[Lily]

Thoughts?

I would just like to see what people think.

Oh and hello *waves*

[slurpee]

I think its the trendy and easy thing to do these days instead of addressing problems.

[lozinabox]

Really I don't think its a good idea that you get our views on whether adolescents should take antidepressants as ours are mainly opinions, of many whom do not have the actual facts of how effective they are. If you want answers try checking out Cochrane Systematic Reviews to see if they have anything on the topic because they have the most accurate information that you can get.

As for antidepressants themselves, there are several different types of drugs with different functions that affect different neurotransmitters/hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. Some mean they inhibit the release/uptake of these neurotransmitters in the brain where others try to enhance the flow/intake of these neurotransmitters. Since some forms of depression are caused by a biochemical inbalance in the brain which is genetically inherrited, it may be necessary for adolescents to take antidepressants to correct the inbalance and make the person in question feel more "normal." As antidepressants themselves do not change the personality or anything of the person and are usually only prescribed if absolutely necessary and starting off with quite small doses, I think it is okay if an adolescent is prescribed antidepressants if doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc think that they absolutely need it. However, as particular Random Control Trials (types of tests that compare the effectiveness of particular treatments) of the comparison between psychotherapy (counselling, that kind of stuff) and psychoactive drugs such as antidepressants, it is shown that a combination of the two treatments is more effective than that of either of those treatments on their own. So having counselling and being on antidepressants is quite common. Usually if a drug is not suited to adolescents they will not prescribe it to an adolescent, unless it is a really low dose or something.

If one is still unsure, don't be afraid to seek secondary opinions from other medical/psychological professionals. If one has any concerns ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS as they will happily answer them.

[n0lite]

First off, I take issue with the assertion that antidepressants are trendy and are used instead of addressing problems. Don't get me wrong; I'm aware and disgusted that mental illness has become little more than a trend among some people. However to assume that all people with mental illness are cashing in on a fad is ridiculous, and exactly the sort of backlash that was predicted to come from that abhorrent "trend". Antidepressants aren't like dropping e; they don't make you feel SUPER HAPPY FUN and they don't make you forget your problems. Doctors don't throw psychiatric medication at teenagers unless they have a damn good reason to. And in the case they do, it's generally much weaker than what adults are prescribed. lozinabox has pretty much summed all that up, though.

Secondly, sometimes the problem is fixed by antidepressants, because they are exactly what is needed. There are many forms of depression. Some are purely due to chemical or hormonal imbalances. Others are purely due to environmental issues. Others are a combination of both. With teenagers especially, counselling and "natural" remedies are generally looked into before meds, and counselling most often continues while the medication is taken. To say that using antidepressants is not addressing problems is simple-minded and ignorant. I'm not going to get into some stupid internet bitch fest about this, so I'm sorry if this seems provocative. But please, before you offer an opinion about something that affects many people on many levels, get a little more scope on the subject.

Anyway, lily's question. With adolescents they often only give out SSRIs (for serotonin), such as Prozac, Zoloft etc, which when it comes to psychiatric drugs register in around the "panadol" end of the scale. No big deal. They'll start you off on low doses, and if you've never been on similar meds and/or are young they'll monitor you closely. If your psych/doctor suggests it, and you feel absolutely comfortable with the situation, then there is no real reason not to. But, I stress, only if you're comfortable with it. And if you try it out and it doesn't work for you? Let the Dr. know. There are always alternatives. If this is a general, non-personal question, then the same goes.

lozinabox is absolutely right on pretty much every count. We're not psychiatrists here. The experience of someone's mom/friend/dog will be by no means telling of everyone's situation (or your own, if that's why you're asking. Depression - and the choice to go on medication - is a highly personal thing, and when it comes down to it it's your choice how to deal with it. Support, information and resources are things a person with depression needs. Opinions and anecdata and judgement? Not so much.

[lozinabox]

Thanks nOlite, good to know my statements of supported... but yeh. If you really want to know how effective they are check out the Cochrane Reviews at http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/ where leading researchers have combined all the information from as many studies as they can into one report to come to a conclusion about something, mostly medical related. Check them out if you don't want just what a doctor/psychologist/psychiatrist, etc tells you and want something more indepth (and also not just what the pharmaceutical companies tell you either!)

Oh another thing... keep in mind the treatement for depression can vary greatly from person to person as some forms of depression are combined with other clinical disorders, personality disorders/traits or other psychological issues. Therefore the one that is gonna be the most accurate for you is probably not gonna be identical to your friend's so don't compare .

This post has been edited by lozinabox: Feb 21 2009, 10:38 PM

[CH!MP]

I think its the trendy and easy thing to do these days instead of addressing problems.

To say that using antidepressants is not addressing problems is simple-minded and ignorant. I'm not going to get into some stupid internet bitch fest about this, so I'm sorry if this seems provocative. But please, before you offer an opinion about something that affects many people on many levels, get a little more scope on the subject.

lol snap

i have no input to this discussion, except to say some of the science talk was wasted on me...dunno shizer bout antidepressants

[slurpee]

Lol well first off i never said antidepressants cant help nor did i say mental illness isnt a serious problem, nor did i say people use them as a recreational drug to get off on nor did i say "all people with mental illness are cashing in on a fad".

They are however one of the most prescribed drugs in the country and its also establishing people to be more dependent on substances. Of coarse there are times when it is needed and quite beneficial but they shouldn't be taken lightly. n0lite your flaming me as if iv given advice here for depressed people to steer clear of antidepressants when in fact i'm not trying to offer advice to anyone on the subject in any shape or form i was simply offering my thoughts on the popular use of antidepressants in youths.

And lastly, as far as it being "ignorant" of me to claim antidepressants aren't addressing the problem, studies have shown that SSRI medication has virtually the same effect as a placebo in clinical trials

[n0lite]

Clinical trials have shown SSRIs have the same effect as placebos - on people who are not severely depressed. People who are severely depressed are those who need antidepressants. Like I also stated, there are many varieties of anti-depressants and out of all the varieties SSRIs are the "lightest". Some people respond to SSRIs, some do not. SSRIs are not synonymous with antidepressants. Also, many antidepressants (and other psychiatric medications) are not physically addictive - nor emotionally addictive if taken under the correct conditions.

You first claimed that you did not say that antidepressants can't help, and then went on to misquote/misinterpret a clinical trial in order to support your original claim that they do not. This is a contradiction. Not to mention that taking a study entirely out of context - without knowing and/or acknowledging the wide range of psychiatric medication avaliable - is not the greatest way to disprove ignorance. I'm aware that the term "ignorance" is loaded, but it doesn't mean "stupid". It simply means that in this field, you are not informed. Nobody can be expected to have a thorough knowledge of every field and issue. My opposition to your original post has nothing to do with belittling your intelligence. Please, bear that in mind.

Your original claim, I think its the trendy and easy thing to do these days instead of addressing problems, heavily implies that you believe taking medication is not addressing the problem and is an easy way out. So those implications are, in main, what I responded to. Perhaps you didn't mean it that way. But I repeat, please, before you offer an opinion about something that affects many people on many levels, get a little more scope on the subject. As I've covered, you do seem to be uninformed on this issue. Maybe you're not. But you are putting things forth in a manner that does make you seem mis/uninformed and, as of your response, confused as to your actual opinion. And yes, implications do matter. So, on the note of confusion and misinterpretation, on to the issue of "flaming".

slurpee, I said in my original reply to you that I was not looking for an e-fight. I'm still not. I don't see how my response was "flaming" in any sense. I did not swear at you. I did not insult you (as I've discussed, ignorant does not mean stupid, and in this context neither does small-minded), I don't believe I swore at you (casual swearing is a different matter and entirely unrelated to flaming), I did not threaten you, I did not display any offensive images and I did not even use capslock. So, considering I did nothing to purposely insult or offend you, I didn't flame you. I disagreed with you, which happens from time to time. I believe I even used the term "please" and apologized for possibly seeming provocative - with complete sincerity - which is not something commonly associated with flaming. I'm aware that tone is not conveyed in text, but I am confused as to how my response could possibly have been interpreted as hateful. I elaborated on the issue, as lily was asking for thoughts on the matter. In doing so, I moved on entirely from discussing your opinion and offered the information and advice that was at my disposal.

Please note that, once again, I'm not looking for an e-fight. If you feel this post is a "flame" as opposed to a disagreement that is entirely civil in nature then I apologize, as it has not been written in the spirit of mocking or belittling anyone. Neither was my original post, and I hope that in light of these clarifications you will be able to interpret it as it was intended: another disagreement that is, yet again, entirely civil in nature and intent. I think the overriding theme of this unarguably TL;DR post fits in with the original topic: psychiatric medication and the people who are taking it, or considering taking it, are not things that can be argued as one would argue the merit of a television show.

[CH!MP]

lolz, shit just got real...

[Kelevra]

I can't remember the name of the guy that thought of it, be had the bright idea of examining the brains of suicide victims for seretonin. He never found any in quite a number of examinations, so from that day forth people who were considered to be of unstable mind were prescribed serotonin or if you are daft and not following "antidepressants".


Don't worry about slurpee, hes a delicate tulip with the bark of a dog and eyes of a chesire cat

[lozinabox]

i love that description of slurpee there... awesometastic!

[n0lite]

Don't worry about slurpee, hes a delicate tulip with the bark of a dog and eyes of a chesire cat

Those crazy scientists with their whacked-out views on brain cookery. Imagine basing things on science. What will they come up with next? And may I say, that is a lovely description that produces a highly disturbing mental image. Seriously, picture it o_O