right or up or down, I get a disturbing feeling of a zap-like nervousness, and an increased heart rate. Because of this, I am afraid to move my eyes too much. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I am truly concerned about it...."  and the reply from the MD:  "...I am unaware of Paxil causing the side effect you mentioned. It is also possible that it is a symptom of anxiety. Consult your psychiatrist for a proper evaluation..."



I'm a bit surprised that so little seems to be known about the Zaps on this site. Particularly as regards to Paxil (Seroxat/Paroxetine) withdrawal.





There is an absolute mass of research and legal information regarding this which is available to all.   To make it easier for anyone worried about side effects and withdrawal symptoms, you are welcome to visit the site below where a great deal of links and information have been collected.



http://paxilsupport.homestead.com/Index.html



SSRIs are mind altering drugs.  They alter the delicate chemical balance of the brain and thus the way the brain controls stress, muscular function, etc.  The pharmaceutical giants do not want to lose money by broadcasting the side effects.  Withdrawal from Paxil can be very disabling.  PARTICULARLY if going 'cold turkey' and even when weaning slowly in some cases.  



I think any MD should familiarise himself with both the known facts, and the ones that are newly emerging now that the medication has been in use long enough to start showing the effects of long term use and withdrawal effects.  Particularly before giving advice on support boards.



Finally, here is a quote regarding drug company strategies:



"The strategy for DTCA used by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has been enacted throughout Europe, especially in the major drug-producing countries. The ‘Battle Plan’, was described in a private meeting by the Director-General of the ABPI, and reported in the trade journal, Pharmaceutical Marketing, as follows:



"Now the ABPI has announced that it is launching the final stages of a campaign before it tackles the Government and the EU head on ... It is the spearhead of a carefully thought-out campaign. The ABPI battle plan is to employ ground troops in the form of PATIENT SUPPORT GROUPS, SYMPATHETIC MEDICAL OPINION and healthcare professionals - known as 'stakeholders' - which will lead the debate on the informed patient issue. This will have the effect of WEAKENING political, IDEOLOGICAL and PROFESSIONAL DEFENCES … Then the ABPI will follow through with high-level precision strikes on specific regulatory enclaves in both Whitehall and Brussels." (Jeffries, 2000)[v]



DTC marketing has been permitted in the USA effectively since 1997. Since then, expenditure on advertising alone has risen from almost nothing to around US$2.5bn/year (2000). At the same time, the number of blockbuster drugs has also risen dramatically, as has the US drugs bill. [vi] In 1996/97, 23 blockbusters accounted for about 28% of total US prescription drug sales. Five years later, 69 blockbusters account for over half of the $US161 billion US Pharma market (IMS Health, 2001)[vii]. These same few heavily advertised products account for over half of the total year-on-year increase in the US drugs bill (NIHCM, 2001)"



Please people, do some research.  But DON'T go 'cold turkey'.  Read up plenty of information from independent sites.  



Peagee
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