overuse of SSRI's

Hi, I'm writing a thesis paper on the relationship between mood disorders, paxil, and therapy.  I personally believe that SSRI's are overused.  What is your opinion?  Do you think that antidepressants are used too casually?  Do you think that they really help everyone with their problems, or do they just mask the problem?  I've had people tell me their personal expiriences with this drug, and most say it made them really air-heady or forgetful, and it made them basically just not care about things they normally should care about.  Is this really a good thing?  I think that meds can sometimes be just a quick and simple solution when really it's not solving anything, although it may make the person feel better, they're not being forced to deal with their feelings or problems.  I would really appreciate your opinion on this subject.  thanx

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I think you will get the most interesting response from those using this site for information. In brief,there are times when the medications are useful (see the previous posted question) and at other times when people take the medications but don't do the problem solving work that makes their life work better...then they take bigger doses, switch medications, and all in vain looking for a chemical cure. These medications have a place in therapy, but alongside good psychotherapy.

[kcossich]

I am not the doctor, but I am currently on Celexa (40 mg. per day) and it is working for me.  I am 31 years old and my father died very unexpectedly on Dec.22, just 5 weeks after I had my first baby.  I began having panic attacks, insomnia, irregular heartbeats, numbness in left arm, etc.  Basically, my body just fell apart because the grief was so deep.  I am seeing a grief counselor to help work through my distress, but my doctor still feels like I need an antidepressant to help me through the "down spells" I have.  I personally think they ARE given out too freely because doctors can be quick to prescribe (money has something to do with it I am sure).  That's just my opinion, but I found your thesis subject interesting and just had to comment.

[grrlfriend]

Hi,

I think you should maybe go to one of the bipolar or depression forums and get a lot of 'input' data on folks' reactions to SSRIs.

I've taken them for years for depression, and they don't make me spacy or uncaring: quite the opposite.  They work (in my case) to counterbalance the depression, which can make me dull, fatigued and unable to care about anything.  

I think the 'spacy, apathetic' response might be something of a myth (it's emphasized in many of the anti-prozac books) but you'd need lots and lots of data to really prove this one way or the other.  I wouldn't just go on the reactions of some friends.  But of course you know this already.  ;)

Should make for very interesting research!

Best of luck,

Grrlfriend

[wynter5975]

I have been diagnosed with panic disorder and suffered horribly for one year before seeking help. I thought I was just crazy and I didn't want to be put away!  I just had a baby 8 months prior to the beginning of my attacks.  I lost a lot of memories in the year of panic leading to depression.  I didn't want to be put on an ssri so I didn' t.  One day I just couldn't take it anymore.  I knew there was to much I wanted to do in life and I forbid myself to stay the way I was.  I couldn't be a mother or a wife.  I started taking meds (Zoloft) and I had to up the dosages twice.  I have had another baby since then and I cannot tell you how much I thank God for the medicine.  I don't know why this happened to me.  I use to ask myself that ALL the time!  But it just did soooo.....I live with it.  I do agree with you though,  I do think it is being overused!  I feel like there are problems that should be worked out in therapy.  That goes with myself also!  I do need the meds for the serotonin though.  I thought I read that if a person is not lacking this chemical then the drug will have no effect.  (Dont quote me, though.)  I have been told that since I've been taking these meds that I have become more irrespondsible as in being tardy...which I would never of accepted before...just not caring about what others think...and doing what I want...if that makes any since...but oh well I would rather be this way then go back to being scared constantly, having crazy symptoms, thinking I was dying all the time, thinking I was cracking up all the time, developing silly phobias, and wanting to die!  Life is precious! I took it for granted before.  I see the beauty in things now.

[s.k]

I think that the risk with anti-depressants and improperly diagnosed bipolar disorder is a bigger problem then they being over prescribed in the potential for extreme and severe consequences. However in the longevity and quantity the over presciptions is far worse. Not so much the side effects, I don't know, but the feeling that this is a cure when most likely theripy is far more productive. But I am not an expert.

[HedHurtz]

I have been on Prozac for about 13 years. Before that I was the most out of control, imbalanced, impulsive (I could go on forever) person ever. I would do things that were just plain wacked! I had many tests done to find out that I had a hormone imbalance brought on by the start of my first my period. Prozac worked wonders for a long time!
NOW......ever since I had my daughter (5 mos) I am back to square one! Hormone changes did it! I had a mini-stroke last week (I'm 34) and went through a tedious variety of neurological testing and I have been put on Paxil now. I have only been on it for a week, so I can't tell. I know that both are SSRI's, but for some reason my body/brain will not tolerate the Prozac anymore. So that's another avenue for your research! Let me know what you find out. Thanks

[Charlieadd]

I have ADD.  The symptoms you describe are similar.  Doctors have  perscribe a half a dozen differnt SSRIs.  They don't work for ADD.  I had to discover the ADD myself (confirmed by three psycs).  It does not seem like there are many objective ways of determining mental conditions.

[HedHurtz]

Hello,
I'm on Adderall (adderrall) for ADHD (hence the 3 am post). I am also on Paxil now, my Neuro is weaning me off Prozac. I am a mess. I'm on 90 mg of Adderall (adderrall) a day. It just doesn't work for me anymore. I am so miserable! I have been on every medication from A to Z...literally! I am at my wits end. I just wanted to vent. Thanks

[Rib]

Please see my comments under Effexor long-term side effects.  Yes, anti-depression medications do work for some people like myself.  But it is scarey how different each medication can react to each individual.  Just look at my example of the Effexor compared to the Zoloft.  I do believe that anti-depression medication is way overly prescribed to those who don't need it, and many patients are not properly monitored once a script is written for them. My doctor is a wonderful man who keeps excellent track of me.  I will be seeing him early this week.  I have other friends who have been on meds for years now and their doctors never see them!  They just keep filling the prescription.

[HedHurtz]

My neuro wanted to give me Wellbutrin for ADD, but I can't take it because it makes me crawl out of my skin. Your right though, my apologies, some SSRI's do work for ADD. I have tried Effexor as well and it made me worse. I am at my wits end. Now I'm weaning off Prozac and taking Paxil, but I'm getting dizzy spells and I'm really tired. I was doing really well on all my meds until I had my baby 5 months ago. Now I'm in hormone hell!
Good Luck