Most gay men I have known use prescription drugs...
It's true. I'm talking about antidepressants. That said, I'm sure there are even more heterosexual Americans who use anti-depressants. And you bet your life, I think they are over-prescribed - much like antibiotics have been.
I know someone who has been weaning himself off anti-depressants for the past several months. It is frightening. Over the years doctors added on new drugs to what he was already taking. A doctor once told me, "We never take away, we just add to make it work better." I hope he was kidding, but I'm not so sure.
We go in for a cold and come out with a prescription for antibiotics.
We go in because we've been sad that we are not as good looking as Bradley Cooper, and come out with Zoloft.
We go in because we get really anxious that something bad might happen, or someone is dissing us in their private emails, and we leave with Alprazolam - take 3 times a day as needed.
We can't fall asleep right away so we go in and get a prescription for Trazodone.
We go in because we're worried about - everything, and if you were a vice-president like my friend - you left with Valium.
Damn! I could never get that one.
Anyway. Be really careful about your drug-use-dependence. Anti-depressants can be abused to help people feel good about themselves.
Have a holly-jolly Christmas! Drink!
"Every time a bell rings another angel gets his wings."
What?
And, in reality, for most people, exercise is more effective for depression than antidepressants.
ReplyDeletebtw, if you have a cold, don't go to the doctor in the first place.
And the doctors are not always helpful about making sure you get off them when you don't need them anymore, or claim that certain types of antidepressants are not addictive, when in fact people report withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the meds. My husband took antidepressants for ten years. He's been off them for eight months now, and we're both grateful for that, but the withdrawal was pretty awful. Thankfully, he went through that withdrawal during springtime and summer in Alaska, and had 18 hours of daylight and perfect hiking weather to help alleviate the symptoms.
ReplyDeleteJane - I'm glad he was able to do that. It is very difficult to get off of them. It is not at all well publicised.
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Dear Terry:
Wise post about prescription drugs and psychiatry. When these first came out I remember more discussions about the medicalization of emotional problems. The point I would add, (and can’t because this anarchist not registered) is a caution about polypharmacy. Even experts do not understand everything about drug interactions. It is one thing to do so to treat life threatening conditions. As someone involved in biomedial research, I would not go that way merely for life inconveniencing issues.
Feel free to post this if you think it helpful to your readers.
Vickie
Thanks Vickie - obviously I believe it is important to publish your comment.
DeleteTwenty five years as a psychiatric social worker. Oh, Terry, DONT get me started, lol.Antidepressants are one of the biggest frauds foisted upon the American people ever.
ReplyDeleteHi Maria! And thanks - I was hoping you'd chime in. God bless!
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