Article from O magazine

[Katesmom]

I found it! I'm posting the link only. It is 10 short pages. They quote Glenmullin!

http://www2.oprah.com/health/omag/he..._depress.jhtml

[Ariella]

This is a big improvement over what we usually see. Two weaknesses in the article include:

"How will I know when to stop taking the drugs?"

Once your depression is in remission, you and your doctor have to decide, given your history, whether you can go off or if relapse is likely.

Drugs don't remiss depression nor anxiety. They hide them for a while. So the remission question shouldn't even be asked in context to drug use. It will remiss on its own when you've exhausted its purpose, or when you've healed it yourself creatively.

with your doctor to ease off the drugs very slowly and precisely—it usually takes several months.

Since drug withdrawal is so easily confused with illness, and since remission is clearly possible as drugs don't cure, the time frame of a couple months is way too long. A year or more should be considered to gain greater perspective.

[MizzT]

thats definitely a big improvement!!
im suprised she has anything of the sort. maybe the tides are shifting!

[scotty]

Where the heck did they come up with the "Once your depression is in remission, you and your doctor have to decide, given your history, whether you can go off or if relapse is likely. The rule of thumb is that once you feel better, you should give yourself 16 to 20 more weeks before even thinking about stopping.
That is a number I've NEVER heard of before.

Not to bad of an article, but no mention of suicidality and withdrawal, other than cold turkey.

[scotty]

Originally Posted by darcyb

This is a big improvement over what we usually see. Two weaknesses in the article include:

Drugs don't remiss depression nor anxiety. They hide them for a while. So the remission question shouldn't even be asked in context to drug use. It will remiss on its own when you've exhausted its purpose, or when you've healed it yourself creatively.

Since drug withdrawal is so easily confused with illness, and since remission is clearly possible as drugs don't cure, the time frame of a couple months is way too long. A year or more should be considered to gain greater perspective.

Darcy, I think you mean way to short!

[Katesmom]

Didn't you know that SSRIs are like antibiotics. You have to take them for a while even after you start to 'feel' better to make extra sure you killed that depression imbalance/bacteria/whatever-your-theory-is.

[scotty]

Kim, you hit it on the head!!! Are people this gullible??? It's a well known fact that they have NO idea what causes depression, yet people still think a pill is going to "cure" it.

[Katesmom]

To me, two things were interesting about the article. First, that it was stuff I had never seen published in quite that way before. Esp. that it inferred that ADs ought to be for short-term use. And, second, that it was being addressed in O magazine when Oprah has been so hesitant to address the issue.

[scotty]

Don't get me wrong.. this IS a start. The questions and answers they put forth to ask are RIGHT ON for before starting an ssri. My gripe is with the "coming off" information.

But I'll take it.. it's a start.

[feelin'_wiggy]

Originally Posted by scotty

Kim, you hit it on the head!!! Are people this gullible??? It's a well known fact that they have NO idea what causes depression, yet people still think a pill is going to "cure" it.

I think that's a bit harsh, Laurie. At some point, we all believed Paxil would help us. Otherwise we wouldn't have taken it or allowed our children to take it.

If the cause of depression is unknown, that leaves open the possibility that a pill can cure it. Those of us who have lived the nightmare know that's not true, but there are many out there suffering depression who still see hope in medicine. I don't think they're gullible, just desperate.

[scotty]

Wiggy, I was referring to the premise in this article in it's proclaiming the drugs can cure.. not people in general. Those who take these have been sold on a product that has been marketed extremely well with nothing to back it up. It's not the patients fault.. it's pharma.

Yes, we all believed that paxil could "help" us. But in the last two years there as been a TON of information out there disputing these claims. I feel bad for those who are falling for the quick fix, but when it's being offered up like it is, you can't blame them

[feelin'_wiggy]

Originally Posted by scotty

Wiggy, I was referring to the premise in this article in it's proclaiming the drugs can cure.. not people in general.

Ah! Well, I certainly can't disagree with that. I'm hardly objective on the matter, of course, but the article came across to me as a CYA tactic. Antidepressant addiction/withdrawal is the white elephant in the room, and pharma has decided to address it, via Oprah in this case, 'cause it ain't going away.

[scotty]

Deb, there were some good points:

1.Would a combination of talk therapy and medication be most effective?"

If he says that the drugs alone will do the trick, look for another doctor.

2."Are there other approaches I should consider?"

If she invokes the benefits of exercise and plenty of sleep, discusses meditation, and suggests that you add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, she's on target

If we could just get people to do this it would be a HUGE change.

[dar7726]

Marking so I'll read later.