Depression Learning

Can Antidepressants Cause Harm

Many people are now concerned with the affects of antidepressants on the body. Traditionally people suffering from depression symptoms have been prescribed different antidepressants. The first generation of antidepressants included such drugs as Valium and then it was discovered that Valium had addictive properties. These first generation drugs were replaced with a whole new generation of drugs, which have lately come under attack. These new antidepressant drugs; Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Luvox, Serzone, Celexa, Remeron, and Lexapro have been studied and found to have some harmful side affects. The study got the attention of the Food and Drug Administration after there were complaints that these depression drugs caused suicide ideation in some of its users as well as violent behavior. The Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory to warn of the risk associated with taking these depression medications.

The main finding of the FDA was that suicide was possible in a small percentage of the both children and adults taking these drugs. Just as important were the other findings concerning the side affects of antidepressants. These depression medication side effects include: anxiety, irritability, insomnia, severe restlessness (akathisia), hostility, panic attacks, impulsivity, and mania and hypomania.

Some doctors have concluded that these depression medication side effects are so bad they are equivalent to the symptoms induced by illegal drugs, such as PCP, methamphetamine and cocaine. These particular drugs are known to produce aggression and violent behavior. The first generation of antidepressants and even the new generation will cause these depression symptoms because of their impact upon serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation.

Doctors are now finding more and more people suffering from these out of control behaviors after being prescribed these antidepressant depression drugs. Instead of fighting depression they are lashing out and fighting with other people. People suffering with depression are not having their moods elevated to bring them in balance; instead they are going from one mood extreme to the other. They are going from passivity to aggressivity. They are attempting suicide or killing other people.

The media has run coverage on family and innocent bystander shootings committed by people on depression medication. In some cases the judges have found these depression patients not guilty by reason of involuntary intoxication with psychiatric medication, and in other cases they received reduced sentences.

Although the above-mentioned cases are rare and extreme, severe aggression and irritability has been noted in depression patients. Unfortunately, instead of recognizing these symptoms as a result of the anti depression medication some doctors increase the dosage, thus making the situation even more detrimental to the patient’s overall health.

More monitoring of these newer depression drugs by doctors and psychiatrists is necessary. Some dosages may need to be decreased not increased, and in some cases it may be wise to change over to the former generation of depression drugs. More emphasis should be made on counseling therapy and less on depression drug medication.

People suffering from depression suffer from faulty thinking and cognitive behavioral therapy has proven to be a good therapy for curing depression. Though it is true that some severely depressed individuals feel so much despair that they do not respond to talking therapy, a healthy balance of medication and talking therapy will help beat depression in these individuals.

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