LETS ALL LAUGH AT PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION!!

EUSSR

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Do you have any evidence that anti-depressants don't help? The point you seem to be making is that the suicide rate for depression is high, so therefore anti-depressants aren't effective. That proves absolutely nothing about the efficacy of the medication - getting results involves getting the specific drug and dosage combinations right. And medication is only part of the solution, no one claims it is a silver bullet.

Did you read the letter I posted earlier? It will clear some misconceptions about the effectiveness of anti-depressant drugs. The suicide rate is still far too high. This can be attributed to the lack of efficacy for these drugs. Otherwise, why prescribe them? For fun? It's a gigantic waste of tax payer money.

Dudess

Anti-depressants help people - I've seen it. They don't make problems go away but they help people actually get out of the bed and start day-to-day functioning again, and try to tackle their problems.
The pontification re drugs by people here who don't have a clue is getting quite tedious.

Benny_Cake

EUSSR wrote: »

Did you read the letter I posted earlier? It will clear some misconceptions about the effectiveness of anti-depressant drugs. The suicide rate is still far too high. This can be attributed to the lack of efficacy for these drugs. Otherwise, why prescribe them? For fun? It's a gigantic waste of tax payer money.

So because they don't help everyone, they shouldn't be prescribed to anyone?

Let me give you an example of someone who is on anti-depressants - me. Thankfully, I'm on a low dosage but I can honestly say that I have found it a help. I also go to counselling and have found that all this, in addition to lifestyle changes has helped me to cope a lot better. The cost of the medication is paid for out of my pocket, not by the taxpayer by the way.

EUSSR

Benny_Cake wrote: »

not by the taxpayer by the way.

Of course it is. At least to some degree. See The European Social Fund for more details.

Benny_Cake

EUSSR wrote: »

Of course it is. At least to some degree. See The European Social Fund for more details.

The European Social Fund is primarily focused on employment related issues. If you can point me in the direction of information that shows they are covering the cost of my medication, I'll be glad to read it. My bank balance tells me otherwise.

Edit: I'm should add that if someone is getting medication which is helping them cope with depression through the medical card scheme, I've no problem with that at all, in fact I'm glad.

DeVore

We're veering off topic. This isn't a thread about the evils of Big Pharm and I'm decidedly uncomfortable about any suggestion people come off meds by anyone but a relevant qualified medical practitioner.

DeV.

Mr Benevolent

DeVore wrote: »

I'm decidedly uncomfortable about any suggestion people come off meds by anyone but a relevant qualified medical practitioner.

DeV.

Bloody right too. The worst thing about someone being on meds for mental health issues (from a family perspective) is trying to convince them to stay on them. Nearly impossible and f*cking frustrating.

And before anyone starts moaning, the meds are for psychosis, not depression. Ever seen someone with a psychosis not on their meds? No fun for them or their family.

EUSSR

Medical Advice is not allowed on boards.

cloud493

I'm not a medical... Person. But at the end of the day, if a doctor prescribes you something, you should take it unless it's really not helping.

EUSSR

cloud493 wrote: »

I'm not a medical... Person. But at the end of the day, if a doctor prescribes you something, you should take it unless it's really not helping.

Yes, because a Doctor is never wrong. They also don't have medical insurance.

Benny_Cake

EUSSR wrote: »

Yes, because a Doctor is never wrong. They also don't have medical insurance.

I'm reluctant to drag such a useful thread off topic, but remarks like this are unhelpful and potentially dangerous. People should only make decisions regarding medication in consultation with their physician.

You still haven't explained how the ESF is covering all or part of the cost of my medication by the way.

Dudess

Finding a big conspiracy in everything with little to no proof, and ignoring all claims to the contrary (including personal testimonies) is real renegade rebel stuff that doesn't make one think "Oh no, not this whingey teenage emo shyte again".
Must tell my GP Dr Mick that he, from his practice in Ballincollig, is an agent of the evil pharma companies - it'll give him a bit of a chuckle.

cloud493

EUSSR wrote: »

cloud493 wrote: »

I'm not a medical... Person. But at the end of the day, if a doctor prescribes you something, you should take it unless it's really not helping.

Yes, because a Doctor is never wrong. They also don't have medical insurance.

I'm not claiming they are. But they will know better than you, you can't diagnose yourself.

Wibbs

DeVore wrote: »

We're veering off topic. This isn't a thread about the evils of Big Pharm and I'm decidedly uncomfortable about any suggestion people come off meds by anyone but a relevant qualified medical practitioner.

DeV.

+1.

When studies came out to show that for low and mid level depression placebo was as effective as anti depressive medications the conspiracy types had a field day. Yes it was very interesting research, but in their rush against big pharma the same people neglected to see or understand that they still worked. Hey I'd be first in line to suggest that there may well be an over reliance on these drugs in less extreme cases, just as I would over the historical over reliance on antibiotics but like the latter they are still very effective treatments for many people and conditions.

Benny_Cake wrote:

And medication is only part of the solution, no one claims it is a silver bullet.

Indeed. Ironically the anti pharma people expect that it is or should be a magic bullet and are dismayed to find it may not be(few medications are), even if it's a great help to many people.

DeVore

THIS PART OF THE DISCUSSION ENDS NOW.

Sorry. It just does. No more warnings.


DeV.

Dudess

When I see someone who can't eat, can't sleep, is in a constant state of panic, regularly having panic attacks, has no energy, no drive, wants to die, spends all day in bed, doesn't look at the bigger picture no matter what the consequences, can't hold down a job, cries a lot, has no positive thoughts, can't even manage personal grooming... and then anti depressants drastically reduce all of the above (yep Confab, if only they'd continue the fuhking things :mad:) I feel like smacking people who go on about "placebo effect". :rolleyes:

I think meds should be a last resort and as low a dosage as possible - they are not the only solution, therapy is so very important too... but they do help a sick person get better. Why some people want to piss all over that is beyond me...

Cancer patients can die despite treatment - so don't get treatment is it? That seems to be the logic being put forth...

KeithM89_old

EUSSR Banned

CDfm

Dudess wrote: »

When I see someone who can't eat, can't sleep, is in a constant state of panic, regularly having panic attacks, has no energy, no drive, wants to die, spends all day in bed, doesn't look at the bigger picture no matter what the consequences, can't hold down a job, cries a lot, has no positive thoughts, can't even manage personal grooming... and then anti depressants drastically reduce all of the above (yep Confab, if only they'd continue the fuhking things :mad:) I feel like smacking people who go on about "placebo effect". :rolleyes:

+1

Dudess to the rescue with unerring common sense - its about being open minded to whatever works.

If a guy has erectile dysfunction he will go to his Doc and get Viagra or its equivalent if he has any sense. Its the same principle.

DeVore

:mad:

DeVore

DeVore wrote: »

We're veering off topic. This isn't a thread about the evils of Big Pharm and I'm decidedly uncomfortable about any suggestion people come off meds by anyone but a relevant qualified medical practitioner.

DeV.

Definitely +1 for this, I came off of mine by myself and I was damned lucky I was on such a low dosage, otherwise it would have been much much much worse. Apologies for bringing it up, DeV, but people should learn from my mistakes - go to your GP and ask their advice. Get a weening off plan from them.

guitarzero

Can I ask what are the worst side effects with anti-depressants, preferably from your own experience? I've read loss of libido and suicide, which is pretty much paradoxical in the taking of them. I'm really considering them but I'm very cautious still.

Dudess

I've heard the suicidal thoughts are the result of going from feeling nothing to feeling something, which is understandably going to be negative in the early days - but this passes as the meds start to kick in.

guitarzero

Dudess wrote: »

I've heard the suicidal thoughts are the result of going from feeling nothing to feeling something, which is understandably going to be negative in the early days - but this passes as the meds start to kick in.

Could you give me just a small run down of the meds 'kicking in', whats the transition like?

Benny_Cake

guitarzero wrote: »

Can I ask what are the worst side effects with anti-depressants, preferably from your own experience? I've read loss of libido and suicide, which is pretty much paradoxical in the taking of them. I'm really considering them but I'm very cautious still.

I'm on a small dose of Lexapro, and I have found the side-effects to be few and far between. I have noticed my sleep pattern has changed somewhat, I find myself waking in the middle of the night and it being difficult to get back to sleep. Libido - hasn't decreased as such, but there was a little less sensation than before, this is quite a well-known side-effect of Lexapro. If you're a guy though your partner probably won't be complaining too much about that! :cool:

In any case, if you've been suffering from depression your libido has probably suffered already. Your GP will go over the various options and outline the side-effects of each one. Best of luck to you.

DeVore

This was in the Journal today... http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-depression-affects-one-in-four-%E2%80%93-so-we-tried-to-do-something-about-it/?utm_source=shortlink

They did a hellova job over the xmas on little notice and with no cash. Other countries have a decent mental health emergency system.... we have Twitter :rolleyes:

DeV.

Dudess

guitarzero wrote: »

Dudess wrote: »

I've heard the suicidal thoughts are the result of going from feeling nothing to feeling something, which is understandably going to be negative in the early days - but this passes as the meds start to kick in.

Could you give me just a small run down of the meds 'kicking in', whats the transition like?

Well I haven't experienced anything like that, but the meds kicking in would be a simplistic way of describing how the awful negative feelings and physical symptoms gradually dissipate. I am watching a close friend deal with it and that's what he describes.

efb

Back to work tomorrow, on my birthday...

Wibbs

DeVore wrote: »

Other countries have a decent mental health emergency system.... we have Twitter :rolleyes:

This is the part that really makes me angry. We have some very good mental health professionals in this country, but they often struggle with the support system around them that is too often underfunded. For people already struggling with this curse to have to deal with that borders on a crime. On a weekly basis more people are leaving us and their families than are taken in car crashes. I'd warrant way more, yet there are a lot more resources being aimed at road safety than aimed at mental health. That's fcuked up IMH. I'm not saying road safety isn't important. It clearly is, but stats wise as a society we need to be looking to the all too often hidden waste of good people elsewhere. Waste that could be reduced. That doesn't include the many more and their families and friends who are fighting and surviving through this.

guitarzero wrote:

Could you give me just a small run down of the meds 'kicking in', whats the transition like?

I've no personal experience, but just going by people I've known on the medications it varies a fair bit. Just going by that most seem to just start to feel better, though it takes weeks, even months. Again going on an outsiders view, the outsiders seem to see the change for the better more if you know what I mean? Forget all the conspiracy types and more, forget all the Daily Mail type headlines that simp up various studies for the hard of thinking. These drugs do work and do make some positive change for the majority of people. It may take time, it may take different drugs/dosages along with good therapy, but they do have an effect. Are they a panacea, a pill for every ill? No, but they are very effective tools in the overall toolkit to make you better and get you and the potential of you back. Yes, you will hear of bad cases, but bad cases make headlines, good outcomes and people moving on their lives rarely do.

sheesh

guitarzero wrote: »

Could you give me just a small run down of the meds 'kicking in', whats the transition like?

I persume it differs from person to person but there is no dramatic improvement more of a gradual easing of the symptoms in 1-2week period if you have you would notice things like the ability to concentrate getting better the ability to get up and do things improve whereas before your span of attention might be very bad and you would just sit down all day. I suppose it depends on the individual symptoms. The mood in general returns to something more normal where you can start dealing with the initial cause of the depression in the first place.

Sanjuro

Great post DeVore. Thanks for helping me understand a bit better.