4 ms·

We don’t really know how SSRIs work - or if at all (at least not as intended) - yet they’re handed out indiscriminately for “treating” anything that isn’t “norm

We don’t really know how SSRIs work - or if at all (at least not as intended) - yet they’re handed out indiscriminately for “treating” anything that isn’t “normal”, accepted, or desired behaviour. These drugs have life-altering - and often permanent - side effects to the extent they’re a case of the cure being worse than the disease for any but the most severe and otherwise untreatable conditions and hence run against basic ethical standards in medicine (“Do no harm.” for one). Feeding that type of drug to a poor dog, who can neither decide for themselves nor know what’s happening to them, takes a special kind of unethical. On the other hand, it’s not like the standards around SSRIs for treating humans are ethical either. Their side effects often are downplayed or kept from patients, who will take those drugs at their doctor’s recommendation, not knowing the full extent of what they have subscribed to.

TerrifiedMouse 3y ago
Out of curiosity, what do you think are the permanent side effects for humans. I have been taking them for decades but stopped recently since my life hasn’t really improved after all those decades.
- BjoernKW 3y ago
  Sexual dysfunction, for one. Additional potential long-term side effects include, but are not limited to, weight gain, feeling emotionally numb, and increased suicide risk. Furthermore, there's the SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
  - TerrifiedMouse 3y ago
    While it might be different for some people, I believe most of what you mention are short term side effects that fade once you stop taking it. Discontinuation syndrome I assume are the side effects when you suddenly stop. I believe those are also temporary for most people.
NoPicklez 3y ago
Not that I disagree with what you're saying. But pets don't really get to decide for themselves with really anything owners give them. We all have stories of having to give our dogs some form of medication that they don't want to eat and having to sneak it into their own food. If my dog indicates they doesn't want to eat the flea or worm medication that's fine, but I am going to make sure they get it because I know they're better off with it so they don't itch themselves raw.
slibhb 3y ago
For years, companies and doctors downplayed the side effects but I'm not sure that's true anymore. Also, most people who use SSRIs do not experience permanent side effects once they get off them (though some do). The thing about SSRIs is that, at the end of the day, the data is based on whether patients like them and they largely do. I'm also not sure I buy your argument about dogs. Dogs can't consent to any medical intervention and they certainly can't consent to being neutered and euthanized, both of which are widely practiced. SSRIs seem less egregious than that.

TerrifiedMouse 3y ago

Out of curiosity, what do you think are the permanent side effects for humans. I have been taking them for decades but stopped recently since my life hasn’t really improved after all those decades.

BjoernKW 3y ago
Sexual dysfunction, for one. Additional potential long-term side effects include, but are not limited to, weight gain, feeling emotionally numb, and increased suicide risk. Furthermore, there's the SSRI discontinuation syndrome.
- TerrifiedMouse 3y ago
  While it might be different for some people, I believe most of what you mention are short term side effects that fade once you stop taking it. Discontinuation syndrome I assume are the side effects when you suddenly stop. I believe those are also temporary for most people.

NoPicklez 3y ago

Not that I disagree with what you're saying. But pets don't really get to decide for themselves with really anything owners give them. We all have stories of having to give our dogs some form of medication that they don't want to eat and having to sneak it into their own food. If my dog indicates they doesn't want to eat the flea or worm medication that's fine, but I am going to make sure they get it because I know they're better off with it so they don't itch themselves raw.

slibhb 3y ago

For years, companies and doctors downplayed the side effects but I'm not sure that's true anymore. Also, most people who use SSRIs do not experience permanent side effects once they get off them (though some do). The thing about SSRIs is that, at the end of the day, the data is based on whether patients like them and they largely do. I'm also not sure I buy your argument about dogs. Dogs can't consent to any medical intervention and they certainly can't consent to being neutered and euthanized, both of which are widely practiced. SSRIs seem less egregious than that.