Many people on this site use SSRI antidepressants. Has no one noticed that they don't work?

Question

Everyone I'm acquainted with who has used them, has needed to be switched to an alternative antidepressant. Comments?

Answer 1

every one of those antidepressants are only compensating for a defficiency in your body. they may on one hand make up for the defficiency, but on the other hand are man made, by people who want you to stay sick. so there are little extras that dont completely make you healthy. if you research you can find out what deficiency your body has and get some minerals from your local ealth store. its way cheaper and without all of the bad additives. this is from personal experience. prozac, wellbutrin, zoloft,ive taken a ton.

Answer 2

I've tried 14 different meds; all the SSRI and augmentation med. management treatments.
None have been effective whatsoever for myself and a few others I know.

It does seem to be that the method used is to alter dosage and then to switch to a different SSRI.

I am "categorized" as Major type/Chronic/Refractory - with some other designations to fit the DSM criteria.

It is believed that SSRI's have an efficacy rate of 60-80%.

It would be easy for me to have a bias against their benefit.
There are plenty of researchers who have valid criticism about many facets of the current usage, reliability and dispensation of these drugs.
That is the nature of good scientific methodology.

There are however, sufficient numbers of people who will claim that the drugs are working for them.
To be without would bring a return of "symptoms".

I have yet to meet a doctor who is satisfied with essentially a "trial and error" approach to medical management with any of the anti-depressants.

The state of our knowledge of treatment at this time is certainly not what advertising would have you believe.
Our "best" is not good enough.
It's not without it's merits either.

Go to a library catalog and use "Prozac", "Anti-depressant", and/or "SSRI" in a general search.
Look for some of the more recent works that take a critical position.
Use this information to: decide what you will discuss with your doctors; follow the research as it progresses; and to be a better patient/citizen.

That's the best answer I, as one person can offer at this moment.

Answer 3

At best, SSRIs work for about 50% of people. Many but not all people are helped by them. I've probably worked with at least 1000 people for whom these meds have been effective. Of course, if they don't work for you that's not very impressive information. But they really do work for a lot of people.

The earlier poster who said there was no research showing them to be effective is not correct. What research does show consistently over multiple studies is that for the treatment of depression, therapy and medication together is more effective than either medication used alone or therapy used alone. Studies show that with therapy and medications together, recovery occurs more quickly and improvements last longer.