Hyla Cass, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Side effects: ssris have quite a few side effects, including flattening of emotion; loss of libido and inability to perform sexually or attain orgasm in both men and women; suppressed rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, the most rejuvenating type of sleep, leading to daytime fatigue; headache; nausea; stomach upset; loss of appetite; and agitation and insomnia. ssris may also accelerate bone loss in older people, according to a recent study. New labeling on ssris reflect recent findings that in rare cases, ssris increase suicidal and violent thinking and behavior. |
| Side effects: ssris have quite a few side effects, including flattening of emotion; loss of libido and inability to perform sexually or attain orgasm in both men and women; suppressed rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, the most rejuvenating type of sleep, leading to daytime fatigue; headache; nausea; stomach upset; loss of appetite; and agitation and insomnia. ssris may also accelerate bone loss in older people, according to a recent study. New labeling on ssris reflect recent findings that in rare cases, ssris increase suicidal and violent thinking and behavior. |
Benjamin H. Natelson, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 So I start with different drugs that are in the same category: ssris. I mentioned them before as a treatment for anxiety, but they originally were designed for use in depression. The primary way ssris are thought to work is by increasing the amount of serotonin available to parts of the brain that are not receiving enough of this brain-active chemical. The success of this class of drugs in treating depression supports the underlying assumption responsible for their existence: that a lack of serotonin produces the symptoms of depression. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 They are effective the day they are taken, which suggests that ssris in this case are not helping by increasing neurotransmitters. They seem to work in PMS by altering the neurophysiology and electrical conduction in the brain. Several ssris have been used. Suggested doses are fluoxetine (20 mg a day) or the once-weekly tablet sertraline or paroxetine controlled-release (12.5 to 25.0 mg per day). The biggest problem with the use of these drugs is the high incidence of side effects that can include nausea, headache, fatigue, hyperexcitability, and sexual dysfunction as well as weight gain. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| New labeling on ssris reflect recent findings that in rare cases, ssris increase suicidal and violent thinking and behavior.
Nutrients depleted: None reported. atypical antidepressants: bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), duloxetine (Ariclaim, Cymbalta, Xeristar, Yentreve), venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)
Atypical antidepressants are a more modern class of antidepressant, used when a patient is more withdrawn due to a lack of norepinephrine (besides being anxious from a lack of serotonin), and needs to have more of the activating neurotransmitters. |
John J. Ratey, MD
See book keywords and concepts |
 To take an example, a good portion of my patients on ssris develop problems with their sex lives after a few months. Some estimates suggest that more than 50 percent complain of sexual side effects, ranging from lack of interest to lack of functionality. (It says something that ssris are often used as a treatment for premature ejaculation and for sexual offenders.) Sexual problems are easy for people to miss or dismiss, especially when they're otherwise feeling good, but they can sneak up on us and lead to other issues. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| New labeling on ssris reflect recent findings that in rare cases, ssris increase suicidal and violent thinking and behavior.
Nutrients depleted: None reported. atypical antidepressants: bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), duloxetine (Ariclaim, Cymbalta, Xeristar, Yentreve), venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)
Atypical antidepressants are a more modern class of antidepressant, used when a patient is more withdrawn due to a lack of norepinephrine (besides being anxious from a lack of serotonin), and needs to have more of the activating neurotransmitters. |
Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Prozac and the other ssris keep serotonin from being reabsorbed after it completes its biochemical task. Instead, the serotonin hangs around longer, in effect delivering its "everything-is-great" message over and over again.
Prozac and the other ssris have effectively pushed the older antidepressants to the sidelines. Although not necessarily stronger than the older drugs, the ssris tend to have fewer toxic side effects.
Prozac is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa. |
Benjamin H. Natelson, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| MAOIs work very differently from the ssris we just discussed. Whereas ssris work to increase the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin, MAOIs work to increase the availability of the other brain-active neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, norepinephrine. Drugs in either class may be effective in treating depression because the brain cells that release norepinephrine alter the function of the brain cells that release serotonin and vice versa. To say the brain is complicated is certainly an understatement. |
Hyla Cass
See book keywords and concepts |
| New labeling on ssris reflect recent findings that in rare cases, ssris increase suicidal and violent thinking and behavior.
Nutrients depleted: None reported.
ATYPICAL ANTIDEPRESSANTS: bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), duloxetine (Ariclaim, Cymbalta, Xeristar, Yentreve), venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)
Atypical antidepressants are a more modern class of antidepressant, used when a patient is more withdrawn due to a lack of norepinephrine (besides being anxious from a lack of serotonin), and needs to have more of the activating neurotransmitters. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| For anxiety and depression, there are the common ssris (Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Zoloft), newer SNRIs (Effexor, Cymbalta) and tricyclic antidepressants, and sedatives.
For vasomotor symptoms, a blood pressure med, a seizure drug, ssris, SNRIs, and ergots can be prescribed. None of these medications' actions on relieving sweats and flushes are understood—practitioners have just observed that some women on some medications had significant improvement in their symptoms. Most of the drugs are safe and easy to use, but some are expensive. The blood pressure med used is Clonidine, usually 0.1 to 0. |
Hyla Cass
See book keywords and concepts |
| New labeling on ssris reflect recent findings that in rare cases, ssris increase suicidal and violent thinking and behavior.
Nutrients depleted: None reported.
ATYPICAL ANTIDEPRESSANTS: bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), duloxetine (Ariclaim, Cymbalta, Xeristar, Yentreve), venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR)
Atypical antidepressants are a more modern class of antidepressant, used when a patient is more withdrawn due to a lack of norepinephrine (besides being anxious from a lack of serotonin), and needs to have more of the activating neurotransmitters. |
John J. Ratey, MD
See book keywords and concepts |
| It says something that ssris are often used as a treatment for premature ejaculation and for sexual offenders.) Sexual problems are easy for people to miss or dismiss, especially when they're otherwise feeling good, but they can sneak up on us and lead to other issues. Sexual feelings and passions are primary drivers in all of us, and muzzling them can leave us with a general lack of passion for life or a lack of intimacy or maybe a list of missed opportunities. |
Bottom Line Health
See book keywords and concepts |
| In July 2005, the FDA issued a public health advisory saying that this same risk may also apply to adults taking ssris, after several studies pointed to that possibility.
. , For more information on depression, vis-—' it the Web site of the US National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org. Click on "About Mental Illness" under "Inform Yourself."
Depression May Be Genetic
Recent research indicates that there is a genetic variation that could predispose some people to depression. This may explain why some individuals who experience depression are not helped by certain drugs. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| However, ssris and SNRIs have been occasionally shown to cause vasomotor symptoms in men and women. Bellergal Spacetabs, an ergot and belladonna combination, were used for many years for vasomotor symptoms but are no longer made by its pharmaceutical company. Some compounding pharmacies supply it. There are no studies on it, but empirical reports have shown mixed results. It is used one to two times daily.
Sexual problems are commonly reported by women in midlife, and the treatment is very complex. |
Bottom Line Health
See book keywords and concepts |
| Example: ssris cause sexual problems (reduced desire, difficulty with arousal or orgasm) in many people. These problems are least likely with bupropion or mirtazapine.
Many people fear that antidepressants will change their personalities or blunt their emotions. With the right medication, however, this should not occur.
If side effects are troublesome, it may be necessary to reduce the dosage of the antidepressant or switch to another. If the drug is otherwise working well, talk to your doctor about trying the following strategies to reduce side effects...
•Nausea. |
| These older drugs have a higher risk for side effects, such as weight gain and dry mouth, than the ssris, but are more likely to be effective in men.
ASPIRIN
Millions of healthy Americans take aspirin daily or every other day to "thin" the blood and reduce the risk of clots, which can contribute to heart attack and/or stroke. However, doctors must weigh the potential benefits of aspirin therapy against the potential risks. In both sexes, regular aspirin use has been shown to increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. |
| They work by increasing the activity of serotonin, a brain chemical that is linked to depression. ssris include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) and citalopram (Celexa). In 2002, escitalopram (Lexapro) joined this group.
Drugs that work on other brain chemicals instead of, or in addition to, serotonin include bupropion (Wellbutrin), venlafaxine (Effexor), mirtazapine(Remeron) and the newest, duloxe-tine (Cymbalta), which was introduced in 2004.
FINDING THE RIGHT MEDICATION
Individuals respond differently to antidepressants. |
John J. Ratey, MD
See book keywords and concepts |
| Studies show that CBT is about as effective as ssris in treating anxiety, although varied results suggest that the quality of the therapy is crucial. The strategy is to expose the patient to the source of fear in small doses in the company of the therapist. When we experience the symptoms without the panic, the brain goes through a cognitive restructuring. We build connections in the prefrontal cortex that help calm the amygdala, which makes us feel safe, and then the brain records a memory of that feeling. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| For vasomotor symptoms, a blood pressure med, a seizure drug, ssris, SNRIs, and ergots can be prescribed. None of these medications' actions on relieving sweats and flushes are understood—practitioners have just observed that some women on some medications had significant improvement in their symptoms. Most of the drugs are safe and easy to use, but some are expensive. The blood pressure med used is Clonidine, usually 0.1 to 0.2 mg daily at bedtime. The anti-epileptic drug gabapentin (Neu-rontin) is administered as 300 mg three times a day. |
Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Prozac and the other ssris have effectively pushed the older antidepressants to the sidelines. Although not necessarily stronger than the older drugs, the ssris tend to have fewer toxic side effects.
Prozac is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
Possible Side Effects
The drug's more common side effects include insomnia, headache, nausea, nervousness, anxiety, muscle weakness, and tremor. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
See article keywords and concepts |
 We also know that ssris cause children to disconnect from reality. When you combine that with a propensity for violence, you create a dangerous recipe for school shootings and other adolescent violence.
In April of this year, I also reported on the link between antidepressant drugs and the Virginia Tech shooting. See http://www.newstarget.com/021798.html
What I said in that article has urgent application right now, following the Omaha shooting:
A study published in the Public Library of Science Medicine (an open source medical journal) explored these same links in detail. |
John J. Ratey, MD
See book keywords and concepts |
| On balance, the side effects are certainly outweighed by the most serious consequences of depression, but they get in the way for a lot of people. Now ssris carry a warning that they may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in children and adolescents, a finding that is still in question. And stories are coming out about the difficulty of withdrawing from this class of drugs, especially from venlafaxine (Effexor).
Recently, I started treating a successful entrepreneur whose life was a mess. |
| Even so, we haven't been able to find an antidepressant without side effects. ssris seem to work best for her, but she would try one and then stop because they all made her gain weight very quickly. She's brilliant and well aware of the biology of exercise — at least some of it—but she just didn't do it.
Last summer, she injured her back and ended up immobilized in bed for a period. Purely for physical rehabilitation, she started swimming. It was the only thing she could do, and it felt good because the water supported her body and eased her pain. |
Bottom Line Health
See book keywords and concepts |
| I think that there are a certain number of patients who have severe depression for whom ssris do work, who need to continue them during pregnancy. Other patients with less severe depression may want to go off" their medication, she says.
"Pregnant women with depression or other conditions that need treatment have to make decisions, with their clinicians, about what medications they can be best treated with and which medications are the safest," says Chambers. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
See article keywords and concepts |
 Antidepressant drugs
Children as young as six months old are now being put on psychotropic drugs such as ssris (antidepressants). These drugs, we now know, cause suicidal thoughts and violent behavior, especially in young boys. They imbalance brain chemistry and even alter the body's metabolism of sugar, promoting diabetes and leading to rapid weight gain. These drugs are so dangerous that feeding them to children should be considered a crime. Every single school shooting involving a child in the United States in the last 15 years has been linked to antidepressant drug use. Need I say more? |
Mehmet C. Oz., M.D. and Michael F. Roizen, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 For example, switching from an SSRI to Wellbutrin (bupropion) seems to help alleviate arousal and interest issues that are common in people who take ssris. So does switching from a beta-blocker for high blood pressure to an angiotensin receptor blocker such as losartan or valsartan.
YOU Tip: Drink This. Research shows that Rhodiola rosea, when consumed as a tea or with a light alcohol like vodka, can aid with erectile dysfunction and improve prostate function.
To make tea: Cut fine 5 grams of Rhodiola rosea roots. |
Benjamin H. Natelson, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| The primary way ssris are thought to work is by increasing the amount of serotonin available to parts of the brain that are not receiving enough of this brain-active chemical. The success of this class of drugs in treating depression supports the underlying assumption responsible for their existence: that a lack of serotonin produces the symptoms of depression. However, brain-active chemicals besides serotonin can also affect mood. Altering levels of a different neurotransmitter called norepinephrine (also called noradrenaline) can also alter mood. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
See article keywords and concepts |
| We also know that ssris cause children to disconnect from reality. When you combine that with a propensity for violence, you create a dangerous recipe for school shootings and other adolescent violence."
Sadly, that explanation rings true once again with the Virginia Tech shooting. Wherever we see school violence, antidepressant drugs seem to found at the scene of the crime. The correlation is not coincidence. There is a causal link between the two. |
Gary Null and Amy McDonald
See book keywords and concepts |
 Conventional treatment of anxiety disorders involves medications—including antidepressants (primarily the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or ssris), antianxietry drugs, and beta-blockers—as well as psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavior therapy. In cognitive behavior therapy, the goal is to change a person's thinking pattern and the way he or she reacts to situations that provoke anxiety.
From the perspective of orthomolecular psychiatry, practically any nutritional deficiency that affects the mind—and almost all do in one way or another—can cause anxiety. |
Email this page to a friend
