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Again, chemical imbalance is a myth. Stop the lies, please.


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http://www.marilyn.ca/HealthFitness/segments/Daily/January2014/1_28_2014/MedicateDepression

the next segment of the same show

Medication Depression

 

"What is the most commonly prescribed medication?

The most commonly prescribed class of medication is known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This class of medication has been used for over 20 years without any significant long-term effects. A similar and newer class of medication known as serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors has been available for close to 10 years and are also commonly used without significant long-term effects.

How do these medications actually work?
They work by making your own natural supply of neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine, more available to you. Unfortunately, depression medications often require several weeks of treatment before experiencing improvement. If the first attempt with medication fails to achieve sufficient results, the dose may be increased or it may be switched for another medication.

What are the side effects?
These medications rarely cause side effects, and when they do, the side effects normally only last for the first few weeks. They may include nausea, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, drowsiness or difficulty sleeping. As these medications begin to work, and the depression begins to improve, it is not uncommon for some patient's to report a sense of fuzziness in the head or feeling that there emotions are being blunted. Stopping these medications too early will result in a much higher rate of depression relapse. If the medication is working, it’s important to remain on them for roughly 12 months, even though you can expect to be feeling better sooner.

Are any of these medications addiction forming?
These medications are not addictive, but it is recommended that they be tapered off slowly with your physician's input, in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Dr. Scott Gledhill
Senior Medical Consultant

www.medcan.com


For more information and how to get help, click here letstalk.bell.ca/en/get-help/"

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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Depression in Youth

Family therapist, Joe Rich, discusses the signs of depression in young adults and what you can do to help

 

Adult Depression

Family therapist, Joe Rich, talks about depression in adults from warning signs to support

 

Opening up about Mental Health

Dr. Scott Gledhill and family therapist, Joe Rich, answer viewers’ questions about the tender topic

 

All part of or somehow connected to this

http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/get-help/

Bell lets talk... 

 

 

got this from google

 

  •   Bell Let's Talk Day - Healthy Minds Canada
    healthymindscanada.ca/bell-lets-talk-day/
    •  
    •  
     
    109,451,718 tweets, texts, calls and shares raised an additional $5,472,585.90 for mental health: Thank you Canada for another record setting Bell Let's Talk ...

I knew there was a huge push on in Canada ... this is just some of it.. there are others. Guess we are not buying enough Ads yet 

 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, often called SSRIs, are a group of drugs commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety. These drugs are sold under brand names, such as Prozac, Paxil, Zolof, Celexa, Luvox and Effexor (which belongs to a related class of dual action SSRIs). Over 15 million prescriptions for SSRI antidepressants were written in Canada in 2003, and the number continues to grow. Two-thirds of these prescriptions were for women.

To be sure this is old 

 

 

According to this Canada's AD use is 3rd highest in the world... 

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/11/22/antidepressant-use-world-canada_n_4320429.html

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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http://www.marilyn.ca/HealthFitness/segments/Daily/January2014/1_28_2014/DiagnosingDiagnose

 

This is part of a show I watched on tv today... not sure when they taped it this decade for sure.. it felt like I was watching a show from long ago before anyone knew about wd ...

 

" It's worth emphasizing that a major depressive episode involves a chemical imbalance, much like diabetes." 

Yes it is in quotations because they actually said this ...........................???????

 

"What can you expect when you see your doctor?

When you make the appointment, let your doctor know that you wish to discuss depression and that you’ll require more time. Your physician will want to address a number of topics in screening for depression. They'll ask about your mood, or whether you have been feeling down or more tearful lately.

 

They may also address your sleeping patterns, eating patterns and whether you have noticed and weight changes. They'll ask about the activities you typically enjoy and will want to explore whether you have lost interest in them. Other questions may involve events in your life that could be influencing your mood or if there have been any significant losses.

 

Be prepared for questions about your concentration and memory or lack there of. They'll want to know if you have been experiencing feelings of guilt or worthlessness and if these feelings have ever caused you to consider hurting yourself, or suicide.

 

Dr. Scott Gledhill

Senior Medical Consultant

www.medcan.com"

 

The above is discussing what your first apt with your gp to discuss your mood will be like and no place does it say check for a biological cause such as thyroid B12 ... I can't recall the others but you get the idea. 

Wow, is all I can say.   No wonder so many people on the apnea boards have said they spent many years on psych meds before getting diagnosed with apnea.

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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I feel like we are locked away here on our own little island and we are the only ones who know this stuff how odd is that... creepy 

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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Just sent this email to the show.   Unfortunately, it needed some editing but hopefully, they still get the point.

 

This is regarding the below link in which I have some concerns about some inaccuracies:

 

http://www.marilyn.ca/HealthFitness/segments/Daily/January2014/1_28_2014/DiagnosingDiagnose

 

Dr. Scott Gledhill stated that "the prevailing sentiment amongst the medical community is that a reduction in various neurotransmitters within the brain, particularly serotonin, is most directly responsible for inducing and maintaining a state of severe depression. It's worth emphasizing that a major depressive episode involves a chemical imbalance, much like diabetes."

 

That is absolutely false and I find it very upsetting that a show like yours would allow that to stand without doing some fact checking.  Please see this link for what the real story is regarding the chemical imbalance theory:

 

http://www.madinamerica.com/2012/01/psychiatrys-grand-confession/

 

Additionally, you don't have to be a medical professional to know that comparing neurotransmitters that constantly fluctuate in the body and can't be measured unless you are dead is a ludicrous comparison to diabetes in which insulin can definitely be measured.    Again, simply fact checking from your staff would have discovered this.

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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Bravo to you I wonder if they will print you letter or in anyway respond... will be interesting to find out :)

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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Bravo to you I wonder if they will print you letter or in anyway respond... will be interesting to find out :)

Thanks!  My guess is it will be ignored but if I am wrong, you all will be the first to know. :)

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

SSRIs have been available for the last 10 years!!!!! It is downright irresponsible to show something that was obviously first made AT LEAST 10 years ago or more. It is akin to saying that women should stay in bed for a few days after childbirth..... dangerously outdated!

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Why and how does this happen... it bugged me enough that I started searching this is what we are up against... it is so hard to accept. result of my searching 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8040-how-ideas-that-are-not-true-become-facts-part-1-of-3/

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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It is like we don't exist and maybe we don't to the rest of the world as they are being fed information from 1989!!!  None of the knowledge has trickled down... or up or anywhere... the marketing machine marches forward sucking up more unsuspecting people each day it is now revved up to suck in many more Canadians that is what I am seeing here. 

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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There are so many things to tell them but I bet this one would be enough to stop most from playing with these drugs. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8045-love-romance-attachment-serotonin-enhancing-drugs/#entry123837

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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Just sent this email to the show.   Unfortunately, it needed some editing but hopefully, they still get the point.

 

This is regarding the below link in which I have some concerns about some inaccuracies:

 

http://www.marilyn.ca/HealthFitness/segments/Daily/January2014/1_28_2014/DiagnosingDiagnose

 

Dr. Scott Gledhill stated that "the prevailing sentiment amongst the medical community is that a reduction in various neurotransmitters within the brain, particularly serotonin, is most directly responsible for inducing and maintaining a state of severe depression. It's worth emphasizing that a major depressive episode involves a chemical imbalance, much like diabetes."

 

That is absolutely false and I find it very upsetting that a show like yours would allow that to stand without doing some fact checking.  Please see this link for what the real story is regarding the chemical imbalance theory:

 

http://www.madinamerica.com/2012/01/psychiatrys-grand-confession/

 

Additionally, you don't have to be a medical professional to know that comparing neurotransmitters that constantly fluctuate in the body and can't be measured unless you are dead is a ludicrous comparison to diabetes in which insulin can definitely be measured.    Again, simply fact checking from your staff would have discovered this.

I can't see how you sent them a message I can't figure out how to contact them??? any advice?

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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Here you go:

 

http://www.marilyn.ca/About/ContactUs

 

Look under the "general" heading and you'll see the right link.

 

Well, I received a response.  Not sure what she meant regarding the 2nd part and I am too tired to ask.   Well, at least I got a response even though it wasn't worth anything in my opinion.

 

""This is a blog post and is as open to interpretation as any other post you find on the internet. In general the medical community is not yet espousing this theory.""

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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It is like we don't exist and maybe we don't to the rest of the world as they are being fed information from 1989!!!  None of the knowledge has trickled down... or up or anywhere... the marketing machine marches forward sucking up more unsuspecting people each day it is now revved up to suck in many more Canadians that is what I am seeing here. 

 

I couldn't get the video to come up, you aren't saying the video was filmed then are you?

 

I am assuming you mean the info from the video is dated, not the video itself (ie it's a new video)?

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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Also y'all should read this post on MIA, something similar went on on a show in Britain, the usual chemical imbalance nonsense, and a number of people responded calling them out for it,  including medical professionals and other professionals in the field:

 

http://www.madinamerica.com/2014/04/open-letter-re-morning-feature-depression/

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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Just sent this email to the show.   Unfortunately, it needed some editing but hopefully, they still get the point.

 

This is regarding the below link in which I have some concerns about some inaccuracies:

 

http://www.marilyn.ca/HealthFitness/segments/Daily/January2014/1_28_2014/DiagnosingDiagnose

 

Dr. Scott Gledhill stated that "the prevailing sentiment amongst the medical community is that a reduction in various neurotransmitters within the brain, particularly serotonin, is most directly responsible for inducing and maintaining a state of severe depression. It's worth emphasizing that a major depressive episode involves a chemical imbalance, much like diabetes."

 

That is absolutely false and I find it very upsetting that a show like yours would allow that to stand without doing some fact checking.  Please see this link for what the real story is regarding the chemical imbalance theory:

 

http://www.madinamerica.com/2012/01/psychiatrys-grand-confession/

 

Additionally, you don't have to be a medical professional to know that comparing neurotransmitters that constantly fluctuate in the body and can't be measured unless you are dead is a ludicrous comparison to diabetes in which insulin can definitely be measured.    Again, simply fact checking from your staff would have discovered this.

I can't see how you sent them a message I can't figure out how to contact them??? any advice?

 

Thanks I got it... 

 

info@marilyn.ca

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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It is like we don't exist and maybe we don't to the rest of the world as they are being fed information from 1989!!!  None of the knowledge has trickled down... or up or anywhere... the marketing machine marches forward sucking up more unsuspecting people each day it is now revved up to suck in many more Canadians that is what I am seeing here. 

 

I couldn't get the video to come up, you aren't saying the video was filmed then are you?

 

I am assuming you mean the info from the video is dated, not the video itself (ie it's a new video)?

 

It was on last wk it is new and I checked the link again now I can't get the video to come up either.  

However under the video the doctor has written or it has his name on it at least some of the stuff he said on the show...

"

Discussing Depression

Dr. Scott Gledhill, discusses everything you need to know about depression from signs to it’s affects on the body.

 

What is depression?

 

It is common for all of us to experience fluctuations in our mood, energy levels and sense of optimism. It is also common to have an off day, or even several off days in a row. We may feel like ourselves or are not experiencing the appropriate zest for life. Most of the time we rebound on our own from such low points, and quickly begin feeling like ourselves again, and hopefully, just as frequently, we experience periods of increased excitability

 

Sometimes this doesn’t happen and occasionally our mood becomes further depressed. It may be caused by a death in the family, a financial crisis such as a loss of employment, or a relationship breakup, sometimes there is no trigger.

During these periods we lose interest in activities that previously brought us joy and stop looking forward to events in our future that would normally excite us. When these days string together into weeks and perhaps months, we have entered an early phase of depression or dysphoria. As symptoms progress, we can descend further into a state of depression.

 

This kind of low becomes classifiable as a major depressive episode when it begins to have a tangible impact on our ability to function. Tasks as simple as getting out of bed in the morning seem impossible. Sufferers may feel an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and futility that prevents us from engaging in regular activities. These thoughts and feelings begin to negatively impact our sleep, relationships, work, and many aspects of day-to-day life. Having developed rapport with your physician will help to make it easier for them to identify the presence of depression  

 

How does depression physically affect the body?

 

When an individual is suffering from a major depressive episode, we know that there are physiologic changes that occur throughout the body, particularly within the brain. Gastrointestinal systems become dysfunctional, immune systems can become suppressed, and multiple hormone levels are altered.

 

The prevailing sentiment amongst the medical community is that a reduction in various neurotransmitters within the brain, particularly serotonin, is most directly responsible for inducing and maintaining a state of severe depression. It's worth emphasizing that a major depressive episode involves a chemical imbalance, much like diabetes.

 

What can you expect when you see your doctor?

 

When you make the appointment, let your doctor know that you wish to discuss depression and that you’ll require more time. Your physician will want to address a number of topics in screening for depression. They'll ask about your mood, or whether you have been feeling down or more tearful lately.

 

They may also address your sleeping patterns, eating patterns and whether you have noticed and weight changes. They'll ask about the activities you typically enjoy and will want to explore whether you have lost interest in them. Other questions may involve events in your life that could be influencing your mood or if there have been any significant losses.

 

Be prepared for questions about your concentration and memory or lack there of. They'll want to know if you have been experiencing feelings of guilt or worthlessness and if these feelings have ever caused you to consider hurting yourself, or suicide.

 

Dr. Scott Gledhill

Senior Medical Consultant

www.medcan.com"

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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http://www.marilyn.ca/HealthFitness/segments/Daily/January2014/1_28_2014/MedicateDepression

the next segment of the same show

Medication Depression

 

"What is the most commonly prescribed medication?

The most commonly prescribed class of medication is known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This class of medication has been used for over 20 years without any significant long-term effects. A similar and newer class of medication known as serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors has been available for close to 10 years and are also commonly used without significant long-term effects.

 

How do these medications actually work?

They work by making your own natural supply of neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine, more available to you. Unfortunately, depression medications often require several weeks of treatment before experiencing improvement. If the first attempt with medication fails to achieve sufficient results, the dose may be increased or it may be switched for another medication.

 

What are the side effects?

These medications rarely cause side effects, and when they do, the side effects normally only last for the first few weeks. They may include nausea, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, drowsiness or difficulty sleeping. As these medications begin to work, and the depression begins to improve, it is not uncommon for some patient's to report a sense of fuzziness in the head or feeling that there emotions are being blunted. Stopping these medications too early will result in a much higher rate of depression relapse. If the medication is working, it’s important to remain on them for roughly 12 months, even though you can expect to be feeling better sooner.

 

Are any of these medications addiction forming?

These medications are not addictive, but it is recommended that they be tapered off slowly with your physician's input, in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

 

Dr. Scott Gledhill

Senior Medical Consultant

www.medcan.com

 

For more information and how to get help, click here letstalk.bell.ca/en/get-help/"

This is part of the right up he put under another talk segment ... 

notice there is mention of tapering off slowly by how your doc says ... guess they covered that part how would he know doctors are clueless about tapering... and 

they are not addictive lol... they just are gee can't think of the word... but there is a pretty word for it... but 

 

" they be tapered off slowly with your physician's input, in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms"

 

so now they have withdrawal symptoms no mention of what those symptoms might be... 

 

Side effects do not include mania... just this

"

These medications rarely cause side effects, and when they do, the side effects normally only last for the first few weeks. They may include nausea, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, drowsiness or difficulty sleeping"

 

It was an hour long show . a lot was said. 

 

I see pharma is taking the bare minimum of what will cover their asses and forging ahead with the same old spiel ... and why not nobody makes them do anything else... pay the fine hire some more sales reps and get back on the horse... really nobody fell off the horse but us. 

business as usual....

 

Proven that it works I guess so they just keep going. The show played in Sat all the folks who watched it think everything is cool in the psych world and will go knock on the docs door cause they are sad.. tired or fed up of rush hour we will see some here some day in the future I don't think they print any letters I don't see a place for it.

 

peace all... 

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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Habit-forming maybe is the word you want?

 

Yeah, not addictive, big lol to that...

 

I'm surprised he even said withdrawal, after all isn't the industry buzz word "discontinuation"? 

 

And ah, yeah, that "side" effect list...it's like they chopped the first few lines off the true list, which runs for pages.  I can't believe they didn't even mention the sexual  "side" effects, it seems everyone I meet in my daily life now knows the drugs cause them. 

 

And I wonder if serotonin toxicity disappears in a few weeks if you stay on the drug?  lol

 

Forgive my dark humor if I don't laugh I'll just be spending another night in a puddle of my own tears.

I am not a medical professional and nothing I say is a medical opinion or meant to be medical advice, please seek a competent and trusted medical professional to consult for all medical decisions.

 

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I hear you and humor dark or otherwise is a welcomed thing to me... 

 

Seems the machine is moving forward just like it always did like I said before there is a big push on it here in Canada.  

 

I don't think the general population are getting it at all... and it is not wonder with the lies told being the same as always pretty much. I am sure I am going to see a lot more of it before it is done......:( 

I may go back to keeping the tv off we will see.

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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  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Three very short videos from CEPUK here:

 

http://cepuk.org/unrecognised-facts/myth-of-the-chemical-imbalance/

 

The whole website is quite good.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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  • 2 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

From an article by Chris Kresser:

 

The idea that depression and other mental health conditions are caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain is so deeply ingrained in our psyche that it seems almost sacrilegious to question it.

 

In fact, the idea that low levels of serotonin cause depression has become so widespread that it’s not uncommon to hear people speak of the need to “boost their serotonin levels” through exercise, herbal supplements or even sexual activity. The “chemical imbalance” theory is so well established that it is now part of the popular lexicon.

 

However, there is one (rather large) problem with this theory: there is absolutely no evidence to support it. Recent reviews of the research have demonstrated no link between depression, or any other mental disorder, and an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

 

Folks, at this point you might want to grab a cup of tea. It’s going to take a while to explain the history of this theory, why it is flawed, and how it continues to persist in light of the complete lack of evidence to support it. I will try to be as concise as possible, but there’s a lot of material to cover and a lot of propaganda I need to disabuse you of.

Ready? Let’s start with a bit of history.

 

The first antidepressant, iproniazid, was discovered by accident in 1952 after it was observed that some tubercular patients became euphoric when treated with this drug.....

 

The 'chemical imbalance' myth by Chris Kresser

 

 

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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  • Administrator

Good on Chris Kresser!

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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  • 2 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

From: Depression Delusion: an introduction by the author, Terry Lynch, MD

 

...Global mental health, with psychiatry as its lead, is way off track. Steeped in its own biases and priorities, psychiatry and the drug industry has successfully convinced the public that psychiatric diagnoses are primarily biological. Although the biology of psychiatric diagnoses has been researched intensely for well over 50 years, nothing definite has shown up. The idea that psychiatric diagnoses are fundamentally biological has become accepted as truth, as established fact. Yet there is not a shred of reliable scientific evidence to verify this belief, upon which the entire global system of mental health understanding and treatment—in “developed” countries, at least—is based. There are of course some physical elements to all experiences.

 

The psychiatry-led approach to mental health is fundamentally faith-based rather than evidence-based, since there is no actual evidence to support the fundamental conviction of this system—that biology is the core and most important consideration in mental health. Just as there is no evidence on a global scale to support the biologically dominated psychiatric model of mental health, doctors have no way of confirming any biological abnormalities in their consultations with individual people.

 

As a group, psychiatrists and GPs have a grossly inadequate training in and therefore understanding of human emotionality and psychology. Consequently, their evaluation of people’s experiences is seriously compromised. Their perceived and self-promoted level of understanding and expertise greatly exceeds their actual level of understanding and expertise.

 

Psychiatry’s position as the top source of expertise in global mental health is based on their perceived and self-promoted level of understanding and expertise. If based on their actual level of expertise, psychiatry would not at all merit this dominant position.

 

Their evaluations are further distorted because of their biases, to which most are blind. In particular, their bias toward biology—primarily biological “problems” requiring primarily biological solutions. It is out of this biological bias that the “brain chemical imbalance” arose. It fitted with the medical preference for biology, and benefitted the medical profession enormously. It sounded impressive and persuasive. But it was—and is—false.

 

The medical profession has played a very major part in creating and maintaining widespread false beliefs about depression and brain chemical imbalances within the public mind.

 

One of the ironies in mental health globally is the dominance of a psychiatric system that has no scientific underpinnings to its core beliefs, yet other features that are virtually always present are routinely missed or undervalued with this system. This regrettable paradox occurs because  doctors are not adequately trained to identify these features, proper recognition of these features would inevitably result in public questioning of the psychiatric model, so doctors don’t want to go there.

 

There features are (1) trauma/woundedness; (2) distress in its many forms, caused by trauma/woundedness; (3) defense mechanisms and coping strategies that we humans may put in place to minimize further wounding and distress, and to reduce our contact with woundedness and distress already experiences from which we have disconnected; (4) our patterns of choice-making, which are often greatly influenced by the previous 3 features. None of these issues are fundamentally biological.

 

Trauma/woundedness, distress and defense mechanisms are at the heart of mental health problems. I don’t believe biologically biased psychiatry can or will ever acknowledge this reality. Therefore, the current system is incapable of being what it should be, what the public assume it to be—an independent unbiased system whose only priority is to provide the best service possible for the people they serve. This is a very serious matter. Society’s focus on mental health is just plain wrong...

 

...Antidepressants do not work by correcting brain chemical imbalances. Such claims should never have been made by the medical profession, since the so-called “imbalances” have never even been demonstrated to exist. Any doctor who tells a depressed patient that they have a chemical imbalance, and that antidepressants will correct this imbalance, is misleading their patient, whether intentionally or not. Misinforming people in such a fundamental way about the nature of depression and the mode of action of medication raises major issues about informed consent to treatment...

 

Read more here:  http://beyondmeds.com/2015/08/31/depression-delusion-intro/

 

 

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

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Yes major issues about consent to treatment, indeed..

 

Argh!

2000 - sertraline for job anxiety low confidence (17 years old) ..which turned the next 16 years into nightmare!

 

On/off sertraline severe withdrawals every time. 2014 - felt better as reduced dose of sertraline no more inner restlessness. Doctor rushed off again. Hit severe withdrawal. Lost the little I had in life. Couldn't get stable again on 12.5mg. Was switched to prozac. Had severe reaction to prozac..came off in November 2015 at 6mg as felt more confused and damaged on it..Even more withdrawal ..rage, depression, dyphoria, near constant suicidal ideation, self harm impulses, doom, concrete block in head, unable to do much of anything with this feeling in head..went back on 6mg of sertraline to see if would alleviate anything. It didn't..reduced from December to June 2016 came off at 2.5mg sertraline as was hospitalised for the severe rage, suicidal impulses, and put on 50mg lofepramine which in 2nd week reduced all symptoms but gave insomnia which still have..psych stopped lofepramine cold turkey..no increased withdrawal symptoms new symptoms from lofepramine except persistant insomnia which has as side effect.

 

Taking Ativan for 8 months for the severe rage self harm impulses 1-3 times a week (mostly 2 times a week) at .5mg. Two months (I'm unsure exactly when the interdose started to happen) ago interdose withdrawal seemed to happen..2 days I think after the Ativan.

 

 

Nightmare that could have been avoided!

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I think it's important to present not just studies that disprove the chemical imbalance theory, but also studies that support it. ..

 

I disagree very strongly. See What will get you warned or banned http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1598-what-will-get-you-warned-or-banned/

 

There really is no need to iterate the "chemical imbalance" controversy on this site. The entire Internet is filled with propaganda from this 40-year  research fad. I don't want this site to be filled with it.

 

As I said before, if you want to find "evidence" supporting "chemical imbalance," there's plenty of it out there, Lilu. You can browse through it to your heart's content, but don't bring it back here. I don't want to spend one more minute of my time countering that stuff. There are plenty of books that do that well: The Emperor's New Drugs, Your Drug May Be Your Problem, Anatomy of an Epidemic, Bad Pharma, Pharmageddon,

 

Lilu, you do not have to justify a decision to continue psychiatric drug treatment on this site. You can continue to believe you have a diseased brain if you wish. If you think that's best for you, it's your decision.

 

But -- this is a site to support people going off drugs. That's why they come here. Please do not argue that others need to stay on drugs.

 

 

If you're going to present evidence and clinical studies, such as the ones cited on the link above, don't you think it would be fair to also let people know that there are studies that show the complete opposite?  I mean, I believed that author when he talked of studies that tried to induce depression by lowering tryptophan in people, but then when I did a search on Pubmed, I find evidence of the exact opposite.  

 

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/178/5/399.long

Conclusions The findings that tryptophan depletion produces a relapse of symptoms in patients with depression and panic disorder who have responded to treatment with antidepressants suggests that enhanced 5-HT function is important in maintaining response in these conditions.

 

So what am I supposed to think?  If I am to trust the information on this website as "the real truth", I would like to know that it presents all the evidence, not just evidence that supports it's agenda.

 

Don't you think that would be most helpful for people trying to decide whether or not getting off antidepressants is right for them?  Or trying to find out what is the real cause of their mental illness?

 

 

This is a valid argument for a discussion of a legitimate scientific problem.  Unfortunately the chemical imbalance theory is equivalent to the theory that the world is flat.  Including it in any arguement is like inviting a three ringed circous into a scientific meeting and giving them equal attention to the presentations being offered.

 

ALL the papers presented to support the chemical imbalance theory are supported by Big Pharma.

 

Big pharma is run by very intelligent and capable administrative individuals who have made it their life's goal to sabatoge legitimate scientific inquiry for as long as they have had any say over psyciatric treatments.  The administrators in these organizatiosn are highly intelligent and capable people, those with MD's PhD's, MBA's, JD's from top institutions worlwide.  They decided to work for the dark side.  The peer review process and academia are NOT foolproof.  If you can get enough PhDs, MDs, and JD's in your pocketbook, you can begin to influence the nature of articles that are being published - and if you use that influence to gain more and more footholds, within a decade you can have unprecedented control over the information that is being sent to the world, press conferences, media, etc.  There's no doubt in my mind that these highly intelligent, and highly corrupted individuals planned this out very well back in the 1970's and 1980's, and they have profited enormously by rigging one of the more difficult systems in the world to rig:  academia, and the peer review process.  Today, the entire system is so utterly under their control, that one cannot step foot into a university without being bombarded by their propaganda and lies - all based on "peer reviewed literature".

 

I would recommend reading the book called Pharmageddon by David Healy, a University of California Press publication.  It's not an easy read, but it delinieates just how incredibly influencial and successful their sabotage tactics and manipulation/propaganda tactics have been.  They have literally rigged the entire peer-review process, deligitimizing much of clinical research over the past 50 years, and throwing into question the validity of many research articles. 

 

One cannot turn to the peer reviewed literature to offer a counter argument because it's rigged and full of manipulation, lies, and corruption.

 

It's truly breathtaking how well the pharmaceutical companies have managed to manipulate academia and research.  It's no wonder that many doctors and academics have no idea that these drugs are harmful, because when they go to google scholar and read peer reviewed journals, they are bombareded with ghostwritten articles, in which the parent company refuses to release the raw data - and therefore has complete control over the information being given to the public.

 

This single website, SA is one of the only bastions of truth out there on the internet and in the public in general.  If SA dies, so does a great deal of truth regarding the dangers posed by psychiatric medication.  The only other one I can think of with any sway and influence is CEP:   http://cepuk.org/

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Discuss to your heart's content on other Internet sites, not this one.

Edited by Altostrata
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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

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I had this fun convo with my mom's friend yesterday. She told me I probably need to go back on the meds cause I may have a chemical imbalance. People have been brainwashed

Was on 30mg (Lexapro) for 7-8yrs20mg for 3 months (This was my choice my Doc wanted me to drop much faster)15 mg 2week10mg 2 weeks 5 mg 1 week0 since August 24th . PPI Dexlant  30 mg taper has begun. Cutting 20% currently.  using zantac as needed.  Benzo is currently 0.10mg 

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Forget even about the chemical balance myth. Look at what doctors and the average dieticians tell us to eat. People like Chris Kresser seem to know but the majority don't. 80% of the population are absolutely clueless and I was one of them until this whole nightmare began

Was on 30mg (Lexapro) for 7-8yrs20mg for 3 months (This was my choice my Doc wanted me to drop much faster)15 mg 2week10mg 2 weeks 5 mg 1 week0 since August 24th . PPI Dexlant  30 mg taper has begun. Cutting 20% currently.  using zantac as needed.  Benzo is currently 0.10mg 

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Marmite you are exactly right. Its this reason that I feel I have to avoid people . It gets me too angry to get into arguments with family ,friends etc... . I spend more time now around the people who understand my situation. Its unfortunate and I dont blame everyone for thinking the way they do.But Its like you said everybody is reading from the same book and therefore has the wrong information.

Was on 30mg (Lexapro) for 7-8yrs20mg for 3 months (This was my choice my Doc wanted me to drop much faster)15 mg 2week10mg 2 weeks 5 mg 1 week0 since August 24th . PPI Dexlant  30 mg taper has begun. Cutting 20% currently.  using zantac as needed.  Benzo is currently 0.10mg 

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  • 1 month later...

I think that we need to remember that in the wider world our beliefs about the myth of chemical imbalance are in the minority.

 

I remember my GP saying to me, "so many people cannot be wrong about what is happening to you"

 

My response was, "they can if they're all reading from the same book and the information it contains is incorrect....." and that's the essence of it really. Most people don't scratch the surface or look any further than the first few answers that they google or the facts as seen by their peers. The chemical imbalance theory has been ingrained, re-inforced and disseminated to all and sundry including professionals.

 

Trying to make inroads into that tide of misinformation feels like trying to hold back a tsunami at times.

I guess your GP is ignorant about history in which so many people were wrong about a situation.   Or maybe he isn't and is just feeding you cr-p he knows is BS.

 

Anyway, gotta see my PCP today and If I get asked that S question as part of their routine screening, I would love to tell them what they could do with that question.   But I can't obviously.

Drug cocktail 1995 - 2010
Started taper of Adderall, Wellbutrin XL, Remeron, and Doxepin in 2006
Finished taper on June 10, 2010

Temazepam on a PRN basis approximately twice a month - 2014 to 2016

Beginning in 2017 - Consumption increased to about two times per week

April 2017 - Increased to taking it full time for insomnia

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Our "beliefs" about "chemical imbalance" are not in the minority. It is a fact the "chemical imbalance" theory is bogus.

 

Can we have a "balanced argument" about this? No, we cannot, any more than we can have a "balanced argument" about whether the earth is flat or global climate change is real. There is no controversy.

 

Vast numbers of people have been misinformed, as they have about so many things. If they don't question what they're told, they are intellectually limited.

 

Among doctors, belief in "chemical imbalance" is a real disgrace.

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

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Maybe the controversy will be examined by time and massive experimental trails. You did raise an informative opinion. I appreciate that. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_imbalance

 

The "chemical imbalance" theory has been thoroughly studied and disproved, going back to the 1970s. Somebody needs to update Wikipedia.

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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  • 2 weeks later...

If anything antidepressants and other high powered meds cause a chemical imbalance 

Was on 30mg (Lexapro) for 7-8yrs20mg for 3 months (This was my choice my Doc wanted me to drop much faster)15 mg 2week10mg 2 weeks 5 mg 1 week0 since August 24th . PPI Dexlant  30 mg taper has begun. Cutting 20% currently.  using zantac as needed.  Benzo is currently 0.10mg 

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:)

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16 medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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  • 3 months later...

ok, my question is this. We all at one point ended up in a psychiatrists office looking for relief. I know these drugs are dangerous, but doesnt how I ended up on them in the first place pose a question? So, you go through a withdrawal, but what about the problem I had that landed me on meds in the first place?

 

Antidepressant use does not always start in shrinks office to treat depression often the drugs are given for a pain and that is how I got railroaded into this messed up existence.  I was given prozac for pain and was told by the prescriber it was a new form of anti inflammatory.  I had taken anti inflammatory type drugs before and they never affected my mind.  One wk of prozac use had me in emerg suicidal too afraid to tell them of the hallucinations it caused.  

 

This was over 30 years ago and today these type drug are listed to treat many things off label as well as many things on label that have nothing to do with mental health.  I think the use of these drugs for pain was one of the wake up calls because they made so many people crazy.  Prozac is the most complained about drug in the history of drugs. 

 

When I was asked at emerg if i was taking any new drugs I told them an anti inflammatory the name I could not recall it was completely discounted... what did I get...more drugs that is what ... 20 years worth of antidepressants reactions wd ect I had no idea a drug could make a person crazy not a legal drug at least... I learned everything the hard way.  

 

So chemical imbalance from my research the term was make up by a marketing firm that serviced pharma and in a wink of an eye it caught on and scientists and shrinks all over the world were spewing nonsense with the general population eating it up... including the media.  

 

Prozac made the cover of Time!! 

 

Pharma's marketing for these drugs has always been fantastic too bad the drugs were not as good as they say... too bad they cause a chemical imbalance in the drug takers brain's... it is all really too bad a tragedy.  One day years from now history will document it as exactly that a global tragedy. 

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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