Tag Archives: antidepressants

Antidepressants for Dogs: Canines Inadvertently Subjected to Myth

Regular readers of my articles will know that I have strong views on the use of antidepressants. These drugs are marvelous lifesavers for extremely depressed people but were never intended to be used long-term. That is, until the pharmaceutical companies started the myth that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The idea that depression is caused by an imbalance in the brain’s chemistry is unproven. It is merely a theory. And yet it continues to be spoken about as it if were a given. You can read about my previous articles on this subject at The … Continue reading →

Reassuring a Suicidal Person

In our continuing series on suicide, we look today at how to give reassurance, information, and hope to a person at risk of suicide. Suicide claims the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year, and victims are of both genders, and come from a multitude of backgrounds. Certainly success and money are no insurance against the depression and anxiety that predates suicidal thoughts and actions. Once the crisis point has passed, (see links below for how to help a suicidal person), it is important to provide ongoing support for your friend or family member who has expressed suicidal … Continue reading →

Are You a Cyberchondriac?

There are hundreds of medical websites online, many offering self-diagnosis. Aligned with these sites are those selling medications online, often without a doctor’s prescription. The combination of these two facilities can be harmful to your health. The British medical journal The Lancet quotes one case where a woman diagnosed herself with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and self-medicated with steroid drugs which she obtained without prescription from Thailand. A few years down the track she was diagnosed with two eye complaints: side effects brought about by the continual use of these drugs. This case is just one of thousands that come to … Continue reading →

More concerns with Prozac and other SSRIs

A psychiatrist who headed at team of researchers at Columbia University in New York City has found that young mice given Prozac grow into adult mice who display emotional problems, chiefly depression. The results add to the growing unrest concerning the effect of Prozac and other SSRI-type antidepressants on young children, adolescents, and the embryos of pregnant women. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Paxil and many other antidepressants in this family are coming under increasing scrutiny as their long term effects are not known. In the Columbia University experiment, young mice were injected with Prozac and given … Continue reading →

Antidepressants are “anti-loneliness” pills

These are the words of inspirational doctor Patch Adams, the controversial medico who was the basis of the movie of the same name starring Robin Williams. The real Patch Adams has little time for fame, but continues to spread his message of love, laughter, and hope as he completes his daily ward roads around the world. Back in the 70s, Patch Adams worked in a free clinic and saw first hand how ill-equipped many doctors were at being actual healers. He noticed many were detached, clinical, and made little or no meaningful contact with the patients they dealt with. He … Continue reading →

Depression in the elderly

All age groups are prone to depression and the elderly are no different. However, it is only recently that significant studies have been conducted to determine the occurrence and form that depression takes in the elderly. Studies of residents in nursing homes estimate that up to 20% of residents may be suffering from major depression. Depression can sometimes slowly develop over a long period of time, and thus go unrecognized until the condition becomes quite severe. This is especially the case in the elderly, who may easily put down their change of mood to the aging process. Depression in the … Continue reading →

Why Antidepressants Could Help Your Teen on the Autism Spectrum

Imagine the moments in your life when you were the most nervous. Maybe you faced auditioning for a big part, or asking your spouse to marry you, or owning up to doing something wrong. Remember the gnawing feeling of fear? Remember the physical tension and jitteriness you felt? Well, it’s possible that your son or daughter on the autism spectrum may be in a similar state of anxiety a majority of the time. Many autistic children, especially upon reaching puberty, are ruled by fear. Temple Grandin, Ph.D., an autistic woman who is an author, professor, and public speaker, has taught … Continue reading →

Depression in children and adolescents

In Depression in babies and young infants we looked at how symptoms of depression can develop in babies as young as three months. In today’s article, we will look at the occurrence and signs of depression in children of elementary school age as well as the teenage years. Estimates on the occurrence of depressive states in children and adolescents fluctuate from study to study, so it is hard to get a handle on a percentage value of the number of clinically depressed individuals in this age group. However, research has illuminated one fact: depression is less frequent in children than … Continue reading →

Depression in babies and young infants

Could you ever imagine a tiny baby being depressed? Although hard to believe, researchers have noted classic signs of depression in young babies, even those under the age of six months. Although most people associate the occurrence of depression with a series of negative life events, it has now been recognized that even babies as young as six months can display symptoms of depression. In particular, infants of depressed mothers exhibit depressive behaviors, such as a lack of responsiveness and interaction with others, lack of interest in their environment, unhappy facial expressions (as opposed to outright crying), and slow movements. … Continue reading →

Postpartum depression: Effects on relationships (1)

Postpartum depression affects roughly one in 8 women and is much more than a feeling of unhappiness or sadness. It is a real illness, is beyond the mother’s control, and requires medical intervention. Postpartum depression may develop as a result of a pre-existing depression which worsens after birth, or it may come entirely out of the blue. The condition may occur immediately after the birth, develop suddenly in the days and weeks following the birth. Alternatively, it may slowly manifest over a period of weeks and months so that mother and family alike are initially unaware of the presence of … Continue reading →