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Price, 2009 Emotional side-effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: qualitative study.


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Study finds emotional anesthesia common among those taking antidepressants.

Br J Psychiatry. 2009 Sep;195(3):211-7. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.051110.
Emotional side-effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: qualitative study.
Price J, Cole V, Goodwin GM.

Source

University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, The Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. jonathan.price@psych.ox.ac.uk
JP http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/195/3/211.long

BACKGROUND:

Some people who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants report that their experience of emotions is 'blunted'. This phenomenon is poorly understood.

AIMS:

To understand patients' experiences of this phenomenon.

METHOD:

Qualitative study, gathering data through individual interviews, a group interview and validation interviews; and searching patient websites for relevant posts.

RESULTS:

There was strong evidence that some people taking SSRIs experience significant emotional symptoms that they strongly attribute to their antidepressant. These emotional symptoms can be described within six key themes. A seventh theme represents the impact of these side-effects on everyday life, and an eighth represents participants' reasons for attributing these symptoms to their antidepressant. Most participants felt able to distinguish between emotional side-effects of antidepressants and emotional symptoms of their depression or other illness.

CONCLUSIONS:

Emotional side-effects of SSRIs are a robust phenomenon, prominent in some people's thoughts about their medication, having a demonstrable impact on their functioning and playing a role in their decision-making about antidepressant adherence.


From the paper at http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/195/3/211.long


Framework themes

Eight key framework themes were identified, each of which contained multiple subthematic categories. These key themes are summarised in Appendix 2, and described below. The description of each theme is supported by quotations from participant interviews, either embedded within the text descriptions of each theme and denoted by italics (e.g. participants reported that their emotions were ‘more thoughts than feelings’) or as standalone quotations in the online supplement.

General effects on all emotions

Most participants described a general reduction in the intensity of all the emotions that they experienced, so that all their emotions felt flattened or evened out, and their emotional responses to all events were toned down in some way. Very common descriptions of this phenomenon included feelings of emotions being ‘dulled’, ‘numbed’, ‘ flattened’ or completely ‘blocked’, as well as descriptions of feeling ‘blank’ and ‘ flat’. A few participants described a more extreme phenomenon, in which they did not experience any emotions at all. Others felt that they often experienced their emotions as thoughts rather than as feelings, as if their emotional experience had become more ‘ cognitive’ or ‘intellectual’. Some participants were able rationally to recognise situations in which they should feel a certain way, and yet the actual emotional response was not there or was altered in some way. Alternatively, some participants could still respond to emotional situations in an appropriate way, but without what they felt was real feeling.

Many participants described improved control over their emotions, so that what they considered to be excessive emotional reactions were reduced and more appropriate. This meant that they could more readily deal with or let go of certain emotions, and some participants described improved control over fear. Some participants described a difficulty in understanding or being in tune with what they were feeling, as if their own emotions were less clear to them. A few participants described that at times those emotions that were present seemed ‘unreal’, ‘fake’ or ‘ artificial’.

Reduction of positive emotions

Almost all participants described a reduction in their positive emotions, which they attributed to their SSRI antidepressant. This reduction was manifest as both reduced intensity and reduced frequency of these emotions. Participants reported reduction in a wide range of positive emotions, including happiness, enjoyment, excitement, anticipation, passion, love, affection and enthusiasm.

Most participants reported that the intensity of positive emotions was ‘ dampened down’ or ‘toned down’, such that participants did not experience the same emotional ‘ lift’ or ‘high’. Many participants reported that they experienced positive emotions less often, and a few participants described that they were almost absent. Many participants described reduced enjoyment of, for example, social situations, hobbies or interests, beauty and nature, and music and other emotional media. Some participants reported that excitement and anticipation were reduced. They had, for example, lost the rush of excitement as an event approached, or no longer looked forward to things in the same way. Some participants felt reduced love or affection towards others and, in particular, reduced attraction towards their partner or reduced feelings of love or pride towards their family. Some participants described reduced passion, zest and enthusiasm for life and its components.

Reduction of negative emotions

All participants experienced a reduction of intensity or frequency of negative emotions, which they attributed to their SSRI antidepressant. Most participants considered that at some stage the reduction in negative emotions was beneficial to them, bringing relief from distressing negative emotions, and allowing normal daily life to resume. Some participants reported that negative emotions had been removed almost entirely. The negative emotions commonly described as reduced included sadness; emotional pain or distress; anger, irritability or aggression; and anxiety, worry or fear. Other negative emotions such as fear and surprise, embarrassment, guilt and shame, and disappointment were also mentioned to a degree. Although a reduction in these negative emotions was usually at some stage a benefit or relief, for many participants it had became an unwanted side-effect, impairing their quality of life. Participants described the need to be able to feel negative emotions when appropriate, such as grief or concern. Some were unable to respond with negative emotions, such as being unable to cry when this would have been appropriate or respond appropriately to bad news.

Emotional detachment

Most participants described feeling emotionally detached or disconnected, and attributed this to their SSRI antidepressant. Some participants described being detached from their surroundings, and described feelings of being ‘ in limbo’, of ‘unreality’ or ‘ disconnection’ and of feeling as though they were a ‘ spectator’ rather than a participant. Some participants described functioning like a ‘zombie’ or ‘ robot’, with reduced or absent emotional responses. Some participants described feeling detached from their own emotions and instincts. Most participants described that this emotional detachment extended to a detachment from other people. Specifically, they felt reduced sympathy and empathy, and felt detached during social interactions. In particular, many participants described an emotional detachment from their friends and family, including their partner or children. Participants’ attitudes towards emotional detachment from other people were mixed. Although this was often seen as an undesirable side-effect of antidepressants, it was also sometimes seen as beneficial, by allowing disengagement from others’ problems, others’ negative emotions and highly charged situations that would otherwise be upsetting.

Just not caring

Almost all participants described not caring about things that used to matter to them and attributed this change to their SSRI antidepressant. They cared less about themselves, about other people and about the consequences of their actions. Not caring could have both helpful and unhelpful consequences, reducing the sense of pressure and stress that some participants felt in their daily lives, yet increasing the likelihood that important tasks were neglected.

Many participants described a general feeling of indifference to things in life that used to matter to them. Many participants described feeling apathetic and unmotivated, despite their illness having improved and attributed this apathy to their antidepressant. Some participants felt that their sensible, safety-conscious, side had diminished and they just did not care as much about the consequences to themselves of their behaviour. As a result, they might behave in a less careful, considered way. A few participants went further, mentioning thoughts of self-harm or suicide that they related, at least in part, to feelings of emotional detachment and emotional numbness. One participant had started to self-harm in an effort to feel emotion. Many participants reported not caring as much about others, such as during social interaction, by being less sensitive or courteous towards other people. In addition, many described reduced concern for others’ feelings, and reduced concern about other peoples’ opinions of them. Some participants described being less concerned or even unable to care about responsibilities in their everyday lives, such as at home, in their finances or at work, and might include, for example, a lack of urgency or need to complete tasks.

Changed personality

Some participants felt their personality had changed in some way, or been lost, leaving them ‘like a shell’. In some ways, they were not the person that they used to be. Participants reported that specific aspects of their personality, and, in particular, emotional aspects, had been changed or lost, such that they were a different person. These changes were attributed by participants to their SSRI antidepressant. Some participants believed that at times their antidepressant had made them behave quite out of character. One participant believed that the medication had changed their personality permanently, having a lasting effect beyond finishing their medication.

Effects on everyday life (helpful and unhelpful)

The impact of the above phenomena on participants’ daily lives varied widely, both in extent and in perceived helpfulness.
 

  • Unhelpful effects. Some participants were concerned that blunting of their emotions and, thereby, of their day-to-day concerns, might mask or hide problems. Concerns were expressed that this might prevent them resolving their own emotional issues, prevent them engaging with other problems or issues requiring their attention, and ‘cover up’ who they really were. ‘Just not caring’ had an unhelpful effect on everyday responsibilities, resulting in financial problems, and problems at work or college. Emotional detachment from family and reduced emotional responsiveness had an unhelpful impact on family life, and on perceived quality of parenting. Reduced inspiration, imagination, motivation and passion for and enjoyment of creative activities had adversely affected some participants’ creativity. In some participants, emotional side-effects had led to reduced sociability. Emotional flattening, emotional detachment from other people, and reduced concern for other people’s needs and feelings had unhelpful effects on relationships within families, with a significant other and at work. A few participants suggested that the emotional detachment and reduced anxiety arising from taking antidepressants was of concern when trying to make important life decisions, especially those with an emotional component.
  • Helpful effects. However, some participants described helpful effects on their everyday lives that they attributed to emotional side-effects. For example, the reduction of certain emotional responses, such as anger, aggression or worry, could have a beneficial effect on personal relationships. Many participants believed that the emotional detachment and reduced anxiety arising from taking antidepressants had improved their ability to take a step back from their situation, and thereby to think more clearly and objectively. This helped them in making good decisions day to day, helped them to deal more successfully with other people, and improved their self-confidence.

It’s because of my pills!

The emotional effects summarised in the above key themes were attributed by participants to their SSRI antidepressant, either in total or in part. Of note, some of the emotional effects are similar to symptoms of depression – for example, reduced positive emotions, reduced interest and reduced motivation. Some participants remarked on this difficulty. Indeed, some participants described similarities between the SSRI-induced state and depression itself, and suggested that the medication might increase or induce a kind of depression. Other participants were uncertain whether taking an antidepressant or a change in their life circumstances was the cause of changes in their emotional experiences. However, most participants felt able to distinguish emotional side-effects from their depression or other illness, for several reasons, including the following.


  • Presence or persistence of an emotional syndrome when the participant perceives their illness to have improved or resolved. Some participants described the presence or persistence of an emotional syndrome although they perceived their illness to have improved or resolved completely. These participants stated that their lack of interest and lack of caring, combined with reduced positive emotions, were present despite the absence of any feelings of emotional pain or depression. Rather, all feelings and emotions were reduced.
  • SSRI antidepressants making emotions feel ‘chemical’. A few participants felt able to distinguish emotional side-effects from their depression or other indication because of what they described as ‘a chemical feeling’, in which their emotions were experienced as ‘ chemical’ or ‘artificial.’
  • Effects of changes in dose or changes in SSRI antidepressant on the emotional syndrome. Some participants made specific reference to changes in their emotional experiences in relation to changes in medication type or dose. It was not possible to identify from the data whether specific SSRIs were more likely to have an emotional syndrome attributed to them, but some participants reported more emotional side-effects on specific SSRIs.
  • Effects of discontinuation of SSRI antidepressant on the emotional syndrome. Some participants who had experienced periods of being on and off medication had noticed reduced emotional experience while on their SSRI, and a return of their emotional experiences upon discontinuation.
  • The time course of the emotional syndrome. Many participants reported two distinct time courses of the emotional syndrome. A few participants described that they experienced these effects briefly during the early stages of taking their medication, and that subsequently it diminished. However, many participants noticed these emotional side-effects later on, often as they started to recover from their illness. Some participants considered that the ‘ flattening’ was helpful, providing relief from their emotional distress early on. However, it became an unwanted side-effect as their emotional state improved, and they were left being more able to cope but with persistent flattening.

As they attributed their emotional syndrome to their SSRI antidepressant, many participants had considered whether they should stop taking the medicine. Some reported weighing up pros (treatment benefits) and cons (emotional side-effects and others, if they existed). Participant attitudes to continuing treatment at a time when they considered themselves to be suffering emotional side-effects from an antidepressant were mixed. Many participants viewed their emotional side-effects as undesirable, but were still willing to continue taking their SSRI, because of the perceived reduction in risk of relapse. They therefore viewed the side-effects as preferable to the illness for which they were being treated. However, some participants did express a strong preference to be able to feel the full range of emotions. Consequently, some participants reported that the emotional syndrome was one reason for them considering stopping or actually stopping their SSRI.

Respondent validation

The eleven participants who attended validation interviews expressed strong support for the overall study findings, and for the statements used in a draft questionnaire. A few participants felt that their responses would differ according to their emotional experiences at different time points and with different antidepressants, suggesting that the draft questionnaire was sensitive to change in the phenomenon under study. Supporting quotations are provided in the online supplement.

Data from web forums

Two hundred and seventy-two relevant posts were included, of which 32% were from www.depressionforums.org, 27% from www.about.com, 22% from www.google.groups.co.uk and 18% from www.socialaudit.org.uk. Data relating to individual posters, including gender, antidepressant indication, antidepressant type and current medication use, are summarised in the online data supplement Table DS1.

This evidence provided additional support for the eight key themes, although some differences were noted from the interview-derived data. These included:

  • descriptions on web forums of longstanding adverse effects, months or years after the antidepressant was stopped;
  • descriptions on web forums of complaints of doctors ‘ misunderstanding’ the patient’s emotional side-effects, and attributing them to depressive relapse;
  • more florid descriptions on web forums of emotional side-effects; and
  • less prominence on the web forums of reports of reduced positive emotions.

Finally, it was notable that descriptions of emotional side-effects were not limited to SSRIs, and were often associated with other commonly prescribed medications, including serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (such as venlafaxine) and mood stabilisers (such as lithium salts).

Discussion

This study provides robust evidence that some individuals taking SSRI antidepressants experience significant emotional symptoms that they strongly attribute to their antidepressant. It also helps us to characterise and understand these emotional symptoms, by providing detailed insights into patient experiences. Participants reported emotional symptoms that clustered into six key themes, and described the associated impact on their daily functioning (seventh theme). Participants’ robust attribution of these emotional symptoms to their SSRI, and their presentation of a range of evidence to support this belief (eighth theme), indicates that these phenomena may well be emotional side-effects of SSRIs.

Participant attitudes towards these side-effects were not simply negative, suggesting that they could be evaluated as part of the cost–benefit associated with taking the medicine. Some participants felt that, although unhelpful, the side-effects were better than the possibility of relapse of their illness. Others reported that these side-effects were, in part, a reason for wanting to stop taking their antidepressant, or for having already stopped taking it. Notably, emotional side-effects had an impact on perceived quality of parenting and were occasionally linked to thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

The study has three key strengths. First, its qualitative methods allowed an understanding of the phenomenon of emotional side-effects from the patients’ perspective, rather than from that of research or clinical ‘ experts’. Second, the patient-derived data provide a guide to the actual language used by patients, so that the questionnaire derived from the data can contain appropriately worded items. Finally, the independent confirmation of the main themes by participants interviewed independently supports the content validity of our themes.

The main limitation of the study is the self-selecting nature of the sample: most interview participants responded to a poster or invitation letter indicating the nature of the research, and the content will have influenced perceptions of relevance. Hence, we currently have no way of knowing how common or uncommon are emotional side-effects and how far the experiences of this sample are representative or unrepresentative of the experiences of all people prescribed SSRIs. Equally, contributors to web forums may well be unrepresentative of the more general population of antidepressant users. Furthermore, our interview sample was skewed towards long-term consumers of SSRIs, and we therefore know little about similar experiences in the much larger population of short-term users. Finally, it is impossible to draw robust conclusions regarding causality from an observational, cross-sectional study such as this, where recall bias, for example, may have an effect. There is a clear need for further research, of a quantitative nature, to confirm and expand upon these early findings.

This is the first qualitative study of patient experiences of emotional side-effects of SSRIs. The relevant non-qualitative literature is limited, but our results fit well with that limited body of research. One observational study of SSRI-related emotional side-effects has been conducted,4 in which 18 aspects of ‘emotional intensity’ were compared in people with major depression reporting SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction and in controls. The SSRI group reported significant reductions in 12 of the 18 aspects, including ability to cry, irritation, care about others’ feelings, sadness, creativity, surprise, anger, expression of their feelings and worry, which fits well with our results. Our finding that the intensity of emotions, including negative emotions, is reduced, and that emotional responses are accordingly more easily controlled, fits with reports of SSRI-induced inability to cry,3 reduction in irritability, aggression and negative affect7 and reduced emotional lability resulting from cerebrovascular accident8 or other brain injury.9 In addition, our key theme of ‘no longer caring’ fits with several case reports and one case–control study of SSRI-induced changes, including apathy, indifference, and reduced motivation, in children, adolescents, adults and older adults.2,10–14

Clinicians should consider adding emotional side-effects to those common antidepressant side-effects that they routinely mention to people starting treatment, such as headache, anxiety and gastrointestinal disturbance. Of note, although in some individuals these emotional side-effects are early, in many they appear to be a late phenomenon, emerging following partial or full recovery from the index illness. Clinicians should, therefore, also ask routinely about emotional side-effects when they are assessing progress on antidepressants. This might comprise asking a broad screening question, and then, if necessary, more specific questions to characterise the nature and extent of the problem, the extent to which the individual attributes the problems to their antidepressant and its contribution to their decision-making regarding ongoing adherence.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Superb reference, Alto. This was quite reassuring to me that someday I will feel the way I used to feel pre-AD.

Psychotropic drug history: Pristiq 50 mg. (mid-September 2010 through February 2011), Remeron (mid-September 2010 through January 2011), Lexapro 10 mg. (mid-February 2011 through mid-December 2011), Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg. as needed mid-September 2010 through early March 2012

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Hanlon's Razor


Introduction: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1588-introducing-jemima/

 

Success Story: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/6263-success-jemima-survives-lexapro-and-dr-dickhead-too/

Please note that I am not a medical professional and my advice is based on personal experience, reading, and anecdotal information posted by other sufferers.

 

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This is the single most reassuring thing I've read all year.

 

It's not me. It is NOT ME. It's the drugs.

 

Thank you, Alto.

 

Sparrow

2009-2011: tapered off Trazodone, Namenda, Lamictal, Dextroamphetamine, Zyprexa; cold-turkeyed Pristiq; reduced Lexapro dose 50%.
On clonazepam since 2004, 0.5 - 1.0 mg daily PRN. Three failed (too rapid) partial tapers, 2010 - 2011.
Dec. 2011 - March 2013: Tapered off 0.5 mg clonazepam (Klonopin)

August 2013: Switched to liquid escitalopram (Lexapro) and began tapering from 10 mg.

January 2014: 4.5 mg escitalopram

March 2014: One year off benzos

May 2014: 3.0 mg escitalopram

June 2014: severe depression, updosed to 4.0 mg

Sept 1, 2014: 2.7 mg

Dec 7, 2014: Can't get below 2.5 mg without unbearable symptoms. Doing an extended hold (I hope)

March 2015: TWO YEARS POST-BENZO

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  • 1 year later...

for some reason this chose these sites to study...

Web forums
about.com/health

Hosted in the USA. Run by New York Times Co. Advertisement supported. Aims to provide information to the public from ‘experts’ in variety of fields. Contains a wide range of health-related forums.

depressionforums.org

Hosted in the USA. Independent volunteer-run bulletin board/support site. Aims to provide peer support for individuals suffering from mental illness.

groups.google.co.uk

Hosted in the UK. Advertisement supported. Contains many discussion board topics, including a Depression and Mood Disorders board.

socialaudit.org.uk

Hosted in the UK. Run by a charity, the Public Interest Research Centre Ltd. Contains public information and discussion boards relating to pharmaceutical medicine, including ‘The Antidepressant Web’ discussion board.

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/195/3/211.full

 

I looked at the first site and did not fancy it.  Sad this missed this site. 

 

 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • Administrator

btdt, who is doing this study and what is it for?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Member

Apparently the last link (http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/195/3/211.full) is the description of the study itself..... TL;DR, skipped to the 'discussion'. Interesting reading there. Haven't finished reading it all. As I skimmed through the discussion, I wished my brain wasn't so tired tonight because it really is of interest to us, both on and off AD's.

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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  • Administrator

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • Member

well, ok. It deserves a bump anyway.

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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  • Administrator

And a merge with the existing topic.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Excellent article and descriptions.

Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc).

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for some reason this chose these sites to study...

Web forums
about.com/health

Hosted in the USA. Run by New York Times Co. Advertisement supported. Aims to provide information to the public from ‘experts’ in variety of fields. Contains a wide range of health-related forums.

depressionforums.org

Hosted in the USA. Independent volunteer-run bulletin board/support site. Aims to provide peer support for individuals suffering from mental illness.

groups.google.co.uk

Hosted in the UK. Advertisement supported. Contains many discussion board topics, including a Depression and Mood Disorders board.

socialaudit.org.uk

Hosted in the UK. Run by a charity, the Public Interest Research Centre Ltd. Contains public information and discussion boards relating to pharmaceutical medicine, including ‘The Antidepressant Web’ discussion board.

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/195/3/211.full

 

 

 

I looked at the first site and did not fancy it.  Sad this missed this site. 

 

 

Alto these are the websites used in the study you are talking about in your op... I went to the link.. you supplied to see where they got their data ... to see if any of it came from SA ... these are the links they have listed...

Some other sources 

"This qualitative study used two different data sources (interview participants from local recruitment in Oxfordshire and anonymous data sources posting on web forums) and two different data-gathering methods (individual interviews and group interview) to understand the phenomenon. Ethical approval for the interview study was obtained from Oxfordshire REC A (06/Q1604/184)."

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/195/3/211.long

link from your op...above.

 

Now that I think about it I don't think this site existed in 2009..when they did this study 5 years ago... and they only used publicly accessible  sites I am not sure if that means they did not have to have an account and sign in to get to the information or not. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 4 months later...

Amazing study. On the right side is a link called "online supplement" near PDF. The researchers canvassed internet forums and quoted and in some cases interviewed some people about their emotional side-effects. I find this "online supplement" to be an incredibly powerful thing to show to someone else who is on an SSRI. Chances are they will relate to something someone is saying. It's a bit different when someone is writing down their experience then seeing it in list form in the main body of the study. Here is the link:

 

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/suppl/2009/09/01/195.3.211.DC1/bjp_195_ds211.pdf

April / 2016: Cipralex 10 mg, Mirtazapine 30 mg, Lyrica 600 mg, Diazepam 20 mg, Bystolic 5 mg

2018: Lots of polypharmacy which is undocumented here. Started and stopped several drugs and changed doses of existing ones

August / 2018: Back on track! Cipralex 15 mg, Mirtazapine 7.5 mg, Diazepam 15 mg

September 2018: Cipralex 15 mg -> 12.5 mg

October 2018: Cipralex 12.5 mg -> 10 mg, Mirtazapine 7.5 mg -> 3.75 mg -> Stopped, Diazepam 15 mg

November 2019: Cipralex 5 mg, Diazepam 10 mg

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"Some participants believed that at times their antidepressant had made them behave quite out of character. One participant believed that the medication had changed their personality permanently, having a lasting effect beyond finishing their medication."

 

This would be me. I don't ever expect to be like I was once was in the emotional department after all this time I am starting to think this is as good as it gets. I have been off Effexor 6 years 11 months. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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