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


cinephile

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I'll never forget when Prozac came out and watching The Phil Donahue Show, proclaiming the new breakthrough in antidepressants,with NO SIDE EFFECTS!what a bunch of BS...if it sounds too good to be true....

went on Prozac 1994-99,60mg.poopout ct  back on 2001-2002,prozac weekly 2002,not working,Effexor 75 mg.?2003-mar.2004 gaining weight 8wk. taper,wellbutrin 150 mg.mar. -may 2004 ctmedfree til july 2005 back to Prozac gaining weight again,back on wellbutrin jan.2006150-300 mg.bad constipation.also was taking aygestin(hormone)perimenopausal irregular bleeding.back on Prozac around sept,?2006,hysterectomy jan30.2007(adenomyosis)off&on Prozac til 2009,citalopram about 1 mo, April 2010 no effect,Effexor again may -mar, 2011.ct,Prozac aug,-dec, 2011 &sept-nov 2012,paroxetine oct,23 2013-may 4 2014 20 mgs.tapered 6 wks.-failed RI in Oct.2014-in protracted WD.started 10 mgs. Fluoxetine May 25 2021 .Stopped fluoxetine May 2022 at 5 mgs.

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  • 5 months later...

Psychiatric conditions that may be immune-system disorders in disguise!

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/07/when-the-body-attacks-the-mind/485564/

 

This is a very interesting read! What they have found is a link between autoimmune issues and depression like symptoms.

Diagnosed with MDD April 2016.

I started Brintellix (vortioxetine) 10mg every morning on the 22 April 2016.

Cold turkey Brintellix mid may 2016.

Occasional zolpidem 5mg or diazepam 5mg for sleeping issues.

Chronic misuse of comma's and full stops. :P  

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  • 3 months later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Blindly not trusting your doctor is no better than blindly trusting your doctor. Inform yourself.

 

To learn more about why the chemical imbalance theory was never credible, get your hands on Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker, an investigative journalist. You could also search for videos of his talks on youtube, or check the website madinamerica.com

 

Browse our Journals and scientific papers forum to find the work that has been done. link to Journals and scientific papers

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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  • 6 months later...

If someone starts waving their impressive credentials at you and preaching the chemical imbalance, biopsychiatry, brain scan gospel - what are the best articles and/or studies to direct them to?  

When I mention that chemical imbalance is a myth and send them to madinamerica.com or davidhealy.com, they say, oh that's not a reputable medical site, and I get attacked for spreading pseudoscience and promoting stigma against mental illness.  I am trying to enlighten people about the truth, but I'm the one who gets crucified in the process.

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Lilu,

 

One of the most distinguished among the "conventional" psychiatric world has acknowledged it here:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1190-ronald-pies-says-doctors-tell-patients-the-chemical-imbalance-lie-as-a-favor/

 

Alto posted this to you -- did you read it?

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Lilu,

 

You can do some research of your own. Libraries and web search will be a great help to you:

 

In Whitaker's book, Anatomy of an Epidemic he discusses the original flawed and extremely limited study up on which the hypothesis is based. There may also be references to later studies and articles discrediting it.

 

Healy's website will have links to his published articles.

 

It's possible that the Mad In America website has the entire discussion with links to articles and studies published in reputable peer-reviewed journals.

 

Just doing a search on "site:madinamerica.com "serotonin hypothesis" I found a link to this abstract of an article by David Healy published in The BMJ, formerly known as The British Medical Journal.

http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1771

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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If someone starts waving their impressive credentials at you and preaching the chemical imbalance, biopsychiatry, brain scan gospel - what are the best articles and/or studies to direct them to?  

When I mention that chemical imbalance is a myth and send them to madinamerica.com or davidhealy.com, they say, oh that's not a reputable medical site, and I get attacked for spreading pseudoscience and promoting stigma against mental illness.  I am trying to enlighten people about the truth, but I'm the one who gets crucified in the process.

 

If someone has "credentials" they believe they know more than you. I would just not bother trying to persuade them.  It will be virtually impossible to do so. The only time they might change their minds is if they have personal experience or someone they love or are close to does. Then, if they find what they think are "cures" are not helping, then they will look for other options/explanations.  Otherwise it won't happen. 

200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021;  Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg
Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg

-------
Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. 
Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18;  May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg

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totally agree madeleine ,it gets to a point at witch why are we constantly wanting ignorant people to understand what we are going through.stop seeking validation in these people I reckon

Alcohol free since February 2015 

1MG diazepam

4.5MG PROZAC.

 

 

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I agree with Madeleine and Powerback.

 

Trying to convince people who are set in their ways/thinking can be like talking to a wall.  And it can end up being very stressful and that type of stress is not helpful.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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If someone starts waving their impressive credentials at you and preaching the chemical imbalance, biopsychiatry, brain scan gospel - what are the best articles and/or studies to direct them to?  

When I mention that chemical imbalance is a myth and send them to madinamerica.com or davidhealy.com, they say, oh that's not a reputable medical site, and I get attacked for spreading pseudoscience and promoting stigma against mental illness.  I am trying to enlighten people about the truth, but I'm the one who gets crucified in the process.

 

How do you  ignore comments such as these and not try to prove this person wrong?

 

Viktoria Dolgorukava the chemical reason for depression is that some people don't produce enough seratonin or don't absorb it correctly. there is a very clear chemical reason for this. so in essense people who are on anti depressents already have faulty wiring, this is why the depression medications help. If you are talking about the need for increased dosage overtime there has been o studies that i am aware of htat have shown this. on the contrary people who stay on anti depressents seem to have no long term affect on the brain as has been demonstrated by multiple brain scans.
 
Viktoria Dolgorukava my father is a leading researcher in teh field of depression and since I was 12 years old i have attended medical lectures, including in the fellowship program he used runs at nyu. I also have a very high functioning IQ and the combination of the two make my knowledge of this more than a normal layperson's knowledge. and yet, i can tell you, i know very little. this is just one person's opinion which is irrelevant when it comes to the area of big science. but having attended hundreds of meetings by researchers, even those paid by big pharma i can guarantee you they are not looking to screw people over so they can make more. most doctors whoever is paying them, especially very highly qualified doctors are more interested in making real scientific progress than in getting paid. if they could come up with a therapy that didn't involve drugs but produced the same effects, so they can publish and be famous, they would.

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Easy.

 

You realize that Viktoria is a pretentious windbag who deserves to remain in the dark with her equally ignorant father.

 

Why do you feel the need to correct her misimpressions that clearly won't be correctable?

 

Life is too short -- ignore her pomposity and move on.  There's nothing to see there.

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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  • Administrator

Lilu,

 

One of the most distinguished among the "conventional" psychiatric world has acknowledged it here:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1190-ronald-pies-says-doctors-tell-patients-the-chemical-imbalance-lie-as-a-favor/

 

Alto posted this to you -- did you read it?

 

Best,

 

Andy

 

Lilu, you can't convince everyone. Doctors are notoriously wooden-headed. If you become frustrated, move on to physicians with whom you can talk.

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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Easy.

 

You realize that Viktoria is a pretentious windbag who deserves to remain in the dark with her equally ignorant father.

 

Why do you feel the need to correct her misimpressions that clearly won't be correctable?

 

Life is too short -- ignore her pomposity and move on.  There's nothing to see there.

 

Best,

 

Andy

That's funny. Pompous windbag. Haha.

 

I don't know, why I'm so hell-bent on proving the truth to people.  The truth shall set you free, right?

 

She just really got to me. The way she assumed that I was nothing, and knew nothing and she was so superior. Ugh.  Sometimes when people come at me with such a condescending cocky attitude and throw out "facts" that I know too well to be complete nonsense, I just get enraged!  Something comes over me and I just want to squash their smug ignorance.  

 

I don't know, it's like a trigger or something. It actually reminds me of the uncontrollable temper tantrums that I had a few times while deep in withdrawal.  With enough stress and usually conflict with someone, I would erupt like a volcano. I'd bang on the table, yell, and then cry. It was pure survival mode. Like a cornered and provoked cat who lashes out with teeth and claws.  Is it possible that what I'm experiencing now is some kind of remnant from my withdrawal?

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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I agree with Madeleine and Powerback.

 

Trying to convince people who are set in their ways/thinking can be like talking to a wall.  And it can end up being very stressful and that type of stress is not helpful.

Yes, it was very stressful and triggering. It ruined my mood and my sleep for a few days.

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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Is it possible that what I'm experiencing now is some kind of remnant from my withdrawal?

 

Yes. Very common for people to have things they lock onto and can't release in withdrawal. I have several such things that did not exist before or if they did they were very small things. Not to the extent they exist now. It's kind of an OCD thing.

Work on acceptance and letting it go.

Best,

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

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Is it possible that what I'm experiencing now is some kind of remnant from my withdrawal?

 

Yes. Very common for people to have things they lock onto and can't release in withdrawal. I have several such things that did not exist before or if they did they were very small things. Not to the extent they exist now. It's kind of an OCD thing.

 

Work on acceptance and letting it go.

 

Best,

 

Andy

 

But I went back on medication 2 years ago. So technically, I haven't been in withdrawal for a while.  But it's like I just can't get back to how I was before withdrawal. I do have an OCD thing going on where after interacting with people, my conversations with them, loop over and over in my mind for a couple of days afterwards, depending on the intensity of interaction and topic. I first noticed this tendency while I was tapering my medication and in withdrawal, but it seems to still be happening.  

 

I guess the damage that withdrawal does to our nervous systems, even going back on medication can't fix. We expect way too much from medication.  My dad still says, "But you're taking an antidepressant, how can you still be depressed?!!!"

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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... I went back on medication 2 years ago. So technically, I haven't been in withdrawal for a while.  But it's like I just can't get back to how I was before withdrawal. I do have an OCD thing going on where after interacting with people, my conversations with them, loop over and over in my mind for a couple of days afterwards, depending on the intensity of interaction and topic. I first noticed this tendency while I was tapering my medication and in withdrawal, but it seems to still be happening.  

 

I guess the damage that withdrawal does to our nervous systems, even going back on medication can't fix. We expect way too much from medication.  My dad still says, "But you're taking an antidepressant, how can you still be depressed?!!!"

 

hi lilu u are not alone I have these thoughts also after interacting with people ,I'm becoming better at controlling and allowing what winds me up ,its very interesting were it stems from ,we have to be aware and more guarded how we let people get into our heads and if that means staying away from certain people and conversations so be it .

 

are we feeding some internal anger in our subconscious by always engaging in behaviour that winds us up and hurts us .there could be something going on with the ego and how it is damaged and hurt by the pain of withdrawl and what it does to us ,Eckhart tolle has some amazing insights into the ego .

 

I avoid most conversations at certain times and it really works ,I don't believe I'm being weak and not participating in life ,I'm really not well and I have to do these things to protect myself .there is some things that I really believe I'm correct about in my circle ,but what ever it is about humans is no likes to be wrong ,however silly .

Take care

PB

Alcohol free since February 2015 

1MG diazepam

4.5MG PROZAC.

 

 

 

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Yes, PB, I think you're right about the subconscious forces driving us.  I think for me it always goes back to growing up in a chaotic environment due to emotional abuse from my rageaholic dad.  After reading the book "women who love too much" I learned that women like me continue to create conflict and drama in their lives, because the adrenaline from makes them feel alive, and is the only thing that keeps them from sinking into a depression.  

 

But yes, maybe wanting to be right is so strong due to a very fragile ego that stems from life-long low self-esteem issues.

2005-2008: Effexor; 1/2008 Tapered 3 months, then quit. 7/2008-2009 Reinstated Effexor (crying spells at start of new job.)
2009-3/2013: Switched to Pristiq 50 mg then 100 mg
3/2013: Switched to Lexapro 10mg. Cut down to 5 mg. CT for 2 weeks then reinstated for 6 weeks
8/2013-8/2014: Tapering Lexapro (Lots of withdrawal symptoms)
11/2014 -8/2015: Developed severe insomnia and uncontrollable daily crying spells
12/2014-6/2015: Tried Ambien, Klonopin, Ativan, Lunesta, Sonata, Trazadone, Seroquel, Rameron, Gabapentin - Developed Anxiety disorder, PTSD, and Psychogenic Myoclonus
7/2015-1/2016: Reinstated Lexapro 2 mg (mild improvement, but crying spells still present)

1/2016-5/2017: Lexapro 5 mg ( helped a lot, but poor stress tolerance & depressive episodes)

5/20/2017 - Raised dose to Lexapro 10 mg due to lingering depression(Total of 2 failed tapers & severe PAWS)

9/11/2018 - Present: Still on 10 mg Lexapro and mostly recovered.(Anxiety still triggers Myoclonus.)

10/7/2022 - 20 mg Lexapro (brand only) Plus occasional Klonopin for anxiety and Ambien for insomnia.

 

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sadly we cant control what we are born into ,but we can learn about our behaviour and were it stems from ,that's why the chemical imbalance theory  is rubbish and when i finally stopped listening to it i started to learn ,and i love researching my past and everything about my behaviour when i was a child until now .

 

at the beginning i  resented my father for not being the Alfa male role model i think i deserved but i realised with all my research that he had he's own  struggles and he did he's best with what he had .Eckhart tolle and gabor mate really helped me understand ,i really recommend listening to them .gabor is a genius  at describing the family environment and dynamic . 

 

it took me a while to admit to myself that i grew up with terrible low self-esteem and when i was 15 years of age alcohol filled that void for a long time and gave me the illusion of confidence ,I've got countless memories of set backs and not being allowed participate in activities for what ever reasons as a kid that really affected me ,i only allowed myself  to delve into these painful memories when i did the research on the ego and everything else that comes with it .

 

we really need to learn serious compassion for ourselves i reckon and i welcome that for all of us

PB

Alcohol free since February 2015 

1MG diazepam

4.5MG PROZAC.

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Finally, the article I've been waiting for:

 

What to say to your friends who love their "meds:"

 

https://www.madinamerica.com/2017/06/aggregrate-vs-anecdote-med-lovers/

 

Effectively - if you are doing well on your meds - you are an outlier, not in the aggregate.

 

You may not be doing well and not even know it due to withdrawal vs. relapse, and may find you are taking the drugs just to prevent withdrawal.

Point #5 is worth quoting in full:

 

Quote

5. “Well, you should support my CHOICES.”

Then there is this other misunderstanding of aggregate. People who say, “You are pro-choice for mental health, so you should support my choice to use psych drugs.”

 

My response: Well, it’s hard to support an uninformed choice that has been made on false assumptions. IF:

  1. The drugs don’t beat placebo (see Irving Kirsh’s info on this),
  2. And the drugs hurt more people than they help (you can compare NNH to NNT for most drugs, this is the best way to communicate tradeoffs),
  3. And the drugs expose people to serious risks of agitation-induced suicide and violence and horrible withdrawal syndromes,
  4. And the disease labels connected to the drugs increase stigma and make people lose hope,

And you are not told this BEFORE you choose drugs and labels, then how valid was your ability to make that choice? We support people whose choices disagree with ours, but we do try to help people figure out where those choices may have been misinformed.

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

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Thanks for posting JC

Had to laugh when i read this as it is exactly what happens in these public debates we have seen when the performing pro  drug seals get wheeled out

 

And you say, “We should have more people with lived experience at the table,” and they say “Oh, we do.”

Meaning: “We are going to count the long term admin people who now feel safe enough to come out with their recovery story.” Meaning this admin person is a novice advocate who has not been an advocate before and has not interacted with the advocate community and does not know the perspectives and viewpoints of the advocates.

Or: “We are going to grab some random patients off the clinic floor and say that they are the voice of the ‘consumer.'”

......

Look at the scatterplot ..(couldnt paste image)

 

See that cluster around what appears to be some regression line of best fit in which it is labelled 'average responders little benefit or harm'.

Well i would like to push back against that and say you could well be looking at those deeply harmed and trapped spell bound and addicted, caught in the revolving door of psych drugs. These are the 70%of people on psych drugs who dont even have psych issues but what they have is an iatrogenic  drug addiction but stealth.

 

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 1/11/2014 at 5:43 PM, Lilu said:

FINALLY!!!   I have been looking for an explanation as to why repeated and/or chronic stress reduces one's ability to cope with stressful events or triggers.  Since the "chemical imbalance" theory has been disproven or not proven, this at least provides an alternate explanation.

http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/09/study-stress-shrinks-the-brain-and-lowers-our-ability-to-cope-with-adversity/

I do believe that brain shrinkage might not be completely erroneous but not being able to cope with stress is a complex issue I dont think it has one explanation only. I also believe the brain can grow back justbthe same way as it shrunk altho Im not a doctor neuroplasticity works both ways. Exercising confirms neurogenesison the long run. Exercising also naturally blocks certain chemicals that relate to cortisol. I personally am a completely different person without exercise it does correct your moods thought patterns and stress response. Its also as natural as it can get provided youre not takibg in anything to suppress anxiety, your body rewards you on its own. Exercise is underestimated and forgotten now a days and its essential to well beingness. Regards

Hi. New signature...Sept 4

I am currently on 450 mgs of lithium and I take it three times a day after meals. I take 1 mg of klonopin as well before sleep. Im not changing or tapering for atleast 2 months. 

I cold turkeyed respirodone that I took between April and June due to psychosis. Having signs of involuntary movement or signs of tardive dis. every afternoon since I tapered lithium..

 

 

 

 

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thought you may like this:

https://recoverynet.ca/2017/08/29/15891/

 

 

- 12.03.2021- doxepin- 50mg

- 6.11.2020- 75mg

- 16.10.2020- 100mg

- 30.09.2020- doxepin- 125mg

- May 2020, omeprazole 40mg switched to esomeprazole 20mg

- 2012 re-started Doxepin 75mg, evening. Increased to 150mg

- 2012, Atenolol 25mg, twice a day

- 2016, Low dose of HRT in evening, Sandrena and Utrogestan 

- Long term of Nasal spray Otrivine

- 2012, PPI Omeprazole 40mg-evening

24.10.2014- Started ESCITALOPRAM-first 5mg and then 10mg; due to the adverse symptoms reduced on 5.01.2015- Escitalopram- 2.5mg 22.07.2016- re-started reduction by 1% at a time. Completed tappering on  19.03.2020 😇

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Interesting. Thanks.

200 Zoloft; 10 mg Zyprexa; 4 mg valium as of May 2021;  Valium taper: July 16: 3.5 valium; July 30: 3 mg (paused valium taper); Aug. 23: 2.5 mg
Zyprexa: July 26: 8.75 mg; Aug. 9: 7.5 mg; Aug. 30: 7.1 mg

-------
Dec 1, 2016. 10 mg zyprexa for 1.5 month. Started taper mid-Jan. 2017. Cut 1.25 mg every 2 weeks; smaller cuts 2.5 mg down. Stopped at .6 mg. May 7, 2017: zyprexa free. 
Zoloft: Dec1, 2016, 200 mg. Started taper: Jun12, 2017: 197.5 mg; Jun19,:195 mg; July 2:185mg; July 9,:180 mg; July16,: 175; July 23: 170; July 30: 165; Aug6: 160; Aug13: 155; Aug. 20: 150; Aug.27: 146 mg; Sept3: 145 mg; Sept10:143 mg; Sept17:140 mg....Nov5: 122 mg...Dec3:112.5 mg; Jan14, 2018: 95 mg...Jan28: 90 mg; Feb21:80 mg; Mar11: 75 mg; May2:70 mg; May15: 68 mg; May28: 65 mg; Jun9: 62 mg;Jun25: 60 mg:July22: 55 mg; Aug25: 45 mg. Aug28: 50 mg...Oct 28: 38 mg; Dec.4: 30 mg; Jan8,2019: 25mg; Feb6: 23.5 mg; Apr1:17.5mg; May1:1 mg; May 5: 18;  May 18:15mg; June 16:12.5mg; Sept 10:11 mg; Sept.16:10 mg; Oct. 1: 9mg; Nov. 27: 8mg; Dec.5: 7mg; Jan.1,2020, 6 mg; Feb1: 5 mg; May 1: 2.5 mg; Jn 1: 2 mg; Jy 1: 1.5 mg

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Video (5 mins): How psychiatric diagnosis becomes “proof” of the “chemical imbalance” that causes psychiatric diagnosis
  • Moderator Emeritus

This is excellent.  Thanks for sharing.  It might just help someone wake up to the gobbledygook that is psychiatric diagnosis.

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 3 weeks later...

Psichiatry is based on tautologies just like many others big lies wich are given as certain.

 

neo-darwinist theories are another example.

 

But once you wake you can telk the BS from the truth

I'm sorry, didn't write a proper diary and my memory is very bad, can't remember exactly all dosages . Here is a short summary

Drugged since i was 11 yo.

Prescribed several SSRI, neuroleptics, mood stabilizers, benzos.Last prescription was lithium, lamotrigine , 20 mg paroxetine, rivotril

Tapered fast lithium and lamotrigine with little to no symptoms 3 years ago.Since then i'm tapering paroxetine and going through withdrawal syndrome. My tapering was not   stable and that's probably the cause of a lot of acute symptoms i had .

Currently at 0.8 mg of paroxetine

Trying now a micro-taper of 0.02 cuts

15/07/2017 tapered to 0.74  (having waves and windows. Cognitive impairment, akathisia, apathy, anxiety, vision problems, depression, paranoia, obsessive toughts, extreme fatigue,  and some more: all comes in waves except vision problems wich are persistent)

08/09/2017 0.72 mg 28/09/2017 0.70 mg

 

 

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/toxic-encephalopathy

 

I am exhibiting severe unbearable symptoms mentioned before.

The false chemical imbalance theory actually caused an imbalance in my brain

  • July 2016: prescribed 25mg Zoloft, diagnosed with MDD. Developed severe reaction and taken to ER.. CSeroquel when not able to sleep, very small dose (12.5mg) but causing headache and dry mouth the next two three days, 

  • July - December 2016: 25+ 25mg, constantly in pain, had to go to ER once, 

  • January 2017: Still believing the doctors and thinking the meds are helpful, increased the dose to 75mg, had to go to ER three times, after drinking water non-stop.  

  • Realised that these meds are actually toxins and are very harmful. Looking for experts in the field, going to doctors

  • February - May 2017: 50mg, severe withdrawal symptoms, severe burning pain in chest, lower back, Seroquel only 12.5mg but not helping. Slowly developing OCD, as the headaches and heat flash can hit any time.

  • found SA site and started reading day and night

  • May-September 2017: 25mg, drinking lots of water, having great pain, not able to function, ER visits because of arythmia, hot flashes

  • October 2017: started tapering and feeling better, but the symptoms are there. 

  • Supplements: None so far, 

 

Treatment Outline.docx

July 23-30th, 2017.xlsx

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  • 1 month later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • Moderator Emeritus

And Part 2:

 

 

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 2 months later...

Found this article to be fair and balanced analysis that can really help introduce this idea to those resistant to letting go of the chemical imbalance hypothesis:

 

https://qz.com/1162154/30-years-after-prozac-arrived-we-still-buy-the-lie-that-chemical-imbalances-cause-depression/

 

 

'94-'08 On/off ADs. Mostly Zoloft & Wellbutrin, but also Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, etc.
6/08 quit Z & W after tapering, awful anxiety 3 mos. later, reinstated.
11/10 CTed. Severe anxiety 3 mos. later & @ 8 mos. much worse (set off by metronidazole). Anxiety, depression, anhedonia, DP, DR, dizziness, severe insomnia, high serum AM cortisol, flu-like feelings, muscle discomfort.
9/11-9/12 Waves and windows of recovery.
10/12 Awful relapse, DP/DR. Hydrocortisone?
11/12 Improved fairly quickly even though relapse was one of worst waves ever.

1/13 Best I've ever felt.

3/13 A bit of a relapse... then faster and shorter waves and windows.

4/14 Have to watch out for triggers, but feel completely normal about 80% of the time.

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  • 1 month later...

A question about this forum's stance. I understand the basis for the general hostility towards the "chemical imbalance" theory, and I also understand (and share) the anger that many feel about how this theory is used by clinicians to justify handing out psych drugs like candy. What I have a slightly harder time following is the path from "chemical imbalance is a load of BS" to "depression is a mood." As the many threads on managing cortisol levels, gut flora, diet, exercise etc on this website attest, mood is profoundly chemical. Since joining this forum a couple of weeks ago, I've also found new physical concepts such as "neuro-emotions" and "limbic kindling" to be extremely useful in understanding my own emotional states.

 

I suppose my question is this: does the rejection of "chemical imbalance" also mean a wider rejection of physiological explanations for mood-related phenomena? Or is the issue more about how this specific theory is being used?

 

I'm asking this partially out of personal interest - I'm currently completing a PhD thesis on pre-modern bodily experiences of emotional suffering - but also so that I can calibrate my own place in this community going forward. I'm here because I want to get off this drug, and because I share this forum's view that the current pharmacological paradigm is broken, corrupt, and dangerous. I'm also largely convinced that the chemical imbalance theory is either totally wrong, or that the reality is so much more complex as to render the term meaningless - so please don't think I'm here trying to defend it.

Long and troubled relationship with fluoxetine (Prozac).

2002 (age 12): Fluoxetine, unknown dosage. Rapid taper c. 2003/4.

2004-2010: Drug-free for six years. In 2009-10 began experiencing intense symptoms similar to w/d.

2010-2014: Fluoxetine 20mg. Several attempts to cold-turkey.

2014: Briefly raised dosage to 40mg before attempting CT. Did not go well.

2014-2015: Citalopram 20mg. CT after side-effects. Also did not go well.

2015-present: Fluoxetine 20mg.

 

Currently gathering resources for taper (always grateful for advice on these):

Supplements: Prebiotic (Bimuno), probiotic, Magnesium, Omega-3, Vitamin C, D3, B-complex.

Books: Full Catastrophe Living, The Depression Cure, The Power of Now, Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

Other resourcesMeditation and hypnosis recordings by Michael Sealey

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2006 Citalopram 20mg on and off to 2013.  April 2013 - July 2014  Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Fluoxetine, Mirtazapine v. bad reactions. July 2014 - CT Mirtazapine.  July 2014 - February 2016 Medication free, long term w/d.  February - July 2016 Fluoxetine.  Medication free, long term w/d syndrome.  2017 Jan physical breakdown.

2017 February - March Escitalopram, Nortriptyline instated.  Lorazepam, Zopiclone PRN.  April 2017 Lithium Carbonate 250mg 1 wk. 14 August 2017 finish cross to Diazepam 22.5mg daily, stop Zopiclone

Tapers:

Diazepam 

2017 21 August - 30 Dec 21.25mg to 14.5mg 2018 6 Jan - 11 May to 12mg.  2 June updose to 12.25mg - hold. 2019 (0.5mg cuts) 12 Jan - 28 Dec 12mg to 10mg 2020 (0.25mg cuts) - 25 Jan - 29 Dec 9.75mg to 6.25mg 2021 *May have bungled dose and accidentally took 1mg more for about a month (7.25mg), so 4 Jan started again at 6.5mg; 19 Jan 6.25mg; 1 Feb 6.0mg; 23 Feb 5.75mg; 9 Mar 5.5mg; 23 Mar 5.25mg; 9 Apr 5.0mg; 6 May 4.75mg; 13 May 4.5mg; 6 Jun 4mg; 12 July 3.5mg; 2 sep 3.0mg; 15 Sep 2.5mg; 1 Nov 2mg; 15 Nov 1.5mg; 16 Dec 1mg; 26 Dec 0.5mg; 2022 1 Jan - OFF

Escitalopram - 2022 1 Mar to 9mg; 29 Mar 8mg; 24 May 7mg; 21 Jun 5mg; 19 Jul 4mg; 1 Sep 3mg; 23 Sep 2.5mg; 31 Oct 1.5mg; 22 Nov 0.5mg; 2023 1 Jan 0.25mg; 1 Mar OFF

Nortriptyline  2018 90mg to 2020 1 Dec down to 72.5mg; 2021 20 May 70mg; 8 Jun 67.5mg; 24 Jun 65mg; 31 July 60mg; 12 Oct 55mg; 23 Oct 50mg; 2022 13 Jan 40mg; 22 Jan 30mg; 29 Mar 20mg; 26 Apr 10mg; 3 Aug 5mg; 23 Sep 2.5mg; 2023 1 Jan - OFF

 

1 March 2023 - off all drugs - 6-year taper off three drugs.

 

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  • 1 month later...
  • Administrator

Hello, Viridian. Unless you believe we are all ethereal beings detached from our bodies, "mood" would have to occur somewhere in the body. It is nominally physiological.

 

However, it is a complex symphony of perception, assumptions, neurological processing, biological predisposition, psychosocial history, and last but not least, "will." None of these have biophysiological correlates.

 

Furthermore, when I say I am "depressed," the sensations I feel may be quite different from your own subjective experience of "depression." Your experience of "depression" might be because your parents were always mean to you while mine is because I'm getting divorced. Yours might be from a disease state, such as a brain tumor, while mine is because my cat died.

 

Actually, grief is a very good example of how a mood might have physiological manifestations but no physiological or psychological abnormality. One day you're perfectly fine, going along, never any shadow of a psychological or psychiatric disorder, then you lose a loved one. You are overcome by a sense of loss and grief, with weepiness and loss of sleep. Have you passed from a normal state to a diseased state?

 

There are physiological manifestations of emotion -- often culturally determined -- separate from the emotion itself. For example, there are biological explanations for the production of tears, tracing the trail of neurotransmitters and other hormones through the glands and into the composition of tears. But that does not explain the emotion.

 

If you look at the modern history of psychiatry, you will see an erosion of the concept of "depression." Currently, it can apply to any low mood, even one that is fleeting, and is used to justify prescription of drugs called "antidepressants" for any problem causing the least amount of emotional distress. The current psychiatric definition of "depression" is so vague as to apply to anything.

 

The "chemical imbalance" theory is the biochemical companion to the contemporary diagnosis of "depression," it never had any substance other than being a theory, like the ancient theory of humors that "explained" human disposition. It was very handy, however, for pharmaceutical marketing of antidepressants, those psychoactive compounds that sometimes improve "mood" -- as subjectively described by those taking them.

 

The drugs actually do have physiological effects, usually resulting in downregulation of particular neuroreceptors and widespread dysregulation of other hormonal systems, there being no wall between neurohormones and other hormones. (You might as well think of antidepressants as hormonal treatments like steroids.) The sales pitch is based on a phony theory of "chemical imbalance," but the drugs actually cause chemical imbalance, they do not correct it. 

 

As to our explanations of cortisol, etc., if you look closely, you'll see we're talking mostly about the sleep cycle and normal rise of cortisol in the morning, which is naturally stimulating -- it gets you out of bed. We also talk of abnormal hypersensitivity to this and other natural hormonal cycles, caused by iatrogenesis. We are discussing the abnormal effects of withdrawal syndrome. We don't know exactly how this happens, but the general description we use is neurological dysregulation, not "chemical imbalance."

 

The effects of psychiatric drugs on the nervous system and body are far too complex to be traced to a simple "chemical imbalance."

Edited by Altostrata
revised

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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  • 3 months later...
On 6/2/2017 at 8:12 PM, Lilu said:

 My dad still says, "But you're taking an antidepressant, how can you still be depressed?!!!"

 

this seems very important to me. how can we call them antidepressants, when they don't fix depression?  I know at the time I started with Paxil (30 years ago? more?) I had no idea the medical profession would be allowed to call something that if it wasn't proven to work. 

 

On 4/13/2018 at 11:03 AM, Altostrata said:

The drugs actually do have physiological effects, usually resulting in downregulation of particular neuroreceptors and widespread dysregulation of other hormonal systems, there being no difference between neurohormones and other hormones. (You might as well think of antidepressants as hormonal treatments like steroids.) The sales pitch is based on a phony theory of "chemical imbalance," but the drugs actually cause chemical imbalance, they do not correct it. 

 

the very heart of it

Currently taking Ramapril (blood pressure) 5 mg twice a day

Omeprazole 10 mg AM and 20 mg PM  (the taper has gone nowhere after the first cut)

Famotidine   once a day (and I still needs tums sometimes)

magnesium 200 mg at night

as of yesterday 2 fish oil capsules "EPA-DHA 1000"

 

off Lexapro as of 5/2018  - last dose had been 5 mg every other day for a couple years

 

highest dose had been 20 mg at which point I was diagnosed with Bipolar II, which went away when I cut the lexapro down to 15 mg. 

 

I spent years on Paxil before Lexapro (can't remember dose), briefly on Effexor and Abilify and others I have forgotten. in fact, when I was diagnoses with BPII I was put on all kinds of things which made me feel so bad I stopped them cold turkey within maybe 3 or 4 weeks, thank goodness. since then I've known these pills were terrible and I weaned down the Lexapro with zero help or support over I'm not sure how many years. 

 

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Please see Alto's response to this post.

 

Before prescribing medications, There should be Blood tests of all the major neurotransmitters, like a complete neurotransmitter profile, these tests are still not common and not available at many places and if they are then they are very expensive, they should be made common so a clear reference range in the general population comes out, doctors should prescribe after reading the data of different neurotransmitters and also listening to the patient very carefully, until this happens we cannot call it chemical imbalance.

 

Edited by ChessieCat

1995 to 1997: different antidepressants at maintenance dosages along with benzos 3 times a day.  

1998 to 2000: Citalopram 20mg + Benzo twice daily.

2001 to 2015: Sertraline 50 mg + Alprazolam (half of 0.25 mg once daily which is next to nothing)

2016 to 2017: Sertraline 50 mg + Dosulepin (Prothiaden) 25 mg (NO BENZO)

2017 to 2018: Dosulepin (Prothiaden) 50 mg  (NO BENZO)

2018 (Earlier): Olanzapine (Zyprexa) 5 mg + Clonazepam 0.25 mg x 2 daily (7 weeks on Olanzapine was a disaster, antipsychotics are not for panic disorder)

2018 August : Sertraline 50 mg for 20 days (couldn't take it any longer) + Clonazepam.

2018 Sept. 1st week: Dosulepin (Prothiaden) 25 mg + Clonazepam 0.25 mg -- 2018 Sept. 2nd week: Dosulepin (Prothiaden) 12.5mg +Clonazepam 0.25 mg 

2018 November: Clonazepam 0.50 mg at night (for sleep disturbed by tinnitus)

2019 January to now: Clonazepam 0.25 mg at night and 0.25 mg in the morning.

Remember: Going out for a Walk or for a Change does help, it may take a few days or weeks or months for some, but it definitely helps.

Here is Knowledge for you: The more you Know about your sickness the more bad it is for you, so forget about it !

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