Antidepressants for everyone
Hankering for a powerful mood-altering drug? Ask, and ye shall receive!
Primary care docs are prescribing antidepressants so easily that they're practically giving them away--and a new study shows that millions of Americans are now taking these meds despite never actually being diagnosed with depression.
Researchers looked at data on more than 20,000 adults who participated in the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiologic Surveys between 2001 and 2003, and found 10 percent were given a prescription for an antidepressant over the previous year.
That's consistent with other recent studies and surveys, which have found close to 30 million Americans taking these meds.
But the researchers also found that more than a quarter of the people on antidepressants were never diagnosed with depression, anxiety problems, or any of the other common excuses used to put patients onto these drugs.
That's more than 7 million people taking antidepressants with no actual diagnosis.
But that's only the beginning--because half of all antidepressant users have never even seen a mental health professional despite the fact that they're taking a drug for a supposed mental health issue.
And that means primary care docs such as family physicians are to blame here.
You have to be a little sympathetic towards them--after all, most are met daily by patients with drug demands based on the latest commercial, and many patients won't see a specialist if you drive them there yourself.
Still, whatever happened to "just say no?"
No one's forcing docs to write all these prescriptions--they just seem to be taking the easy way out. The researchers behind the new study say they believe many doctors now offer antidepressants for relatively minor and temporary personal issues that often heal with nothing more than a little time.
But time won't heal all wounds, and that's just as true of the psychological ones--but that's still no reason to turn to meds.
Some people suffer from depression and other mood disorders due to poor diet and nutritional deficiencies or a hormonal imbalance, and a skilled natural physician can help get to the bottom of it.
Other people can benefit from ordinary talk therapy, which has proven to be at least as effective as some of the most powerful psychiatric meds on the planet-- with none of the side effects.
Antidepressants, on the other hand, come with a risk of everything from sexual problems and personality changes right up to suicide.
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Edward Martin writes House Calls, a daily letter chronicling the most cutting-edge alternative methods for beating diabetes and cancer, to the latest FDA foul-ups and Big Pharma conspiracies.
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Comments
Anonymous
Good commentary... big pharma is most responsible. In the late 80's I went to my skin specialist whom I had seen for 7 years off and on to have a psoriasis cream prescription refilled. He told me 'latest & greatest" new treatment for psoriasis is to prescribe the patient the new antidepressant oral drug and tried to talk me into taking it. I told him, I am not depressed and did not want this drug. He said quote: "then there is nothing more I can do for you", he then turned his back and walked out of the exam room leaving me sitting there in shock! After all these years, this was the treatment I was to receive? I left never to return and started researching natural treatment options. Family Dr issued repeat prescriptions without question after I explained what happened. So... long and short of this story, yes, Dr's are sold a bill of goods from the drug manufacturers.
Boomer12k
Talking about Depression.....
There is a NEWLY discovered technique for negative emotional states. It is described in a book and DVD titled, "Happiness Is No Charge”.
This website gives details and shows where to get the book and DVD.
http://home.comcast.net/~swbbu...
This is a Personal Therapy, no practitioner is needed. Negative emotions can be stopped, many times in just a few minutes. That is CORRECT, MINUTES!!!!
Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Irritation, Frustration, Suppression, Repression, Compulsion, Obsessions, habits, can either get relief or even disappear.
The technique is a simple 1, 2, 3, step technique and can actually be learned from the concept behind it, to the technique itself in about FIVE MINUTES!!!!!
Be Well and Happy.
Steve
Boomer12k
I took an antidepressant once, it was very bad. I felt better after taking it, but when I woke up the next day, I had a bad case of the "chills". Body was just cold all over. I freaked out as that is not normal. Well, I read the label and sure enough, that was one of the side effects, and if you experience it, it said not to continue. Most of these "antidepressants" are NOT! They are just drugs that leave you feeling like a Wooden Door with a hole in the middle, where your chest is. You feel numb. Not better, certainly not an happier. You are better off, looking for something natural, like St. John's Wort, or my recommendation of "Happiness is no Charge".
I use that technique nearly everyday. Works good.
Be well and happy.
Steve
Maureen
I totally agree with this article, but have one problem with it. It says "a skilled natural physician can help get to the bottom of it." I'm sure this is true, but there must not be any such person anywhere near where I live. Every time I find any kind of search box that's supposed to help you find a naturopathic physician in your area, it always says "none found". There are some docs in this area that claim to practice this in this area, but as an RN, and having had some of their patients to take care of, I have not been impressed with any of them, which makes me believe that they would not qualify as a "skilled natural physician" - especially because they are not listed in any registry, or by any association of naturopathic physicians.
MusherMaggie
One word (or maybe two): PASSIONFLOWER!
Lori
Anyone considering taking an antidepressant needs to read the book "Anatomy of an Epidemic" by Robert Whitaker. He tells the history of the farce that has become one of the biggest profits for big pharma. And if you've ever seen commercials for the drugs that are used with antidepressants to make them work better, they say that 2 out of 3 people taking antidepressants still have depressive symptoms. What they're really saying, obviously, is that for 2 out of 3 people the drugs don't work. But in the meantime, these drugs tweak brain chemicals to the point of no return. In my area, a 15 yr old high school student recently commited suicide after being put on cymbalta ("Depression hurts, but cymbalta can help".) Start with diet, adding real whole fats and quality protein that contain nutrients that nourish the brain and nervous system, support neurotransmitters, and regulate blood sugar. Get off the sugar and refined grains. Exercise to work up a sweat. And as Steve says, deal with negative emotions, don't supress them with drugs.
Anonymous
How can we expect for this insanity to ever stop if our own government is pushing for more medications, and most Drs who follows as sheep to the slaughter are taking us along in the path of slaughter-ville, all this for the precursor of all evil, (money), as Americans we have to endure all these atrocities, for how long may I ask, they want to treat natural cures and alternatives, also, the good Drs who treat with same as criminals, yet they do everything in their power to keep all these prescription medications active regardless of the negative results, are we not suppose to be for the people by the people, when did that changed? JAM
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