SSRI drugs

[Tero]

These are drugs that deal with serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is all over the body and its levels can vary. These drugs have a specific function at the neurons:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ssri

Yet they are not the solution for many, and there may be increased doses or switching of drugs. The general practitioner has one goal: get you out the door for as many months as possible.

Even the lawsuits against them are complicated, as it is not clear what the good and bad effects are.

Being an Uber-luddite, I think it is actually modern life that is wrong, not our brains. But that is a different topic.

Discuss. I put in science so you can bring in links and references.

We had this discussion under anxiety, and now depression popped up again. As a topic.

I have the anxiety part only.

[Robert_S]

I'm open to trying non-Paxil.

[Tero]

Yes, well, I think all of them have a problem with coming off the drug.

Since the FDA approved paroxetine in 1992, approximately 5,000 U.S. citizens have sued GSK. Most of these people feel they were not sufficiently warned in advance of the drug's side effects—particularly the withdrawal syndrome discussed above, after GSK had specifically advertised the drug as non-habit forming.

Serotonin syndrome is also a minus side with all SSRIs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome

[Robert_S]

Yes, well, I think all of them have a problem with coming off the drug.

Since the FDA approved paroxetine in 1992, approximately 5,000 U.S. citizens have sued GSK. Most of these people feel they were not sufficiently warned in advance of the drug's side effects—particularly the withdrawal syndrome discussed above, after GSK had specifically advertised the drug as non-habit forming.

Getting off was no problem. Being on it made me mentally on top of the world, but I wasn't comfortable and wanted out of my skin. I also couldn't make the little guy do anything.

[Tero]

The little guy thing is a problem, but some people just need to get their shit together, so many patients are not so concerned. It will come back, it is not permanent. Let me see if I can find the anxiety guy's long story.

[Tero]

It's pretty depressing. He has anxiety and depression. But nearly all those people in that forum are nuts, this guy is at least articulate and he tries hard.
http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46980

near the end he says

You may be better to try a higher dose, 30mg seems to be the best compromise between effectiveness and zombification and it was the dose that worked for me when I was at my worst. 10mg is too low for most people, 20mg does not usually seem very effective and 40mg+ is too much for many people.

I think that is for anxiety. But at doses over 10mg for any problem, I think you start seeing side effects. Like the little guy thing.

[Ironclad]

I tried to switch to the now preferred SNRIs but I managed to receive all of the sides, hell of a night that was! Having had a taste for MDMA in the past I imagined i'd love the new drug, sadly not so.

[Tero]

This is a useful link, I will just quote the sexual part

Sexual effects. Sexual dysfunction such as decreased sexual desire, erectile difficulties and delayed ejaculation has been reported with all classes of antidepressants. Sexual dysfunction is one of the most frequent and persistent SSRI adverse effect. These drugs are more likely to cause sexual dysfunction than the TCAs

http://www.emedexpert.com/compare/ssris-vs-tca.shtml

[apophenia]

I've tried so many fucking drugs an autopsy of my body would read like a history of the pharmaceutical industry.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em, I say. None worked for me (aside from lithium chopping off the deepest lows and depakote curing my migraines -- fat chance I'll get that back after being hospitalized with confusion and disorientation, which they chalked up to ammonia buildup from my body not eliminating that metabolite of the depakote). Well, that's not entirely true -- I did have an anti-psychotic that worked. Fat chance I'll see that again -- my current doctor, who was assigned when I was committed -- won't prescribe it; instead he gave me a PRN bottle of seroquel, which does nothing for my psychotic symptoms. My shrink is worthless, but it's hard to find good doctors with openings that take my insurance. To quote A Few Good Men, "And the hits just keep on coming."

I guess I'm experiencing confusion here as well. What is the point of this thread? That medications have side-effects?

[Animavore]

This is a useful link, I will just quote the sexual part

Sexual effects. Sexual dysfunction such as decreased sexual desire, erectile difficulties and delayed ejaculation has been reported with all classes of antidepressants. Sexual dysfunction is one of the most frequent and persistent SSRI adverse effect. These drugs are more likely to cause sexual dysfunction than the TCAs

http://www.emedexpert.com/compare/ssris-vs-tca.shtml

Fuck that! I was actually thinking of speaking to the doctor about getting some medication after thinking over it for months but there's not a hope now. I'd rather be miserable.
Looks like I'll have to resort to Plan C.

[Feck]

I wonder if the 'terrible terrible ' effects of SSRIs is statistically valid? Having spent a LOT of my life on them and other similar drugs I don't think my doctor was just palming me off . Did they work ? maybe , I'm still here aren't I for a long time that was in doubt . Did they mess up my brain a bit in strange ways? Yes and I have pretty scars and and a slightly smaller left hand to show for it . They are not a panacea for all depression and anxiety but they can help .

I'm on an MAOI prescription at the moment (no cheese and Marmite sandwiches for me:( ) it suits me better... anything to keep me away from nurse Ratchet and Thorazine 6 times a day (did NOT like !)

[Tero]

I wonder how much the placebo effect of SSRIs is? Those disturbed people at the anxiety site start feeling the side effects long before the effective dose. A sort of negative placebo.

[Feck]

I wonder how much the placebo effect of SSRIs is? Those disturbed people at the anxiety site start feeling the side effects long before the effective dose. A sort of negative placebo.

About 2 weeks before they have any effect they kept me on large doses of thorazine for a month while the ssri's reached a level that helped so I can't really tell you about initial onset anxiety the first time
I can tell you I never realised what coming off them was doing to me. I honestly felt that everything was turning to shit in my hands and people were still shovelling more on top of me .My GF at the time was the one to notice it was exactly 3 weeks between stopping the meds and me falling apart ,each time ,it was easier to deal with once I knew but hard work not to slip back as far as I had been before .

[Robert_S]

When I took Paxil, the effects were immediately noticeable on the forst day.

When i took one of my roommate's Welbutrin/Zyban, I didn't notice anything at all. I'm thinking all I need is a bit of a boost to get me out of this rut. I don't drink, I eat right, I rarely smoke weed, I get some exercise in... I should be doing better.

[Bella Fortuna]

This is a useful link, I will just quote the sexual part

Sexual effects. Sexual dysfunction such as decreased sexual desire, erectile difficulties and delayed ejaculation has been reported with all classes of antidepressants. Sexual dysfunction is one of the most frequent and persistent SSRI adverse effect. These drugs are more likely to cause sexual dysfunction than the TCAs

http://www.emedexpert.com/compare/ssris-vs-tca.shtml

Fuck that! I was actually thinking of speaking to the doctor about getting some medication after thinking over it for months but there's not a hope now. I'd rather be miserable.
Looks like I'll have to resort to Plan C.

Is Plan C mindless violence?