131–140 of 376 posts
Though this article concentrates on the SSRIs, other meds like the SNRIs can have a similar or even worse withdrawal effect. We didn't call it "Side Effexor" for nothing. People legitimately need these drugs, including in the short term. The problem for acute stressors once they resolve is how to get them back off.
First. Do no harm.
There is a real lack of transparency in communicating some of the long term impacts of SSRIs to new patients. When I was prescribed sertraline not one doctor mentioned the massive (and sometimes permanent!!) sexual side effects, the likelihood of weight gain or how brutal it would be to taper off. Also, I ended up ignoring my doctor's (way too aggressive) tapering schedule and managing my own down-dosing with a pill…
somewhat off topic but i’ve thought about tapering like this, but i’ve got wondered where can one get a calibrated milligram scale? or perhaps it doesn’t matter too much.
There is a real lack of transparency in communicating some of the long term impacts of SSRIs to new patients. When I was prescribed sertraline not one doctor mentioned the massive (and sometimes permanent!!) sexual side effects, the likelihood of weight gain or how brutal it would be to taper off. Also, I ended up ignoring my doctor's (way too aggressive) tapering schedule and managing my own down-dosing with a pill…
somewhat off topic but i’ve thought about tapering like this, but i’ve got wondered where can one get a calibrated milligram scale? or perhaps it doesn’t matter too much.
Or a precision one for $$$
All the other sub-$100 ones are mostly junk, with a few decent ones. But just get the Gemini-20
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Good news, exposure therapy is quite effective for arachnophobia and is the first-line treatment. SSRIs do not have the same level of supporting evidence, and the effects are not as durable.
> SSRIs do not have the same level of supporting evidence, and the effects are not as durable. To the extent that we can measure depression, SSRIs have been widely proven in gold standard phase III clinical trials to help with the treatment of major depression. What exactly is supposed to be lacking in the supported evidence?
By 1992! We knew about withdrawal issues: https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/SSRI_discontinuation_syndr...
Let's be generous and give it until the 2000s for the knowledge to spread and science to validate; and we're still left with 26 years of blundering around without IMO sufficient warning to patients about withdrawal risks.
I would wager some of the doctors who prescribe today were well past a glint in their father's eye when we started to know about this.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
somewhat off topic but i’ve thought about tapering like this, but i’ve got wondered where can one get a calibrated milligram scale? or perhaps it doesn’t matter too much.
AWS Gemini-20 below $100 Or a precision one for $$$ All the other sub-$100 ones are mostly junk, with a few decent ones. But just get the Gemini-20
When I was diagnosed with depression - amongst other things - my doctor prescribed SSRIs with a caveat that they might or might not work. After a few weeks I was tapered off them. I felt no different before, during or after them. What helped was 3 daily walks around the park, around 9km per day after each meal. Anecdotal but it is what it is. Right now I have bigger problems than just depression.
> After a few weeks I was tapered off them. > I felt no different before, during or after them. SSRI onset is slow, which is one of the common problems with treatment. In studies where they survey both the patient and their family members, the family members actually start noticing improvements before the patient. Onset is slow and it takes a long time for patients to realize the positive effects. Ideally they’re pre…
He probably did inform me, I was probably not paying attention at that time. Family does not know the details either, I'm dealing with this myself.
Anyway: depression is the least of my issues now, the clock is ticking.
Right now I'm sorting out my affairs without letting the kids know.