QUOTE (koiji @ Nov 19 2009, 11:27 PM) And I feel the same way about antidepressants. Most people end up getting addicted to them and HAVE to be on it to stay happy.. and what kind of life is that? I believe there are plenty of alternative solutions to taking medications. Im actually a huge fan of various alternative medicine practices, such as accupuncture and herbal chinese medicine.
Actually taking anti-depressants
won't make you happy, it just
stabilizes you. You will be able to function normally, you'll be able to get out of bed, you'll be able to go about a
normal routine like any other
normal person. It's not like it's a happy pill, that taking them will make the person see the world as a happy place. Happiness is fleeting, a person put on anti-depressants might be happy at first, "wow I can finally function normally" but eventually that feeling goes away and you start to wonder if you can live without pills. Pills alone can't fix depression, psychiatrists in general say that it's a combo of meds and therapy that works best, and I agree.
Basically I have the same standpoint as monsta, and I am somebody who has personal experience with anti-depressants. I've been on it for years, and I think I'm ready to stop taking them, but the withdrawal symptoms are brutal. I have been weaned off of it twice, and then eventually put back on a different newer pill because I couldn't cope with withdrawal. Sometimes I would get more depressed than I was before taking any medication.
Here is a list of some withdrawal symptoms:
ANTIDEPRESSANT WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. (http://theeffexoractivist.org/)
1. Crying spells
2. Worsened mood
3. Low energy (fatigue, lethargy, malaise)
4. Trouble concentrating
5. Insomnia or trouble sleeping
6. Change in appetite
7. Suicidal thoughts
8. Suicide attempts
9. Anxious, nervous, tense
10. Panic attacks (racing heart, breathless)
11. Chest pain
12. Trembling, jittery,or shaking
13. Irritability
14. Agitation (restlessness, hyperactivity)
15. Impulsivity
16. Aggressiveness
17. Self-harm
18. Homicidal thoughts or urges
19. Confusion or cognitive difficulties
20. Memory problems or forgetfulness
21. Elevated mood (feeling high)
22. Mood swings
23. Manic-like reactions
24. Auditory hallucinations
25. Visual hallucinations
26. Feeling detached or unreal
27. Excessive or intense dreaming
28. Nightmares
29. Flu-like aches and pains
30. Fever
31. Sweats
32. Chills
33. Runny nose
34. Sore eyes
35. Nausea
36. Vomiting
37. Diarrhea
38. Abdominal pain or cramps
39. Stomach bloating
40. Disequilibrium
41. Spinning, swaying, lightheaded
42. Hung over or waterlogged feeling
43. Unsteady gait, poor coordination
44. Motion sickness
45. Headache
46. Tremor
47. Numbness, burning, or tingling
48. Electric zap-like sensations in the brain
49. Electric shock-like sensations in the body
50. Abnormal visual sensations
51. Ringing or other noises in the ears
52. Abnormal smells or tastes
53. Drooling or excessive saliva
54. Slurred speech
55. Blurred vision
56. Muscle cramps, stiffness, twitches
57. Feeling of restless legs
58. Uncontrollable twitching of mouth
And you can feel one or more of those after missing only
ONE dose. The worst symptoms for me are the ones that mess with your brain, I have experienced hallucinations, vertigo, suicidal thoughts, confusion, bad mood swings for example. Sometimes I wonder if I'm going crazy
HOWEVER I have to add that, I do think that some people will benefit from this medication. There are some
severe cases of depression, that can only be fixed with the help of meds. I can understand that, but doctors today prescribe anti-depressants
way too frequently, for people who may only need therapy and exercise. I have a new family doctor, and when he read my chart and saw that I am taking anti-depressants he said: You know, you should just find a guy to tickle you whenever you are sad