leBALCONduVERRE/ed.9.0/__{ adieu.tristesse }

22.2.08

A Second Look at SSRIs

Been reading up on some brain stuff and came across a very enlightening article: SSRIs aren't as effective as manufacturers want us to believe. SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are antidepressants such as Zoloft and Paxil that basically increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. The idea is that severe depression is the result of low serotonin levels, or a "chemical imbalance," and these meds you buy "correct" said imbalance. Problem is, serotonin levels aren't necessarily linked to depression.

According to this article, studies have shown that placebos, exercise, and even St. John's Wort have out-performed SSRIs on relieving depression. In fact, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Enhancers (those that decrease the amount of serotonin) have actually done better to reduce depression; experiments attempting to induce depression by reducing serotonin levels have yielded inconclusive results. There is an alarmingly huge amount of contradicting evidence concerning SSRIs' amazing healing abilities. And it worries me.

I know a lot of people who are on SSRIs to relieve their depression, and these meds can cost a substantial amount of money. They can also be dangerous if they're not used responsibly. So please, if you or someone you know is currently using SSRIs for depression, social anxiety disorder, OCD, or even premenstrual dysphoric disorder, read this article and dig up as much research as you can. Medications such as SSRIs should not be recommended as much as they are if their connection with the disorder in question is minimal at best.

† Anonymous at 3:53 PM ‡