3 ms·
I've been prescribed multiple SSRIs over the last decade. 5, by my count. I've also researched them pretty extensively for about the same time. They are a crap-
by spangry 10y ago
I've been prescribed multiple SSRIs over the last decade. 5, by my count. I've also researched them pretty extensively for about the same time. They are a crap-shoot at best.
The best that a knowledgeable and well intentioned doctor can do is prescribe them in a trial and error fashion, maybe with a tiny bit of guidance from prominence of patient symptoms. But it's largely just prescribe, wait 6 weeks, rinse and repeat. I happen to be one of the 'treatment resistant' types, in that SSRIs don't do jack-squat for me (well, except for when there's a drug-drug interaction, and that's definitely not the 'good kind' of effect).
The medical literature suggests SSRIs are only just barely more effective at treating depression than placebo. There's also an interesting (and in my view, plausible) explanation behind why SSRIs might cause an initial increased suicide risk. A common symptom of depression is 'psychomotor retardation': "a slowing-down of thought and a reduction of physical movements in an individual" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychomotor_retardation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychomotor_retardation). If SSRIs have any positive effect, they occur gradually.
So the hypothesis goes: a patient might be suffering from suicidal depression, but the psychomotor symptoms prevent suicide. When they are prescribed SSRIs, and those SSRIs start having a positive effect, they lift the psychomotor retardation just enough that the patient is finally able to kill themself. It probably sounds a bit strange, but I can attest to how debilitating 'psychomotor retardation' can be.
- throw998away 10y agoMy wife went through a rough patch a little while ago and decided she was depressed. She had no problem getting SSRIs prescribed by the doctor. She says as soon as she started taking them, she instantly felt better. No more randomly bursting into tears. But, she is no longer the wife I had. Her conversation is so slow. She regularly forgets what she was talking about, repeats herself. Basic chores are just forgotten about. She drinks more than ever, has started smoking. Her diet is awful. If she can be bothered to eat it is probably a chocolate bar at lunch time. She has gained about 4 stones in weight. She never took up the counselling that she felt she needed before starting on the SSRIs. She tried cutting down on her medication a little while ago, but this made her incredibly paranoid. So instead she has had to increase it. All I see from it is an ever decreasing spiral into ruin.
- spangry 10y agoTake her to a competent psychiatrist, maybe one that practices in a hospital. I've never come across a symptom/side-effect profile like that before. But at least some of them (I am not a psychiatrist etc. etc.) hint at bipolar disorder. One of the (unfortunately common) ways people learn that they have bipolar is by being mis-diagnosed with unipolar depression, being prescribed SSRIs, and suddenly finding themselves experiencing 'dysphoric mania'. Not the "everything's great, let's have sex with random strangers" type, but rather the "let's destroy every piece of furniture in the house" type. But I don't know your situation other than what you've described, and I'm definitely not qualified to tell you what to do. The best I think you can do is to get a second opinion from a competent psychiatrist.
- noir_lord 10y agoThis is an excellent comment. The "let's destroy every piece of furniture in the house" is exactly what happened with one of my parents, it's not a fun thing to witness but they eventually got the bipolar under control with lithium but the toxicity on that stuff is pretty horrible, regular blood tests for the rest of your life horrible.
- throw998away 10y agoInteresting. I haven't looked into bipolar before.
- lexhaynes 10y agoPlease intervene. Get her some real counseling! Get her to a psychiatrist! And when she is able, get her exercising and taking probiotics. Good luck.
- throw998away 10y agoYou talk as though I have any control over her whatsoever. She is pretty much uncontrollable. If I tried to suggest she needs to see a psychiatrist it would pretty much ensure she would never see one.. I am pretty much at the end of my tether now.