"The chemical imbalance theory of depression is still put forward by professionals, and the serotonin theory, in particular, has formed the basis of a considerable research effort over the last few decades. The general public widely believes that depression has been convincingly demonstrated to be the result of serotonin or other chemical abnormalities, and this belief shapes how people understand their moods, leading to a pessimistic outlook on the outcome of depression and negative expectancies about the possibility of self-regulation of mood"
"
READ: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M92V7HB0njm2mnVNu6NV0kpnKZloe-_K4cRh_wPHptI/edit?usp=sharing
ANTI-DEPRESSANT medication for the last 60 years now proved to be based on poorly supported false theory
by Terry 42 Replies latest jw friends
-
Terry
-
Simon
The amount of medical "facts" that turn out to be fraud is utterly criminal.
It's because big $$$ is involved. Remember that next time you're told to "trust the science".
It's still mostly a profession of charlatans and butchers.
-
Fisherman
But drugs that positively affect the re-uptake of serotonin or other neurotransmitters have been shown to be effective in treating symptoms endogenous depression in patients. Also, clinical studies in patients suffering from depression receiving such drugs and placebo resulted in the patients receiving the drug benefited proving the efficacy of the drug.
So, antidepressants work,
-
jhine
After nursing my first husband through cancer and then losing him l was diagnosed with low mood depression. I was prescribed Citalopram which worked very well. After maybe 10 months l came off it with no problems.
So anti-depressants worked for me . Don't knock em till you've tried em.
Jan
-
Simon
Everyone is different, even if you are convinced something worked for you it isn't proof that it did. Placebos have been proven to "work" even though we know they can't.
-
Nathan Natas
I've been taking antidepressants for about 40 years. I've tried a great many of them, and I blamed myself for feeling they were not helping me. As far as suicidal ideation, the joke goes that anyone who has NOT contemplated suicide has not considered all the options.
I'm on good terms with my Primary Care Physician, and I've asked him why all the medications that could make you feel better are illegal. I would love to try ketamine or psylocibin or mescaline or bufotoxin. One of my areas of ignorance is that I have no idea how to find a pusher. Talk about socially awkward!
There is hope... out here in the Pacific Northwest, restrictions on psychedelic substances are starting to lift, but I spoke to the head shrink at the hospital where I get my medical treatment and she told me that there was no chance that Virginia Mason Hospital would ever have a psychedelic study under their roof. How nice for her.
-
jhine
Even if the Citalopram had a placebo effect ( a big if ) it did me no harm and helped me .
How do you suggest that l could have been treated for my low mood depression ( not the same as clinical depression- at no time did l feel suicidal) ?
Given that as a Brit l didn't have to pay for my medication at point of contact as it was on the NHS l was happy to try it .
In fact how do you suggest that anyone suffering from depression of any kind be treated without drugs ? .
Jan
-
MeanMrMustard
Aren't we conflating two things here?
The study in the OP is saying the theory behind anti-depressants is incorrect and even fabricated: that is, the "chemical imbalance" idea. That doesn't mean that medication affecting serotonin levels won't help with the "feeling".
If someone says they are feeling down, we could prescribe heroin. Suddenly the depressed person feels "better". We could even hypothesize that depression is cause by "low opioid levels". We would say, "see, when they get their opioid levels up, things are better."
For a drug to be used to "cure" something there has to be a proven cause/diagnosis of the problem first.
-
Simon
Given that as a Brit l didn't have to pay for my medication at point of contact as it was on the NHS l was happy to try it .
What better thing for a drug company than to have people demand a product that the government pays for. Hoe many people wouldn't need them so much if the costs were more direct?
In fact how do you suggest that anyone suffering from depression of any kind be treated without drugs
It's widely recognized that hard work and exercise work wonders for mental well-being. Why not solve the cause rather than the symptoms?
NOTE: This is not a comment about your particular case, but about the over-prescribing issue in general. I think it's hard to argue that the medical industry makes obscene profits by pushing drugs onto people who maybe don't really need them. The fact that so many studies and data is falsified is a smoking gun.
-
carla
There are many, many ways of treating depression without pharma drugs. Pharma drugs should be an absolute last resort. Unfortunately most people want a pill to 'fix' things quickly which often causes all sort of side issues then one must take yet another drug to deal with side effects and then a 'booster' drug of sorts because the original drug isn't working as well as it should. The fact that we are drugging our children so easily should scare everybody. They are even giving Prozac to infants https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/2018/10/14/babies-prescribed-antidepressants/ (just one article, google for yourself)
People are fast to hand over their health care to those in white coats. I know people who were given high dose and dangerous pharma drugs in an appointment that lasted less than 10 minutes and that included the time it took for the MA to 'room' you. The MA takes your blood pressure, weighs you, etc...
Alternative treatments abound, exercise, diet, supplements, therapy, meditation, placebos, and the list goes on. Many are not traditional but highly effective and far less stressing on the body and mind.
There are times when traditional pharma drugs may be necessary but those should be far and few between. Again, they should be a last resort.
I agree that masking the symptoms does nothing to the solve the actual cause and understanding of the cause and taking action to 'fix' the actual causes. But that is the case with so many pharma drugs.
I suggest reading something way outside your wheelhouse, read how drugs come to market, the history of 'modern medicine', where drugs come from in the first place (hint-nature), placebo & noceba (sp?) effects, etc.. etc... It is a real eye opener and dare I say even more astounding and eye opening than one becoming aware and awake to the 'truth about the truth'. It would rock your world if you knew. Take the red pill or the blue? which do you choose?