Overprescribed?

Question

Do you think anti-depressants are over-prescribed? It seems like almost everyone I know is either currently on anti-depressants or has taken them at some point.
Is it possible that people today just don't want to deal with their emotions and opt to take a pill instead? Nobody said life was going to be easy or stress-free.... but these days it seems like, geez, my mother passed away, so I am on anti-depressants. I hate my job, so I am on anti-depressants.
Don't we have permission to be sad for a reason? Nobody is happy 24/7.

I am familiar with depression, having been diagnosed more than 20 years ago. I have used antidepressants in the past and currently maintain my health with non-drug treatments.
I understand there are SOME people with chemical imbalances who must take meds.

the_only_solorose stated:
…people expect too much from them... Seems alot of americans think the pills will cure the depression, and they do not, all they do is make it possible to think clearly enough to work out the issues.

This is a good point. People do expect a “magic pill” to make everything all better. And that is exactly why I feel the drugs are prescribed too often.

Are the prescribing Drs. telling their patients that the pills alone are not a cure, and that they have to work on their issues?

Answer 1

YES YES YES ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT! I've been saying that for years. Far too many people actually TALK THEMSELVES INTO depression these days. The trials we go through are suppose to make us strong, but they are letting it make them week and depressed. Your mom dies, you grieve, keep her in your heart, and get on with life. You hate your job, you stay on just long enough to find a better one, then quit. Your house gets blown away in a tornado, you rebuild and continue on. We have ups and downs in our lives for a reason, and it all builds character.

And way too many kids these days are being labeled as ADHD and being put on MEDS when in fact they only have a different learning style.

People are way too quick to medicate for "issues" these days. These are really "new" meds, and we can only guess what they can ultimately do to us. I guess they can be the guinea pigs, we can watch them for the next 20 years to determine what the long range effects of these drugs are.

Answer 2

Man oh man.. I am so on the same page with you.
nothing is normal. No one is normal . we are all insaine so get with the program right.
I agree some people are out there that really need thease meds but there are others whom are out there who have went threw truly tramadic experiances and saciaty deams then bi-poler, depresses, manic, anxsiaty disorders, phsycotic, ect... ok so what you hear your baby that died a year ago cry while you are trying to sleep this is grife and there is no right or wrong way to greave.
You just had a child now you cry all the time this is called post pardom depression once again so normal. If you see a councilor to talk with some one about things that bother you well don't tell them to much or they lable you manic bi-poler or any thing else they can rather then saying wow! you are a strong person for even standing here rathing then being the shell of a person you once were. Or congrats for knowing where you fell down and finding the strangth to pick your self back up and get on with it ....
Nope it is here a pill call me in 30 days to see if this helps
No wounder we have rampid teens out there taking and adicted to narcotics. that is all they know on how to cope...

Answer 3

I don't think they are over prescribed, I simply think that people expect too much from them....the medications make it possible to think more clearly, but if you don't facilitate that thought process with therapy and working out the issues that brought on the depression, the pills are not going to do you much good. Seems alot of americans think the pills will cure the depression, and they do not, all they do is make it possible to think clearly enough to work out the issues. But it is still work, antidepressants have a good place in dealing with depression, but they certainly do NOT cure it. People have to be willing to work on their issues, with or without medication, and until they do, they will not get better, they will only get worse.

Answer 4

Hi KA1227. Depression is a serious and real illness. It is caused by an imbalance in brain neurotrasmiters. For this reason the person has symptoms of: lack of energy, feelings or worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, lack of concentration, etc.
For western medicine it has been hard to understand because it is not like you broke your leg and went to a doctor. Depression is not measurable like other illnesses. I think yes, depression is over-prescribed. However there are millions of cases in which the person is really going through a severe Depression as a real illness and needs medicine to balance brain neurotrasmiters. I do not think people do not want to deal with their problems. I think it is a chemical imbalance that has to be treated while the person dials with their problems. (and talks with the psychiatry about his problems to find the root of the problem). . It is not the same to be sad and to be depressed. Normal people can be sad or happy. Depression is another thing, as I said it is a serious condition that not only involver being sad, you have other symptoms like suicidal thoughts, lack of energy and concentration. I tell you this because I am a sufferer myself of depression. I have battled depression for almost 7 years. [e-mail]

Answer 5

yes and no...

It seems so easy these days to just walk into a Dr's office and ask for antidepressants and get them. I remember 10 years ago when I first went on them it was such a stigma to even admit to anyone that I was depressed. Now when I tell people what I'm taking I get "Oh yeah? me too..." or "Yeah I used to take that..." and I'm still so surprised.

I know that I need meds. In fact it's taken me 10 years to be correctly diagnosed and get the right medications. Everyone in my family and all of my friends told me to just "snap out of it" and I even had a therapist tell me that I was just "bored with life". I tried so hard on my own to make things right, i really did. I thought I was just being a big cry baby.

Truth of the matter is, I'm not a big cry baby. I have bipolar disorder. I'm finally on the right meds and I'm feeling much better now. Bipolar disorder is hereditary, and I've discovered that theres a chance BOTH my grandfathers might have had it. I'll never know because they both committed suicide when my parents were babies.

Despite all of this, I have to agree with you, our society is overprescribed with happy pills. Sometimes I even wonder if it's become trendy! Yet, how do professionals weed out those are simply unhappy and those who are the verge of suicidal behavior ? Or better yet, those, who for example, have mental disorders like mine?

Answer 6

Maybe anti-depressants are over-prescribed, but don't lump every person who has been on them, as lazy and not wanting to deal with their problems. Unless you have had severe depression, you shouldn't be judging. Also, there are two kinds of depression; one is a chemical imbalance of the neurotransmitters in your brain, and the other is environmental factors like someone in your family dying, or breaking up with someone, losing your job, etc. When you have a chemical imbalance in your brain, it's extremely difficult to not be on anti-depressants and be able to function normally. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain and I am not on medication and I am struggling alot. I don't have insurance right now, so I have to pay for everything. I have a 12 year old son that depends on me and I have to keep going. Some people opt for using anti-depressants and get therapy while they are on medication. After they resolve their issues, they can be weaned off the medication. It's a temporary use of medication. There are alot of ways to deal with depression. But don't judge unless you've been there.

Answer 7

I don't think they are overprescribed. I only wish the newer ones had been around earlier and I had know how much they would help. A person cannot learn to "cope" with a chemical (or whatever) imbalance in the brain. If antidepressants can bring peace of mind, what's wrong with that?

People against antidepressants have never spent night after night with their mind racing, maybe sleeping 2 hrs./night. It is unconscionable to suggest that people work through their depression/anxiety. There is no reason for such misery if there is help available.

Answer 8

You know what-i so agree with you. Lately i have been thinking the same thing,
I think there are people who are truly depressed and just cannot help it-normally these people dont have a clue as to why they feel so bad, and i believe they should be on medication to help them thru and not have to live in misery,
but like you i feel far far too many people are on antideppressants for no valid reason if any reason at all, excep as you said they dont want to deal with the ups and downs of life that we all have.
Like you said it will be. oh too much job pressure, or i lost my job or holidays are here and im broke- or even my kids or husband get on my nerves-it goes on and on and i think dr's (at least some) just prescribe these meds way too freely and then in turn so many get addicted!!

Answer 9

Deppresion is a serious medical condition. Alot of people need prescription drugs along with counseling to deal with it. Having a bad day is one thing but having them all the time is different. It is sometimes an imbalance in the brain and the pills even it out for alot of people. If you don't need the pills be glad.

Answer 10

a person really should see a psychiatrist in addition to the family doctor before starting an anti depressent . you have refered to reactive depression and most often no doctor would give medication other then sedation for aid with that unless it has gone on for a long time and it is very much interupting a persons life.
it is true more people are taking the new medications but more people doctors as well are aware of the problem of depression and related disorders.