Suicides and Homicides in Patients Taking Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft: Why They Keep Happening

MedicationSense.com ^ | February 12, 2013 | Jay S. Cohen M.D.

[jboot]

My dosage is .5 mg at bedtime, but I usually cut the pill in half. It does not take much to knock me out. I’ve taken six or seven sleeping and anti-anxiety meds over the last 25 years. Xanax is the best. Ambien worked for me for over a decade before unexpectedly spinning up into a monster. Ambien and Lunesta both cause extreme agitation now. I disliked Klonopin because it was so slow to metabolize. Rozerim had no effect at all.

[cva66snipe]

The Hollywood crowd who liked to booze it up and pop Xanax is what created the hysteria mainly. IIRC .25 is the lowest dosage same as a halved .5 pill {.125 mg if you half a .25 MG}. I weigh about 250 pounds so it takes a half MG to do the trick. Also during a bad attack away from home I'll pop one under my tounge to head off a full scale attack with seizures. The Disability Examiner told me about that trick. The Xanax being consistent has also stopped the Brain Fog Attacks.

First attack I had I was on the interstate doing 75 MPH with suddenly no idea where I was, how I got where I was at, where I was going, or how long I'd been there. Scared the hell out of me the first couple of times. Now I usually head it off if I can.

[SunkenCiv]

It takes more time to ramp up the antidepressant affect, but the increase in energy happens pretty quickly (often in a day or two). Sometimes the first thing the patient gets around to doing is commit suicide. A good practitioner screens out those at suicide risk before prescribing these. Thanks Jyotishi.

St John’s Wort rooools!

[rmlew]

There are plenty of herbal antidepressants. 5-HTP increases production of Serotinin. Evidently, quite a few herbs are Monoamine oxidase inhibitors


I take Ginko daily. Last night, I had curry with extra turmeric. Couldn't sleep so I took 5-HTP with warm milk. Big mistake. Triggered a migraine and was too afraid of serotonin Syndrome to take my Maxalt. I'm a freaking wreck today. A tired, stupid wreck who feels like he's been electrocuted and is hung over.

[WeatherGuy]

Curses! How dare you let your ‘dern logic get in the way of a good rant. ;-)

[Revolting cat!]

A doctor once told me, “Saint John’s Wort, ain’t worth it, John!”

[TheOldLady]

I had exactly the same reaction. My doctor said I was depressed. Of course
I was depressed. My two brothers, my parents-in-law, my father, my beloved
brother-in-law, and my sister-in-law’s father all died in the mid 1990s.

The old pill pusher pressed Prozac on me, and I took it for a while, but I got
that same “who gives a rat’s ass” attitude, and I stopped taking it.

Then I had to fight suicidal thoughts for several months, but I turned to God and
prayed, realizing that you just don’t barge in on Him.

I will never take any such drug again. I will get through any depression without
destructive, crazy-making drugs.

Now I take St. John’s Wort and Gingko Biloba every day. No side effects, just a
nice, even keel.

[Revolting cat!]

True story. My pal Zachary, a real pro, tells people, “Just call me pro Zach!”

[Mears]

bfl

[SunkenCiv]

NYC Fashion Student Who Jumped Off Bridge Leaves Louis Vuitton Bag With Note Naming Five Girls She Doesn’t Want At Her Funeral
http://elitedaily.com/elite/2013/nyc-fashion-student-jumped-bridge-leaves-louis-vuitton-bag-note-naming-girls-funeral/

[snip] A 22-year-old fashion student who jumped off the George Washington Bridge yesterday left a note behind in her Louis Vuitton bag... The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising student allegedly had a history of depression, and had tried to commit suicide at least once before. Medication, including Adderall and Klonopin, was found in her bag, according to sources. [/snip]

[TheOldLady]

That woman was in the news yesterday, I think. I really feel bad for the people who take their own lives, but mostly for their families. Twenty-two years old, so sad.

[cva66snipe]

Doctors who prescribe antidepressants for depression and go no further than that do their patients nor themselves any favors. Depression can be from one or several traumatic events, abuse, losses, or it can also be caused by a undetected on going physical ailment such as UTI or vitamin deficiency, thyroid issues, etc.

Really patients taking antidepressants for depression should at least for 3-6 months see a therapist. A psychiatrist is not such. A psychiatrist says here's the pills come back in a few months. With that you are on your own and that is not good.

A Therapist can be a LCSW {Licensed Clinical Social Worker}, psychologist, or clergy, who are professionally trained to counsel persons with depression. These are the ones who are going to help a person work through it and change their thought process. They know the disorders better than the doctors many times. Some folk have low opinions of LCSW's. They deal with everything from c ounseling for PTSD to depression to addictions. Without the LCSW I had who was a guy about 25 years my senior I would still likely have uncontrolled PTSD.

Most of the better LCSW's do encourage prayer. I know one who begins her day praying before first client is seen. With issues like PTSD or clinical depression the needed time seeing professional help {counseling} may be measured in in years. That is the real treatment. The pills simply treat or relieve symptoms.

[jboot]

Sounds alarming. I’ve never had a brain fog attack. I’ve had episodes of severe agitation and confusion which I think were caused by hypnotics. I’ve been free of those for several years and use Xanax only a few times a month. For me it is a great help.