Posted by Bill LL on March 1, 2005, at 8:51:11
In reply to Re: SSRI's and anti psychotics, posted by banga on March 1, 2005, at 8:28:06
Neal- I would agree with Banga that 50% is too high a number to describe SSRI disasters. About 50% do not respond to a given drug, but many of those people then do respond later to a different drug or drug combination. I personally have taken SSRI's for about 10 years. I feel much much better with them than I did without them.
I'm not sure exactly what you were saying. For example, Effexor and Duloxetine are generally not classified as "SSRI's". Were you including them as well? Or were you saying that the non-SSRI drugs are more effective with less problems? Effexor has in fact been shown to be more effective than SSRI's in at least one trial.
From what I have read, scientists believe that SSRI's have prevented many more suicides than they have caused. I think that now that people are more aware of the problems with people first starting on SSRI's, that these problems will be better controlled.
In the past year, I have discovered that I do better with drugs that affect both serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin relieves my depression and anxiety, and NE increases my ability to concentrate (lowers ADD symptoms). Right now I am taking an SSRI (Lexapro) and a drug that affects both serotonin and NE (duloxetine). MAny people can also control both neurotransmiters by taking Strattera with an SSRI. I also did well on that combination in the past.
poster:Bill LL
thread:464759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050227/msgs/464822.html