Discussion Are SSRIs a scam?

[lesserbohemian]

I've seen quite a lot of studies that show that SSRIs aren't significantly more helpful than placebos for severe depression, with some serious drawbacks. The only benefit I found personally was that I was too busy dealing with the side effects to be depressed, until they became too bad and I had to stop. I also have some factors that make me believe they may not mesh well with my brain chemistry. Not to get political, but it also seems convenient to me that companies are making so much money off bandaid (at best) treatments for depression that economic conditions have a lot to do with causing. Still not sure if it's worth trying another, although I don't really want to, or just CTB (can I say that here?). Idk, what do you guys think? Did anything else help?

 

[Cherry Crumpet]

This is just my personal experience. I've been on SSRI's for 15+ years. None are a silver bullet for me. Nothing ever totally relieved it. But, one thing I do notice is that my mood is much more stabalized on them (usually) than when I'm off them. I went off them for about 2 yrs a while ago, and looking at my mood journal from that time, verses now, I was in a much worse head space. My shrink also said that she noticed a big improvement from when I was not on them.

BUT - on the other hand, I had a few really good things happen in my life that coincidentally also was when i went back on them.. So.. it could also be it was JUST the timing and the meds did jack shit.

But, I do think they help me somewhat. I mean, I'm still a fucking mess. But my baseline is now like.. 3-4.5 usually instead of like.. 1.5-2 when I don't take them.

 

[lesserbohemian]

This is just my personal experience. I've been on SSRI's for 15+ years. None are a silver bullet for me. Nothing ever totally relieved it. But, one thing I do notice is that my mood is much more stabalized on them (usually) than when I'm off them. I went off them for about 2 yrs a while ago, and looking at my mood journal from that time, verses now, I was in a much worse head space. My shrink also said that she noticed a big improvement from when I was not on them.

BUT - on the other hand, I had a few really good things happen in my life that coincidentally also was when i went back on them.. So.. it could also be it was JUST the timing and the meds did jack shit.

But, I do think they help me somewhat. I mean, I'm still a fucking mess. But my baseline is now like.. 3-4.5 usually instead of like.. 1.5-2 when I don't take them.

What do you take, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[noaccount]

We are always already living political lives, it's unavoidable.

 

[Sensei]

I've seen many studies which claim that SSRI's are effective and many which claim they aren't. I think the simply truth is that some people get helped by them and some people don't. They sure helped me for many years but that doesn't mean that they can help everyone.

 

[demuic]

From what I've seen, I believe so, which is why I will never take another again.

Just their name alone belies the bankrupt concept behind them.

There are other drugs which work in different mechanisms that seem to actually be effective, but for political reasons it will probably take a long time before their usefulness is allowed to come into public consciousness.

 

[jensrij7]

why would they work. it's not that they can change our toughts.

 

[kane]

I wouldn't say a scam, but I do think their efficacy is probably massively overstated. The impression I got from reading up on them was that they were generally more effective than placebo, but not by a huge amount. For those whose issues are caused by 'imbalances' in serotonin, they may help a great deal. But I don't think they're necessarily much use to someone who's depression is caused by life circumstances.

 

[TotallyIsolated]

This whole 'big pharma' bullshit is just quasi-conspiracy nonsense.

Yes, pharmaceutical companies operate for profit. That doesn't make them inherently nefarious, nor does it mean that the drugs they manufacture don't work. Farmers work for profit too. Does that make fruits and vegetables evil too?

If you want to talk about the ills of capitalism or about government lobbying then we can do, but I suspect that's not what you mean.

SSRIs are prescribed because they're more effective than sugar pills in clinical trials. The truth is that biology is complicated and that no-one knows exactly how the brain works.

SSRIs aren't perfect but they can help give you a leg up.

 

[TooConscious]

Even if by luck you land one that agrees with you, A bite of a candy bar to a starving
person in a world full of food.

 

[Weary Soul]

Personally, I have a very odd reaction to SSRIs/SSRNIs/SSetcs, in that they work immediately - within hours of taking them and then within a couple of weeks they do not work at all. And at that point, even an increase in dose will not work.

Typically, the rule of thumb is that they take about a month to kick in to full effect and prior to their kicking into full effect, they come with the risk of suicidal ideation, especially among younger kids/young adults (which IMO is horrific - how many children young adults are being fed SSetcs, and have died because of these meds?).

O.O

Everyone is different. And typically, pharma creates medication to sell to those within the peak of the normal range (where the greatest number of people will benefit - and the outliers are left out in the cold). In fact, it used to be that they never tested meds (Phase 1 studies) in females, nor do the test adequately based on weight, genetics, etc.. all of which would seem to have an impact on metabolism of a med.

For example, it has come to light that with opioids these meds ARE impacted by genetics - there are slow metabolizers, rapid metabolizers, etc... and all of this impacts how adequate pain meds are for people.

My difficulty with medications like SSRIs is that while they may help some (not me), they come with significant risks, can cause significant withdrawal effects, are being fed to children without adequate studies, and there are older tried and true methods that help with less adverse effects - why reinvent the wheel?

Take ultram for example - it was developed as a pain medication, but anecdotal reports have shown that it is tremendously effective in the treatment of depression. And IME (yes I have had Ultram for pain), it is neither hard to withdrawal from at all nor have I ever craved it and it did help me with mood!

It makes no sense to me.

I would not say a scam per se... just life as per the normal. Pharma pushing hard for newer and newer meds (cause that is where the money is - new meds that are still under patent) and doctors buying into this without using common sense.

I would never, ever give a child an SSRI unless there was absolutely no other possible treatment for them. Can't emphasize that enough.

And of course, as always, just my opinion : )

 

[BlankUser]

Some people say they help. For me they were a disaster. So many side effects, made my life even more miserable and didn't help at all.

 

[WaitingForTheBusInTh]

They can actually do genetic testing to see if SSRIs will work on you. It was only after going through every SSRI in the book that they bothered to test me. Lo and behold, SSRIs are completely ineffectual on me.

 

[bigj15]

took them as a kid and they like lobotomized me and changed me so much, careful with those drugs the mental side effects, anhodeina and pssd they can give you makes life a living hell

 

[grungeCat]

Dunno if it's a scam, anyway I've been on various SSRI's for 10+ years and they didn't seem to make a difference, Currently I'm on SNRI (venlafaxine) and honestly this med helped me the most. Still I don't feel 'normally' but at least it eases the sadness so I can function, after a fashion.

 

[UseItOrLoseIt]

To each his own. But the numbness that accompanied it made me even more depressed and unstable.

 

[Celerity]

They're a waste of time. They lower the seizure threshold, making it dangerous to drink alcohol, and lower your sex drive for little benefit.
IMO, if you're not gonna get fucked up on it long term (lithium, antipsychotics), or you don't have to hand over your license at the pharmacy (benzos, stims, pain pills), it's a waste of time as far as your mental well-being is concerned.

 

[Beachedwhale]

They can actually do genetic testing to see if SSRIs will work on you. It was only after going through every SSRI in the book that they bothered to test me. Lo and behold, SSRIs are completely ineffectual on me.

Which test was that?

 

[LittleJem]

why would they work. it's not that they can change our toughts.

@jensrij7 my thoughts change when my brain chemistry changes. For example, today I woke up wanting to die and despairing because of workplace bullying and that I might be losing my job because of bullying. I took a Tramadol and now I have the strength to prepare for the fight. I wouldn't say it's enjoyable, but I would say the Tramadol has put me in a more positive mood. I take it about once a week.

Other substances also change my thoughts.

So it is my experience that all of my thoughts are founded in the chemistry of my brain, which is set at very miserable and depressed unless I can give it something that changes the chemistry.
@Weary Soul Tramadol also helps me with depression! I take it once a week. Not addicted in the slightest. The pharma companies are b**stards.

Tramadol has 9/10 for Treatment-Resistant Depression on Drugs.com
@lesserbohemian I tried one SSRI properly, Vortioxetine, it did nothing for me but made me more tired and bedridden. Though that could have been a worse side effect, so at least the side effects were not terrible for me.

I would say SSRIs work for some people, but not for everyone. I am on FB groups for SSRIs, and some people have great results and others just side effects.

They don't know much about depression or the brain, and they are also not really interested in treating it properly, as they are making so much money.

 

[faex42]

I have used MAOIs. I am currently taking Parnate. I became allergic to Nardil and Marplan is no longer on the market.
These medications have kept me alive through the years. I hate SSRIs for their
side effects, especially loss of libido.

 

[noaccount]

@jensrij7 my thoughts change when my brain chemistry changes. For example, today I woke up wanting to die and despairing because of workplace bullying and that I might be losing my job because of bullying. I took a Tramadol and now I have the strength to prepare for the fight. I wouldn't say it's enjoyable, but I would say the Tramadol has put me in a more positive mood. I take it about once a week.

Other substances also change my thoughts.

So it is my experience that all of my thoughts are founded in the chemistry of my brain, which is set at very miserable and depressed unless I can give it something that changes the chemistry.
@Weary Soul Tramadol also helps me with depression! I take it once a week. Not addicted in the slightest. The pharma companies are b**stards.

Tramadol has 9/10 for Treatment-Resistant Depression on Drugs.com
@lesserbohemian I tried one SSRI properly, Vortioxetine, it did nothing for me but made me more tired and bedridden. Though that could have been a worse side effect, so at least the side effects were not terrible for me.

I would say SSRIs work for some people, but not for everyone. I am on FB groups for SSRIs, and some people have great results and others just side effects.

They don't know much about depression or the brain, and they are also not really interested in treating it properly, as they are making so much money.

So sorry that you have to take on dealing with all that shit at work, you don't deserve that. Glad you find something that's working for you <3