How many do research on their own?

[Guest Guest_Katherine_*]

I started taking Lexapro on the recommendation of my doctor about 6 years ago. I was on it for a while, and my husband loved the results. But the dosage had to be increased periodically as I became "tolerant" of the drug. As the dosage increased, so did my adverse side affects. At some point my doctor decided to add Wellbutrin into the mix. The side affects from Wellbutrin were so outrageous I stopped taking it immediately. I'd only been on the drug for a week or so.

I also stopped taking the Lexapro because I realized that this little white pill was making me a zombie. And if my husband preferred me in zombie state, that was just too damn bad. It was his crazy making that was making me crazy in the first place, and the little white pill wasn't doing anything about that!

After I stopped taking the drugs, I started getting the "brain zaps". I did some research and learned that the drugs had actually mutated the receptors in my brain in order to work. "Not to worry", they say. "The affects will go away in a few weeks." "The drug takes a while to leave your system", "It doesn't cause permanent brain damage", blah, blah, blah, blah blah....

5 years after being off of the drugs, I still have brain zaps. If my doctor had told me the drug would be causing brain damage, there's no way I would have ever taken it. If I had known the potential side affects, I wouldn't have taken it. And if my doctor thought that making me a zombie was going to make my life all better, she was dead wrong. My husband is now dead from his crazy behavior, and I'm still alive and having ongoing side affects. How is that helpful?!

I'm sorry guys, the damage caused by these drugs is permanent. At least by my reckoning. And there's no way to know if you will be "one of the lucky ones" before you start taking them. I hope there's some people doing their research that read this before they beginning taking SSRI's.

Taking drugs doesn't make you circumstances better. It just makes you not care about how messed up they are.

[daisy]

I respect your opinion, but a lot of us would be dead without these drugs. I certainly would be. A lot of us will have to be on anti-depressants for the rest of our lives. I was a "lucky one" -- I've been on and off anti-depressants for 13 years, and I've never had difficulties after stopping a medication.

I don't like the side effects, either. But I like them more than death. And that's why my doctors tell me that I will be on them for the rest of my life. I agree with them. In the past, I just stopping taking medications when I felt even just a little better, mostly because of external circumstances and not even the pills. Then, when those external reasons to be happy wore off, I was just more depressed than ever.

My point is... not taking drugs might be the right choice for me, even though it's a good choice for you. Everybody has different circumstances.

[DarkendHour]

I agree that for some the risk (and outcomes) out weigh the benefits for some medication. People really need to find out all they can before taking any medication and talk it over with their doctor, and possible friends/family to make sure that it is for the best that they take that medication.

As for myself, I would be dead if I hadn't taken meds. I know there are really bad things that can happen with my meds, but none of that would matter if I was dead.

People just need to weigh out their options. They will be different for everyone.

As for the zombie thing... I know all to well how that goes, but I always tell people when they bring that up, "Yes they make me a zombie at times, but before I took them I was a zombie as well. A zombie that wanted to die and couldn't stop crying."

[withing]

I've been me without medication - for a very long time - and I've been me with medication. I like the me with medication... despite the side effects.

And yes, I've done research on my own. It's one of the reasons I found this board. I think a lot of people can say that. We're not here for the warm and fuzzy atmosphere.

[olga]

Yep. I'm here specifically because I did the research.

If you look through the literature on SSRIs, you will find that there are people who have been taking them for 20 and 30 years, and many of them are on the same dosage the whole time. A good friend of mine has taken Prozac for 23 years. He is not a zombie---he is a lively, intelligent guy. He's just not depressed anymore, and he has stayed on the same dosage the whole time.

I have another friend who has taken the same AD for 32 years! He's another case of being an active person, works full time, volunteers for political causes and works out every day at the gym. Not a zombie in the least.

If you are truly having "brain zaps," you need to see a doctor. I can't imagine having a condition like that and not getting it treated.

And if you would truly like to be a part of this community, and to be taken seriously, you might want to register and be a part of our gang. You'll find this crowd very un-zombie-ish. I actually think this crowd is one of the most contentious, intellectually curious groups of people I've found in a while.

olga

[Phoenix_Rising]

First,

My husband is now dead from his crazy behavior

. Please accept my condolences.

olga said:

And if you would truly like to be a part of this community, and to be taken seriously, you might want to register and be a part of our gang. You'll find this crowd very un-zombie-ish. I actually think this crowd is one of the most contentious, intellectually curious groups of people I've found in a while.

You're likely to raise some hackles with your views.

Nearly everyone on CB is on medication. Many, many people have taken SSRIs without experiencing the brain zaps you're referring to.

I think you'll also find that, as olga mentioned, this is a smart crowd that does their own research into medication. Most of us are all to aware of side effects and the potential damage that can be done by meds that don't agree with our brains.

I advise that you tread carefully if you plan on demonizing meds.

You need to contact a doctor about the brain zaps and any other side effects you're experiencing.

[beetle]

I did some research and learned that the drugs had actually mutated the receptors in my brain in order to work.

Link please?

[Alpam]

I am here because I found the site while doing research.

I still have not found the right combination yet, my Pdoc calls me the walking pharmaceutical guide.

For me it is really good in that aspect because my Pdoc and I can have a conversation about different medication, and we can share ideas.

Unfortunately I have a very high tolerance to medication so I always switching meds, but I can say they have saved my life, I would be gone without them.

With all the medication that I have been on I have had virtually no negative side effects, the only ones I can think of is the Cymbalta withdrawal and craving food on Seroquel.

[Littlewing]

I always do research on any meds I might be taking, or those that are recommended for me to take by my Pdoc. In fact, when the Crisis Team came to see me last Christmas, I knew more about my meds than the doctor they sent to evaluate me! I definitely believe in being well informed. And, like others here, I can definitely say that meds have saved my life (on at least more than one occasion). I don't like the side effects, but for me, that is outweighed by the fact that I'm still here and still fighting the good fight, even though some days (yesterday being one of them), I was tired of fighting. Without the meds, I would simply give up.

So, the upshot is, whilst I agree that meds aren't ideal for everyone, they certainly work for a good proportion of us, and we appreciate whatever measure of stability they give us.

[meg]

Have you seen a doctor (perhaps a neurologist?) about this?

It's very possible that there could be something else going on that is creating/causing/adding to these 'brain zaps' and I can't imagine not seeing a professional (not just a psych professional, but actually getting your brain checked out by a specialist) if something so obviously uncomfortable and bothersome was happening. So I'm assuming that you have-- what did they say?

Anyway, I'm very sorry about your husband and that you've had so much trouble in the past few years, but make sure that along with 'doing your research' you actually see professionals who have been to school in matters of the brain and therefore done a little research of their own, mostly not from the internet.

I'd also love to see the link about the 'mutated receptors' thing-- it seems like more of us would know about that if it had made medical/med.publication news (see PubMed.com etc) so I am curious where that info came from. Thanks in advance.

m

Ps- I'm also one who wouldn't give up my meds for anything and *know* that they're the reason I'm still around today, let alone around today and totally 'in remission' from my depression. I'm actually really enjoying my life and living it to my best ability-- which thanks to my medications (including wellbutrin and zoloft, an SSRI like lexapro) is quite something, imo. Even if I'd had a bad experience, I'd still not want to block others from taking their chances since so so many of us are still here because of them and have been helped immeasurably.

I hope that you can find some relief and help soon-- rest assured that we DO research here in spades, but thanks for sharing. I'd still love to see your sources.