Comments on: If you are taking the anti-depressants Prozac, Effexor, Paxil or Serzone, don’t read this post. http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:31:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Corporal C for Consumer http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16728 Corporal C for Consumer Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:03:17 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16728 According to a recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, a $2.50 placebo works better than a 10 cent placebo: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/health/research/05placebo.html?bl&ex=1204866000&en=3ad7709984fe3164&ei=5087%0A As the article states, "In marketing as in medicine, perception can be everything." Beware of perceptions! According to a recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, a $2.50 placebo works better than a 10 cent placebo:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/health/research/05placebo.html?bl&ex=1204866000&en=3ad7709984fe3164&ei=5087%0A

As the article states, “In marketing as in medicine, perception can be everything.” Beware of perceptions!

]]> By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16561 Erich Vieth Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:45:58 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16561 For most people, Prozac is about as effective as aromatherapy. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23452343/ For most people, Prozac is about as effective as aromatherapy. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23452343/

]]> By: Alison http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16509 Alison Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:07:09 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16509 I know a few people who've had no trouble with statins, but my mother's life has been horribly impacted by them thanks to an insurance company that decided it knew better than her doctor what was good for her. Blanket statements about the benefits, side effects, or actions of any medication (or its generic version) are so frequently wrong, yet disseminated to the public so quickly. I wish it were easier to go back to when medicine was practiced by doctors (who had time to get to know their patients. . .) I know a few people who’ve had no trouble with statins, but my mother’s life has been horribly impacted by them thanks to an insurance company that decided it knew better than her doctor what was good for her.

Blanket statements about the benefits, side effects, or actions of any medication (or its generic version) are so frequently wrong, yet disseminated to the public so quickly. I wish it were easier to go back to when medicine was practiced by doctors (who had time to get to know their patients. . .)

]]> By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16487 Erich Vieth Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:56:02 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16487 Don't statins reduce the risk of heart attack? Well, only for 40 to 50% of people taking them--the others incur increased health risks: <blockquote>This is a serious allegation. Keep in mind that statins are the most popular drugs in the history of human medicine. Worldwide sales totaled $33 billion in 2007. More than 18 million American now take them. Nevertheless, "medical research suggests that only about 40 percent to 50 percent of that number are likely to benefit," says Abramson. "The other 8 or 9 million are exposed to the risks that come with taking statins -- which can include severe muscle pain, memory loss, sexual dysfunction -- and one study shows increased risk of cancer in the elderly -- but there are no studies to show that the drugs will protect these patients against fatal heart attacks." Older adults have little to gain. The drugs don't help people over 70 even if they have elevated cholesterol levels, according to a report in the Journal of American Cardiology. Finally, "there is no evidence of any benefit for women who don't already have heart disease or diabetes" . . .</blockquote> http://alternet.org/healthwellness/77916/?page=1 Don’t statins reduce the risk of heart attack? Well, only for 40 to 50% of people taking them–the others incur increased health risks:

This is a serious allegation. Keep in mind that statins are the most popular drugs in the history of human medicine. Worldwide sales totaled $33 billion in 2007. More than 18 million American now take them.

Nevertheless, “medical research suggests that only about 40 percent to 50 percent of that number are likely to benefit,” says Abramson. “The other 8 or 9 million are exposed to the risks that come with taking statins — which can include severe muscle pain, memory loss, sexual dysfunction — and one study shows increased risk of cancer in the elderly — but there are no studies to show that the drugs will protect these patients against fatal heart attacks.”

Older adults have little to gain. The drugs don’t help people over 70 even if they have elevated cholesterol levels, according to a report in the Journal of American Cardiology.

Finally, “there is no evidence of any benefit for women who don’t already have heart disease or diabetes” . . .

http://alternet.org/healthwellness/77916/?page=1

]]> By: Alison http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16442 Alison Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:48:25 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16442 Can we say that if it confirms a belief of Scientologists, that automatically makes it questionable? Can we say that if it confirms a belief of Scientologists, that automatically makes it questionable?

]]> By: Dan Klarmann http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16429 Dan Klarmann Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:43:50 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16429 My friends in Scientology are overjoyed to have this mainstream vindication of part of what they've been saying for decades. But an actual study like this trumps their article of faith, whichever way it goes. My friends in Scientology are overjoyed to have this mainstream vindication of part of what they’ve been saying for decades. But an actual study like this trumps their article of faith, whichever way it goes.

]]> By: Alison http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16425 Alison Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:44:11 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16425 Well, I'm glad I happen to be one of the people that antidepressants actually helped. I have no doubt that they are medications that are overprescribed by doctors who aren't psychiatrists, but I went through the gamut of AD's trying to find one that would make me able to even function. I can tell you how differently one acted vs. another, some of the side effects and withdrawal symptoms that were unique to each medication, etc. This news is going to be just one more thing to make life more difficult for people who really need help. It's hard enough having people tell you that what's ailing you is imaginary when you're doing everything you can to fix yourself. When you find a treatment that works, finally, the last thing you need is someone waving a study under your nose telling you that now there's proof there was nothing wrong with you in the first place. Putting the brakes on the overprescription of needless pharmaceuticals is all well and good, but a study like this doesn't prove that the medications are completely ineffective in all the people who use them. If it's used at some point by insurance companies to deny coverage for people who will really be in a dangerous mental or emotional situation without them, it's going to do an incredible amount of harm. Well, I’m glad I happen to be one of the people that antidepressants actually helped. I have no doubt that they are medications that are overprescribed by doctors who aren’t psychiatrists, but I went through the gamut of AD’s trying to find one that would make me able to even function. I can tell you how differently one acted vs. another, some of the side effects and withdrawal symptoms that were unique to each medication, etc. This news is going to be just one more thing to make life more difficult for people who really need help.

It’s hard enough having people tell you that what’s ailing you is imaginary when you’re doing everything you can to fix yourself. When you find a treatment that works, finally, the last thing you need is someone waving a study under your nose telling you that now there’s proof there was nothing wrong with you in the first place.

Putting the brakes on the overprescription of needless pharmaceuticals is all well and good, but a study like this doesn’t prove that the medications are completely ineffective in all the people who use them. If it’s used at some point by insurance companies to deny coverage for people who will really be in a dangerous mental or emotional situation without them, it’s going to do an incredible amount of harm.

]]> By: Niklaus Pfirsig http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16415 Niklaus Pfirsig Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:52:56 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16415 I know a lot about the biochemistry of Prozac and similar meds. I studied them a bit when my son was prescribed them as a treatment for his autism. They are a class of drugs called SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.) Without getting into the details, a very small group of people may benefit from taking SSRI meds. A normal healty person may experience a mild addiction, and a malnourished but otherwise normal person may actuall experience suicidal depression from taking an SSRI. A large part of the pharma business come from the "co-op" ads on tv and in magazines. The ones that advertise a prescription med and end with "ask your doctor about". This encourages peolpe to self diagnose, and then find a doctor that will prescribe the med even if they don't need it. But as long as the Pharma companies make wads of money, and throw a bit to the politicians and regulators to look the other way, everything is hunky-dory. I know a lot about the biochemistry of Prozac and similar meds. I studied them a bit when my son was prescribed them as a treatment for his autism. They are a class of drugs called SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.)
Without getting into the details, a very small group of people may benefit from taking SSRI meds. A normal healty person may experience a mild addiction, and a malnourished but otherwise normal person may actuall experience suicidal depression from taking an SSRI.

A large part of the pharma business come from the “co-op” ads on tv and in magazines. The ones that advertise a prescription med and end with “ask your doctor about”. This encourages peolpe to self diagnose, and then find a doctor that will prescribe the med even if they don’t need it. But as long as the Pharma companies make wads of money, and throw a bit to the politicians and regulators to look the other way, everything is hunky-dory.

]]> By: Erika Price http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16409 Erika Price Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:54:12 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16409 Unfortunately, those poor misled patients on SSRIs like Prozac aren't just getting duped and losing money. For all their uselessness, Prozac and drugs like it have pretty serious side effects. For instance, let's say you have occasional panic attacks and a doctor (probably a general practitioner, not even a psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist) gives you a prescription for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celexa#Side_effects_and_drug_interactions" rel="nofollow"> Celexa</a>. Your panic attack may subside, but if you ever forget a pill or attempt to even <i>wean</i> yourself off the drug, you could easily experience "breakthrough panic attacks" just as disturbing as what put you on the drug in the first place. Oh, and don't eat grapefruit at the same time you pop your pill. It can kill you. Yikes. I know countless people my age who went through a minor-to-severe bout of adolescent depression and ended up on a bevy of antidepressants or antianxiety medications that they continued taking for years and years. The side effects of getting off the drug usually scare people enough to keep taking the pills indefinitely. And many, I suspect, would never have truly needed these drugs at all. It must really feel like an additional slap in the face for these people to hear that the expensive drugs that give them strange dreams, panic attacks, brain shocks, and gained weight also probably didn't ever work in the first place. Unfortunately, those poor misled patients on SSRIs like Prozac aren’t just getting duped and losing money. For all their uselessness, Prozac and drugs like it have pretty serious side effects. For instance, let’s say you have occasional panic attacks and a doctor (probably a general practitioner, not even a psychiatrist or psychopharmacologist) gives you a prescription for Celexa. Your panic attack may subside, but if you ever forget a pill or attempt to even wean yourself off the drug, you could easily experience “breakthrough panic attacks” just as disturbing as what put you on the drug in the first place. Oh, and don’t eat grapefruit at the same time you pop your pill. It can kill you. Yikes.

I know countless people my age who went through a minor-to-severe bout of adolescent depression and ended up on a bevy of antidepressants or antianxiety medications that they continued taking for years and years. The side effects of getting off the drug usually scare people enough to keep taking the pills indefinitely. And many, I suspect, would never have truly needed these drugs at all. It must really feel like an additional slap in the face for these people to hear that the expensive drugs that give them strange dreams, panic attacks, brain shocks, and gained weight also probably didn’t ever work in the first place.

]]> By: If you are taking the anti-depressants Prozac, Effexor, Paxil or Serzone, don’t read this post. http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/comment-page-1/#comment-16402 If you are taking the anti-depressants Prozac, Effexor, Paxil or Serzone, don’t read this post. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:15:15 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/26/if-you-are-taking-the-anti-depressants-prozac-effexor-paxil-and-serzone-dont-read-this-post/#comment-16402 [...] Is Proactol Right For You wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Are they gone?  Are all the millions of people who take Prozac, Effexor, Paxil and Serzone-who-are-not-severely-depressed gone?  Good.  Now we can talk. The rest of you have probably already read the news that: Antidepressant medications appear to help only very severely depressed people and the drugs work no better than placebos in many patients, British researchers said Tuesday. Why would the news media ever report the truth regarding these wildly-hyped antidepressants?   After all, scienti [...] [...] Is Proactol Right For You wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Are they gone?  Are all the millions of people who take Prozac, Effexor, Paxil and Serzone-who-are-not-severely-depressed gone?  Good.  Now we can talk. The rest of you have probably already read the news that: Antidepressant medications appear to help only very severely depressed people and the drugs work no better than placebos in many patients, British researchers said Tuesday. Why would the news media ever report the truth regarding these wildly-hyped antidepressants?   After all, scienti [...]

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