As a 55 year old woman I can state categorically that 99% (and I’m being generous) of MDs immediately go to “here’s a prescription for antidepressants and birth control pills” for literally every complaint/question I’ve been in their office for. It’s a broken system.
Thank God for my Cymbalta, I had been in severe pain for 2 years and that is the only meds that eased it until I could get injections in my lower back.
I totally agree with the overuse of SSRI’s. I am a NICU nurse who has been living with serotonin toxicity for about 4 years. These drugs are over used and not understood. 24 visits to the ER and a stroke and finally on the 28 th ER visit I was blessed to have a doctor who realized what these crazy symptoms were. This is a topic that needs to be at all medical conventions.
@@maryjodolle472 So sorry for you and your sister. You be a voice that shares the dangers. These drugs are very effective if used properly. However now they are over prescribed. Early symptoms are shaking, seizures in the upper leg muscles, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and Deep depression.
@@susiemauldin1405 Thanks, Susie. Just saw a video by Dr. Robert Whitaker who sites an Italian study that states "Rather than raise seratonin levels , the drugs, over the long term impair serotonergic pathways in the brain. In lab rats, long term treatment with an SSRI led to markedly reduced serotonin in "nine areas of the brain" in addition, treatment with an SSRI leads to a reduced density of receptors for seratonin in the brain." Everyone in the U.S. is bombarded with phama's advertising and want a magic pill for everything. How many ever question what these drugs may do to them long term? How many even think about nutrition and exercise? My friends children are hooked on Aderall and one of my friends is now on Ozempic to lose weight. Wonder what problems they will face in the future? Afraid it is too late for my sister....no magic pill to reverse the damage done to her brain. I wish I knew how to go about being a voice to share the dangers, but most people don't want to even listen.... I was given drugs for asthma for years that didn't help and caused other problems until I learned about the microbiome and started fasting and diet to figure what foods where triggering me. It's not always easy to deny yourself, but I am so happy to not be dependant on any drugs other than my vitamins and probiotics at the ripe old age of 73.
@@susiemauldin1405 very effective if used properly? what, on mars? the data indicates anti depressants are about effective as placebos. taking weeks to work is an indication that they're useless but with side effects. if it takes trying multiple anti depressants to "find the right one that works for you", they're useless and they're placebos at best. there is genuinely effective things that could be prescribed for depression but it isn't useless anti depressants. the things that tend to work induce euphoria but the medical system is more concerned about catching addicts and preventing addicts from getting their fix vs actually doing their job and treating patients properly
@@maryjodolle472 Omg. That's awful. I was on zoloft for about 6 years and decided I wanted off. I went through hell for 11 months. Finally getting better.
Hi, I was an ICU clinical nurse specialist and then educator for many years in London. So I understand what your saying about medication and anaesthesia. It’s so refreshing to hear your views on all of the above. Excellent - thank you - so many people will benefit from your talks on you tube.
Give us something that kills STRESS. In my experience, constant stress is what brings me down, and the absence of it gives me back my will to do stuff.
I was "causually" prescribed an SSRI while in college, after telling my primary care doctor that I was burned out and having sleep issues. Big mistake. It triggered new phobias, worse insomnia and anxiety. I've had hypervigilance issues ever since.
take a pill for being burned out... ? instead of rest and setting a routine... you were in college, you should be smarter than that. Starting a good routine of sleep and good, regular eating may be a good solution. Why the hell do people take a mind altering pill... and for years ?!! Just to fill some greedy company's pockets. I almost don't have sympathy for that kind of stupidity. Americans, wake up!
I urge you to research some of the timely videos out right now about CPTSD and other possible causes of hypergivigilence, anxiety and depression. So much is making me realize I was right about some of my flashbacks and the label put on me years ago. I was told I was a bipolar type2 and given prescriptions. I had some counseling and taught ways to cope privately and in group therapy. I did the HARD WORK and progressed some. Out of the blue, I seemed to plunge into a downward spiral and couldn't readily recover. When I think of the wasted weeks and months different physch meds were tried on me, none working, I did some deep diving and asked God to make me whole. Did it happen over night, no but I am more fully aware that I had PTSD, however that was never addressed. I could bore with a long list of events that all contributed to my mind altering brain episodes, but suffice it to say, each person is unique although so much alike in so many ways we react to the really tough times we experience. I am not bipolar at all and it took me having to be hospitalized and 'out of commission ' for what seemed like an eternity. There is hope. Seek it because you're worth it. I'm truly living my best life now. God bless you.
That means you ran out of serotonin on your dorsal raphe nuclei, which helps to tone down the anxiety nuclei in the brain, yoga, excercise and 5-htp plus L theanine before supper might help
I was put on Elavil years ago for migraines. I don’t think it’s an SSRI (not sure the difference exactly) but I know it increases serotonin levels and I also know that as someone who had never suffered genuine depression before (or since), I’ve never lost the will to live more than I did in the time I was taking that medication. It was to the point where I didn’t care about anything at all and thank God for my friends who recognized the signs and helped me realize it was the medicine. I will never ever take anything like that again.
I'm so sorry to hear about that scary experience. Thank you for sharing it. All medications have risks, and some can be severe, like the side effect that you encountered. While that sounds like an extreme example, it underscores the appreciation we should have for any medications you put in our bodies for a long periods of time
That was the medication the dr added to my moms already meds was norco and soma it literally was not to be mixed I lost her 4days after she began the medication 9.11.17
Never take a BENZO! Never take SSRI. Don't take a quinoline antibiotic if you are on any psyche meds. It will throw you into akastisia. That is what you had from taking that med. It's horrific
Dr. Kaveh, my best friend was rushed to the ED a little over a month ago and was suffering from Serotonin Syndrome (SS). If it weren’t for her husband asking the doctors if this might be SS, she would be dead. The doctor in the ED was trying to fix the individual symptoms rather than treating all the symptoms as a whole. We both feel like SS is not discussed enough in the medical field or the pharmaceutical field. There needs to be more education regarding SS on all levels; patients, medical and pharmaceutical. She is home now, but is still experiencing many symptoms of SS and as a result is still struggling. Please do a video on Serotonin Syndrome to educate patients so others will not suffer because of the lack of knowledge on the seriousness of this condition. Thank you.
Yes I agree. I have cancer and every time I see a certain doctor I get asked about SSRI no thanks I experienced that back in the 90's sexual dysfunctional. Thank God it went away. But SS kills! I agree the doc schools are not teaching how common this is
Not so. As a pain management patient and someone who developed anxiety/depression a result of said pain, I can tell you that doctors prescribe multiple medications with care and for specific reasons. To begin with, these are complex issues which sometimes need to be attacked from different angles. Less considered by people is the fact that medications can also interact in positive ways, enhancing their effects or producing new, needed ones. All cases are different.
I was prescribed an anticonvulsant to stop symptoms of akathisia while on antipsychotics. Maybe do something to stop akathisia instead? Not to mention the stimulants to keep me awake and the insulin to counteract the rising blood sugar. You are totally right.
I am a ptsd sufferer. At one point it was quite difficult for me to leave my home Therapy has helped, but it was an ssri tat allowed me to actually live. I have no doubt it affects my health in some negative ways, but not nearly as negative as the anxiety and depression of ptsd. I never want to go back to tdark days days.
That's fine as long as you were given fully informed consent by your doctor before you started this drug that SSRIs cause physiological dependency as well as permanent sexual dysfunction, akathisia, metabolic disorder, suicidal ideations, neurological dysfunction, neurotoxicity, serotonin syndrome and emotional blunting. Many doctors downplay these adverse effects and say they're rare when that's not true.
I totally agree with you. I do have slight side effects, but it's worth it not feeling suicidal and being able to participate in life with everyone else. I do really hope that I will be able to feel this way without the medication one day, but I'm only 2 months into treatment, and it is just one day at a time right now.
@@SurlyBill963 If you are told by anyone medical that a pill will cure you or make you feel better you are being mislead. Placebo's effects contribute to the life long after affects like sexual dysfunction. All you can do is try to eat well meditate emerse your❤self in natural world get to the parks and the Beach. Life long issues like hyper vigilance insomnia. There has never been a study on long-term use of antidepressant use. Patient beware.
I took SSRIs (Sertraline) for 3.5 years. I've suffered with general anxiety for my whole life so initially after the SSRI started working I felt great; I was sleeping better, I felt less socially anxious but slowly the anxiety would come back and I'd ask the doctor to up the dosage. Recently the pharmacy price jumped up to $30 for a month's supply and I couldn't afford it anymore and I had to do the risky cold turkey approach. I wouldn't recommend it, the withdrawals are horrible. Nausea, vertigo, mood swings, horrible panic attacks. But now about 2 months later I feel back to my pre SSRI self. The anxiety is still there but it is what it is. Thanks for this Livestream; it was really informative on SSRIs and how we need to look at the whole picture of health instead of just the symptoms!
I went through the same thing. Getting off SSRIs had me dry heaving and getting nauseous from random things like bacon when I usually love bacon. And the massive panic attacks. I didn’t want to leave the house for over a year.
I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 in my mid thirties. Prior to that I had long recognized my depressive symptoms but not my hypomanic ones. So I was constantly needing treatment for depression (it turned out there's a lot more going on too). I was prescribed a lot of SSRIs and SNRIs over the years and never stuck with them because they made me feel really wired, like I was on speed, even on small starter doses. In hindsight I realize that every one of those medications I tried had triggered a hypomanic episode (except for one, Mirtazapine, which makes me feel drowsy and need a lot of sleep). I've also since been diagnosed with ADHD and what I find interesting is that while I'm taking actual amphetamine for that, it doesn't trigger me like those SSRI and SNRIs did. My point is SSRIs and SNRIs can have some very weird and unexpected side effects when you have certain other conditions, and can make them much worse. They (Psychiatrists/Neurologists) really don't know what they're doing poking around in people's brains with these chemicals. It all seems very experimental, even after decades of being prescribed to patients.
I had a similar experience. I've been on just about every anti depressant, anti psychotic and mood stabilizer in the book. The combo of mirtazapine and lithium work the best for me. I still have manic and depressive episodes, but they aren't nearly as intense. Most other antidepressants gave me very unpleasant side effects.
I so love that you reaffirm in every video that each of us have so much more power over both our health and our outcomes when undergoing surgeries with anesthesia than most of us realize. I am so grateful for the education that you are providing and the gifts you are sharing with all of us that we already have the means to unlock! God Bless, and Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year!
It’s encouraging that there are doctors whom believe that we have authority over our own body and mind. I was diagnosed with depression 3 years ago and the doctor prescribed adderall. It was awful, my mind was going a hundred miles an hour and my body seemed to be paralyzed. I stopped taking the drug and when I told the doctor he was very upset. Thank you for helping me realize that I done the right thing. By the way I’m depression free by eating the proper diet.
That’s odd because Adderall is a stimulant used for ADHD, and not ( that I know of) for depression. Maybe because depression slows you down it makes sense to speed you up.
@@stephenpowstinger733ADHD meds screw people off with major depression it only makes you energetic and much more depressed person. It feels like you are manic and depressed at the same time. My doctor wanted to try it on me once and I threw it into thrash the second day after prescription.
Prozac stopped my anxiety incredibly well. However my dear friend is dying and I feel nothing. This is alarming. Stopped taking it cold Turkey. Day 5, wobbly but would rather feel my emotions good or bad.
Until your anxiety comes back 2 fold. You will get past your withdrawal symptoms after a few weeks, your seretonin levels will still be okay and you will feel okay. But after 3 to 6 months you will crash, but this time even worse. Been there, and done that. Actually, Prozac has a really long half life. You won't get withdrawal symptoms for a long time and may take up to 1 year for you to crash.
@@victoriaholden6296 I am sorry Victoria! lol That has been my personal experience as I am very sensitive to drugs. Though everyone is different. But, on another note, SSRI's also cause hair loss. If you are taking anything, pay attention to that as well.
Never go cold turkey. One needs to taper off very very slowly. I'm finding this out now. Let me refer you to Dr. Mark Horowitz , a psychiatrist who has personal experience with long term use and withdrawal problems.
2018-2019: I lost a lot of weight, weighted like in my early adulthood again, and started to feel better and more confident. Then in 2020, I was prescribed SSRI due to depression and anxiety issues, and then began the downfall with rapid weight gain. My entire dieting, new motivation and workout results years before went straight to the toilet.
I had to go off welbutrin because it killed my appetite and made me scary skinny if that’s any help to you. I lose frightening amounts sometimes which l wish l could share with you but yeah it seems just about all of them cause weight gain especially amitriptyline. Good luck to you.
How refreshing to listen to a Dr who’s main focus is on treating each patient individually, as a human being, who’s needs differ and that each individuals requirements for well-being differ hugely. As a nurse of over 20 years, thank you, I wish more Drs had similar concerns. As a human being who has suffered from many major depressive episodes, (treatment resistant but still on SSRIs 😮) , thank you for your open mindedness, your compassion and for your insight and thoughts on this topic. I totally hear what you are saying. Continue being you, we need more medical professionals out there like you. Bless x
I am 71 and this is what I have learned. 1. Psychiatrists are not practicing science. 2. If you fell better on antidepressants you have 6 months to a year to get to the cause of the depression, because if you don't, they will add a second pill. And if you feel better on that for a while, it won't be long until that isn't working and they will add a third pill. One of these pills will be almost free. One of them will carry the risk of permanent severe side effects. One of them will cost $10 a pill. 3. If you have experienced ONE -mTBI (mild brain injury or concussion) your chance of developing depression/anxiety goes up by up to 30%. I saw psychiatrists for years and not once was I asked if I had a history of concussion. (see what I mean, psychiatrist don't even address this known fact.) Psychiatry is not your friend. Culture is not your friend. Downsize. Some women just don't have the energy to work full-time and raise a family. Stay home and raise your children and make oatmeal for breakfast for a few cents a serving vs. McDonalds. Simplify. Organize, if you don't know who you are, find out. Pray. Start walking every day. Every day you are granted $100 worth of life energy. Go into debt, it is taken out on your physical body. Your attention is your most valuable possession. What you give your attention to determines the future. So pay attention to what you are spending this $100 on. If you start the day with distress, now you have $50 to run your life with. It is all about your energy, so forgive it all and move forward.
Let's not forget that it's psychiatry and neurology development that allows, for example, schizophrenic patients to lead normal lives - whereas historically,they would be treated as possessed and institutionalised for life,if not worse. Depression is a complex disease and we are very complex being, physiologically and chemically, and we still don't understand so much. Removing sources of stress and utilising exercise, diet, contact with good people and nature is all around good advice, for everyone but especially for depressed patients - however many people still need some sort of support to be able to implement any lifestyle changes. We need to learn more but we can't give up on so many people. There are, unfortunately,some dishonest, badly trained, uncaring doctors in every field but is it fair to judge a whole branch of medicine, science and research, based on one - or even few - bad apples?
@@margodphd I judge the profession. Antipsychotics and antidepressants were not invented by psychiatry, they were developed by chemists. Over the course of 25 years with appointments (sometimes monthly) with a dozen different psychiatrists and not once was I asked if I had a history of concussion injuries.
Happy new year man, I learned so much about SSRI’s that was awesome and amazing, I never lied to my anesthesiologist about my health! I really enjoy donating to the anesthesiologist Foundation, since it was hard for me to go to college to be a anesthesiologist because of my cerebral palsy! You rock man
I have fibromyalgia. Years ago, I was put on paxil cr for my insomnia and pain. It didn't help. I took it for 3 yrs.and decided I wasn't gonna waste my time or money on this medicine. I was weaned off with the help of another Dr. It took me 18 months to get back to feeling somewhat normal. I was dizzy, had brain zaps, arm zaps and and tremors. I was put on klonopin for the tremors. Another monster I want to get off my back, but I hear that's not gonna be easy. Lucky me! Thanks for all your wonderful videos. I wish there were more doctors like you. You seem very passionate about your patients and what you do.
SSRIs saved my life. After living with anxiety and post partum depression for 2 years and not sleeping more than 2 hours a night, I was a mess and had convinced myself my family would be better off without me. My doctor prescribed me an SSRI and it took about 3 months for it to really start to work but after about 9 months I finally started sleeping 7 hours regularly every night and I wasn’t a jittery mess. I did have some side effects that went away after a few weeks and I’ve been great ever since. I’m not on a high dose and am thinking of trying to go off them to see if I still need them after using them for 10 years. I do think our brain chemistry can get/be screwed up and these and other meds can be helpful, but like all other types of meds they don’t work for everyone, unfortunately. We still know so little of how are bodies work, but I thank god I live in an era where there can be real help for all these conditions.
I was on SSRIs for almost a year, and it helped me start to get things done that I couldn't do like bathing, sleeping, eating on a routine. Once I became more balanced my therapist helped me build coping mechanisms to the depression. Then we decided to wean the medications over the next few months until I got completely off it. I still have some symptoms but because I have better coping skills and awareness, it's not as overwhelming. It's been about 7 years since and I've been improving each year.
Keep the important info coming, please. This particular video confirmed what I've been I've been considering and praying about. You are so helpful. Thank you.
One way to treat the out of control depression in the US should start with affordable housing, fair pay and worker protections & a real work/life balance like Europe has, social safety nets, universal healthcare, free education paid by our taxes etc. It’s cheaper for most people in the US to pop some generic anti-depressant when you constantly work and make just enough to survive
Exactly...big pharma makes money on the backs of suffering people that's another reason why medication is the most expensive then any other country.... late stage capitalism only works for the richest 1%
Uh oh! It sounds like you're suffering from a medical brain problem only pharmaceutical drugs can help! Those are classic thoughts symptomatic of a mental illness.
Helpful hint I used to wean myself from ssri: break or divide the pill, start using a nail file and each day for a few days, do the same number of swipes. Following week, add some more swipes. You get the picture. Very grateful for Simple advice I learned from a fellow commenter. Not medical advice, just what worked for me. You could talk to your Dr, but they wouldn’t recommend becoming untethered from the system. Just my knowledge guided by experience
Thank you for constructive criticism. I agree as a 42 year old male medicated since 16. I agree fully with your insights. Thank you!! So much more to learn.❤
Thank you for this video. Many years ago I was treated in hospital for depression. I found the antidepressants did nothing for me and argued constantly with the nurses over my medication. Finally it was agreed to give me an antipsychotic instead. I was on that for 4 months; once it was stopped, I never had the need for psychiatric medication again.
I probably wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for antidepressants. I've had severe depression with suicidal tendencies from an early age (about 6 years old). I could never fight it, as though a dark cloud hung over my head, causing a very negative outlook on life. I had multiple serious attempts at suicide over time. When I was in my 40's, I was put on antidepressants, and after a month, felt such gratitude for finally feeling NORMAL. The person hidden inside of massive depression came out of hiding, and I felt like I was finally able to be myself. My genuine self, unaffected by the dark cloud. I am a completely different person now, with hope and a positive outlook on life. I know for certain that I suffered from some form of chemical imbalance and can tell the difference between the chermical depression and any natural depression that occurs from difficult periods of life, such as the loss of a loved one, or painful trauma. And yes, I do experience real emotions, tears, sadness, and depressed thoughts during those times. I have also never had any side effects from the medications. I was on celexa 20 mg for about 15 years, then increased to 40 mg. About 2 years ago, I was switched to venlafaxine and wellbutron. Again, very effective, and no side effects. Although antidepressants may be overly prescribed to the general public, there are those like myself with true severe depression that never goes away without treatment. I believe in counseling therapy as well, which is helpful during traumatic periods. I'm 69 years old and my one and only regret is that I was not given antidepressants many years sooner, which could have saved me from so much misery and many suicidal attempts.
My opinion (as a depressed person) is that taking anything chronically to treat a mental condition is no different than addiction because instead of treating the problem, you are treating the symptom. It seems like doctors don't first ask the patient whether the depression is situational or inherent. If it's situational, then anti-depressants should never be given because that means there is nothing wrong with the patients brain and instead they need therapy to get through the situation.
You can actually get a cure with natural remedies, after I learnt about psychedelic mushroom about how it cures depression and some other mental illnesses that was wrinkling my performance in every area of my life it was really the best treatment for the pssd symptoms I was experiencing, you can get a cure naturally without complications and depression is a thing of the past for me , no more SSRI for treatment
Reactive depression is a normal part of life and shouldn’t really be considered an organic illness. It also responds well to psychotherapy. As someone with an _actual_ depressive illness which is unrelated to life events I can vouch for the ineffectiveness of antidepressants generally. When people respond positively to modern antidepressants it’s usually just placebo effect.
@@anhedonianepiphany5588 Problem is that many depressions are not rooted in psychogenic factors (like a divorce) but more in infections, immunological or endocrine dysfunction or genetic mutations. If you look at other "psychiatric" diseases like schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder, you see that they have a pretty high heritability. The most important risk factor for schizophrenia is not a stressfull life event but having a twin who develloped the disease. If you have a schizophrenic in your family, you are also more likely to get certain autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases (dementia, epilepsy) or other psychiatrc diseases (bi-polar, anxiety, major depression, somatic disorder). It is needless to say that most symptoms of schizophrenia can directly be linked to cognitive decline and dysfunction of various brain parts and those symptoms are considered "neurologic" but not "psychiatric". And to be honest, I don't even understand why we differenctiate between psychiatric or neurologic symptoms. In people with active Covid or Long Covid, we call olfactory hallucinations (phatosmia) "neurologic" while in schizophrenia they are seen as a "psychiatric" symptom, yet recent research is showing that in both conditions, that symptom correlates to monocytes (immune cells) infiltrating the olfactory nerve as well as having a certain gene for some receptor in the olfactory nerve. (So that symptoms has the same root cause in both conditions) (Btw it can also be seen in epilepsy, alzheimer's and other conditions) What I wanted to point out with all of that is that understanding of psychiatric diseases is still rather infantile and reducing psychiatric diseases to a psychogenic disease might lead to inefficient treatments or inefficient prevention meassures. PS. English istn't my mother tongue so please forgive me if I made any spelling mistakes.
I had bad results with SSRIs, including addictive/impulsive behavior and seizurelike activity. Dopamine boosting medications have been the only help for me, and they've helped immensely. Cabergoline especially.
It blows my mind anesthesiologists in the states talk to patients. I've never had a anesthesiologist talk to me, they get info from whatever info nurses give them & from official medication administration record from provincial pharmacy system. Literally only speak to you when it's time to put ya out. This last time, it was a nurse who told me he started propofol, I looked down and there it was going up the IV line, I burst into tears 😢. Literally no one, not my GP, NP, hospital nurses knew why I was having this procedure, it wasn't procedure that was suggested; specialist wouldn't explain it. I wish doctors & nurses here would see Dr K's videos.
I have huge panic attacks for 11 years right now, and im on SSRI since my 1st panic attacks. At first when i started SSRI my panic attacks stopped, hadnt any untill i stopped taking SSRI. Now after i stopped and my panic attacks came back its much harder to stop them. I changed SSRI, it worked for 2 years and my panic attacks came back. Now im taking higher dose+ alprazolam and wishing it will work and i could stop taking alprazolam. It seemd like a miracle in first years, i wish it will start working again. During these 11 years i finished collegue in mechanical engineering faculty, was process engineer in supplier company, now i am process enginner at OEM. I believe SSRIs are working.
SSRIs were terrible for me. SSNRIs kept me alive long enough for my autism and ADHD to be diagnosed -- because norepinephrine reuptake inhibition IS effective for treating my ADHD, and I was less anxious and depressed when I was able to do the things. Serotonin leaves me feeling okay with not doing things that aren't urgent, so it actually makes things worse. Within 3 months of diagnosing my neurodivergence and stepping from the SSNRIs to atomoxetine, I no longer met diagnostic criteria for GAD and I haven't had a depressive episode that lasted more than a day or two (so also not meeting diagnostic criteria) in the three years since then. I did have to go back to using an SSNRI (Fetzima, which has the lowest relative action on serotonin to norepinephrine), because I have fairly debilitating symptoms when norepinephrine levels plunge and taking the extended release Fetzima in the lowest possible dose prevents such sudden plunges early in the morning following stressful days. I REALLY look forward to the day that atomoxetine is available in an extended-release form. My body produces dopamine and serotonin just fine when I can do the things, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition works very well for helping me do the thing (well, there are also trauma response patterns and resulting rigidity, learned helplessness, delays in skills normally learned implicitly, etc. which can interfere with doing the thing, but I am working on all of those.)
I just wanted to share and THANK YOU for such a detailed, honest, post about your experience with the Strattera, and from an adult view. My 10yo son has adhd and asd. Not some behavior problem at school type, but legit. He is really high IQ has to be 120+, despite his "quirks" like tongue wiggling, finger tip bouncing etc. He can play SRV licks on guitar, creates mods for games and is learning basic code language. I'm not exaggerating the least. (the detail in your post keyed me to your similar intelligence). Anyways.. A couple months ago we started the lowest possible dose of Strattera, at the recommendation of his awesome counselors referral, and he has become a complete Jedi. His quirks have all but disappeared, he doesn't get agitated at all. His focus is lazer its just unreal how "Luke coming back for Leia and frozen Han" he has become. So far the only issue has been constipation, which tbh he's always been a dry type. Can't wait to see how it helps his GAD at school next month. So far he's been dragging ME out into the world lol. Sorry for the book, thanks. edit: he takes his at night with full glass of water.
I am 65 and have had depression all my life. I'm currently on two antidepressants. I'm very interested in psychedelics the more I hear about them. My son has done this and feels on a more even balance. I'm tired of switching meds, nightmares, interrupted sleep and still feeling not good.
Yikes you gotta get off that crap I was on them for two years all it did was numb me then I had a complete break down. You gotta deal with your issues I've done ayahuasca and iboga they definitely changed my life but healing is hard work.
I watched a TED Talk years ago from a doctor who was concerned about so many teenagers being on SSRIs, due to the sexual side-effects. Namely, the lack of libido, and how that would affect romantic relationships on a large scale. As the years have gone on, I've seen so many young people come out as asexual/aromantic, and I wonder if SSRIs have had any effect on that. Please know, if you're asexual/aromantic, you're asexual/aromantic. That doesn't have to be justified in any way, shape or form. It's finally a time in history where people can openly talk about their sexuality, and for the majority of asexual/aromantics, they have no experience with psych meds. But for me personally, I identify as asexual/aromantic now, but there was a time when I was hetero, before SSRIs. I've been on them so long now though (25 yrs), that being asexual is just...me. So as someone who did have a before & after, I wonder if you start out on SSRIs young, would you know how you identified sexually before you started SSRIs versus after? Would it be as simple as "No, I never had a crush on anyone growing up or felt sexual feelings", so there was no after, or would it be confusing that you did feel some of those things, but since you stopped experiencing them, your identity grew around that? What happens to those that come off SSRIs and begin to feel sexual or romantic feelings - that seems like it would be really upending? I feel like this is also something that needs to be talked about, in ways that don't invalidate anyone's experiences or identities.
I almost was in the same boat. Before my most recent regimen of psychiatric drugs, I was a happily a bisexual woman with a healthy sex life. However, I was put on a medication called Depakote (an anticonvulsant used to treat bipolar 2 and eating disorders) that completely erased my libido, even moreso than some SSRIs I’ve been on in the past. I genuinely thought I was either turning asexual or had miraculously stopped being gay, which was very distressing to say the least. It’s interesting that you bring up the topic of asexuality in conjunction with taking SSRIs (or even mood stabilizers as I found in my case), because I’ve often wondered the connection between the two during times throughout the 10+ years I’ve been on antidepressants and such.
@@Nocomment552 Thank you so much for sharing this. I brought up the SSRIs, but I have Bipolar II as well, and yeah, the mood-stabilizers _really_ seemed to turn it off. It's hard to tell what's done what as I have chronic pain too, so I'm on several meds that fiddle with my brain. But the only time it got reversed was when a psychiatrist tried Wellbutrin...aaaand that's because it made me manic 😅 I can only imagine how distressing that would be. Sometimes med effects can feel very much a part of you, so it's hard to separate out what's you-you and what's medication-you (which is why so many of us will go off them, thinking we don't need them, lol). But it's an odd, existential quandary to be in.
That’s why bipolar people don’t like to take their lithium because they like their manic phase where they can often be extremely and inappropriately hyper sexual. Just read the biography of Scarlett O’Hara herself, Vivien Leigh. very tragic. on another note, we often don’t think of the medication’s that can feminize boys and men leading to loss. of libido, but really loss of masculinity. There’s an old saying that if somebody is a heroin addict, they’re probably not gonna be a murderer, because heroin feminizes the brain and men who could be quite aggressive are super chill, I’m sure you’ve heard of the soy boys well we know that soy feminizes men. I wonder what other anti-depressants might do that; it’s not talked about. And the powers that be want a very passive cooperative herd.
I am 42 and never been on medication. I recently lost my libido. My depression has always been severe. I am pretty sure I have low testosterone now due to age and depression. For the longest time, i did not want to take medication bc i was afraid of the side effects especially the sexual side effects. But now that i lost my libido, what do i have to lose? Why cant i just try medication for a few months to see if my libido comes back? I just made an appointment to see a Psychiatrist. I am going to ask for Lexipro bc I have heard good things about it. I am a part of a depression group and everyone had only good things to say about their anti-depressants.
I love your content, but I just wanted to add that it's important to put a caveat on psychedelic promotion: please be VERY CAREFUL with psychedelics if you have a history of psychosis in your family. It can harm you long term, so it's best to dose safely and, ideally, with a professional.
What you are saying is not borne out by my clinical experience as a psychiatrist. Most people respond well to antidepressants. I would say 70% of my patients have a good response. And it definitely does not take months to see an effect. There is usually a improvement within the first week or 2. Some people take a bit longer. I would not continue prescribing a medication for months without seeing an effect. Psychiatrists do know that the serotonin hypothesis is oversimplified and that we don’t really know how SSRI’s work. That doesn’t alter the fact they work….without us fully understanding why. We certainly don’t regard our patients as bags of chemicals and reduce them to a diagnosis. I don’t know if that how they average American psychiatrist thinks. I don’t live there. Nor do we think that popping a pill is the answer to all of life’s problems. Why do you assume that the average psychiatrist has such a coarse approach to patients? I find it disappointing, because I enjoy your videos. I agree with you about the side effects. Sexual side effects are a problem with SSRI’s and SNRI’s. When the alternative is feeling suicidally depressed and not being able to function and enjoy life, people often choose an SSRI. I discuss the different medications with patients and make a plan with them in a collaborative way. When other alternatives aren’t effective people will sometimes choose not being depressed and not coping with life over libido and orgasms. Not everyone can afford the cost of ketamine treatment or psychotherapy. And there are a lot of people who would rather take medication than have psychotherapy. That is a valid choice which should be respected. I had to learn this because I have always advocated for healing emotional wounds. Finally, sometimes no amount of therapy will be enough to permanently abolish depression and anxiety. I take antidepressants myself. I spent many years doing therapy and trying non pharmacological treatments. I did lots of personal growth courses and tried different kinds of therapy. One day it struck me that the patient I was seeing was well after a month on medication, while I was struggling to get through the consultation because of my own depression! I have found out over the years what works best for me, with negligible side effects. I still see a clinical psychologist for myself and one to help with parenting my autistic child. Without the medication I would not be able to work enough to support us or have the emotional resources necessary for solo parenting my child.
From all of my experience in my personal life and working in the medical field myself, I appreciate whenever conditions like depression and anxiety are not portrayed in the reduced chemical imbalance argument. In my view and experience, I honestly believe that a majority of depression and anxiety cases are result of living in today's horrible predatory society. Work a job, pay your bills, or be homeless. Obviously there is more to it than that, but that seems to not be something that is brought up nearly enough is the influence of environment and society on the development of these conditions.
I agree. I have a background in sociology and some social and psychology theories about social and mental behavior are rooted in the nurture vs nature dichotomy. There’s a debate about how much influence each have on mental and social issues. I tend to lean more on the nurture side, that human behavior is shaped by individual experiences and reactions. There are some mental behaviors and cognitive functions (or impairments) that can only be caused by brain chemistry and development however. Human behavior can be a complex and ambiguous, yet fascinating study.
Good man, keep the message going. Too many good people have blindly trusted their GP right up to realizing that their life has come to a standstill revolving around the doctors & the chemist, with no real positive progress to report.
Jesus. You are amazing. You are so empowering on any topic you tackle. I love that you have so much openness to questions about human experience and physiology.
I love that as soon as he says that he doesn't do ads some ads pop up. Also his whole discussion is an ad for his ketamine clinic. SSRIs make me ill. I don't react in expected ways to meds. Anesthesia has always worked super-fast for me though.
One of the best books I read years ago was ... relief without drugs by ainsley mears. He was one of the first doctors to advocate meditation instead of medication.
Thank you so much for clarifying for wider audiences with such amazing and first hand knowledge. Have so much respect for you🙏 My sister was dependent on Zoloft since has epilepsy since six and was on it over 15 years and was horrible time, esp as she was already prescribed segraline and the aforementioned Ssri was only for “comfort” thank you so much for bringing so much incredible knowledge. Wishing all the best
It's not ketamine but I have the same mindset with my ADHD medication over my SSRI'S, I can take them whenever I need them rather than have to every day. Glad I came across you bro
I love the nurse practitioner I have. her goal was to get me off of all the SSRI’s that she could and use talk and relaxation practices to help with the mental illness that I’ve been disabled with for 40 years. I was 22 when I had a breakdown and I’m almost 63. If I had her helping me in the beginning or anywhere along this long illness, I believe I would have gotten better enough to be able to be a functioning and working happy woman. In stead my life was wasted being put on meds and getting no good therapists to help me. In the past 18 months with the psych NP and a new younger therapist, I have improved so much and have come a long way more than the 39 years before
@@grandma460 She is part of a program offered in Massachusetts only, for those over 55 and disabled. She doesn’t see other clients. I’m sorry. Her name is Denise Bouvert. She is extremely well knowledge in medications as well. She’s a gift from God.
The thing about mental health issues is that they are so complex and nuanced, can be caused by numerous environmental factors. I dont know what it is about Western countries and this is me being non- scientific but merely observation and reading of studies, there is such a big % of population being depressed and anxious. I am from Viet Nam and ai never really have depression there, once I move to America, I started having terrible anxiety and then depression in my second year living here. Humans need community and companions and individualistic society robs us a lot of that core human experience...
I am honest with my doctor about my weed use and all of the prescribed SSRI's and tricyclic meds I'm on. I have had to have several brain surgery . I have been told in the past to stop taking benzo and weed a couple of days before the surgery. I personally feel that it's safer to be honest with your use to avoid possible life threatening drug interactions. I think people generally worry that the doctor is going to rat then out to law enforcement. Legally HIPPA avoids that.
Unfortunately HIPAA doesn’t protect people. Almost every US state has a reporting site to the DEA. Reporting is mandatory for all doctors, pharmacists, NPs, and PAs. Each state designs its own website and determines its own guidelines of meds, both legal and illegal, that are required to be reported. Also, law enforcement officials have access to these websites and the information they contain. So if you get pulled over for speeding and the officer suspects, or is just nosy, he/she might put you up on the state’s website and view your profile. As I said every state’s website and laws are different.
Lexepro SSRI seems to of worked quite well for helping me with my social anxiety.. I suffered with this from a early teen and wasn’t till around 26 and a few years of therapy that I started talking the medication. it seems to make a significant improvement for making certain social situations much more bearable and I’m much less likely to get overly anxious and blush in the face which was a major problem for me. I still suffer from high general anxiety at times and when it comes to depression I still go in and out. I basically spend close to half of my adult life in periods of mild or slightly sever depression which last anywhere from a few months to close to a full year. Iv been on them now almost 15 years. The obvious side effect seems to be lower sex drive which after turning 40 is extremely low.
I wish I lived near your practice. My quality of life is just so sorry. No matter how good things get my brain is still sick. My loved ones all just think depression is a “me” thing and a laziness thing and can be changed by “thinking positively”. Every therapist and professional wants to funnel SSRIs into me. I feel so trapped and misunderstood. I eat well, take vitamins, exercise, but none of it is enough to combat how traumatized and tired my poor brain is. I wish I could just tell it to act right. I wish my family could understand me.
You can actually get a cure with natural remedies, after I learnt about psychedelic mushroom about how it cures depression and some other mental illnesses that was wrinkling my performance in every area of my life it was really the best treatment for the pssd symptoms I was experiencing, you can get a cure naturally without complications and depression is a thing of the past for me , no more SSRI for treatment
I'm someone who used to have anxiety and panic attacks. I started to use LSD recreationally but also with an awareness that there was research into treatment for anxiety and depression. Well, it induced panic attacks in me and I used that opportunity to learn overcome them. There's more to the story but the gist is that I tamed the overactive parts of my brain (default mode network) and learned to live in the moment. I haven't had a panic attack since 2016
I taught my son (20yrs old) your breathing technique to calm himself. I have a pulse/ox to prove its real.He thought it was pretty cool like kung fu stuff.😊 Any anxiety mostly it works great. I have my son with autism do it when i can get him to, and use it myself. Thank you❤
OMG! You aknowledge the issues with EDS and local anesthesia! I'm so tired of doctors not believing me until its too late. Or maybe believing me but refusing to deviate from what they usually use. I wish more anesthesiologists knew about that.
I knew it!! I never felt that SSRIs were helping me. Paxil the first few times I took it chilled me out and lifted me-- into a numb zone. I hated being in that zone. Not too low - and not too high. Just numb.
Dr. Kaveh, I had general anesthesia on Friday of this past week and it was so easy. I was really nervous as this was my first time to ever have any kind of anesthesia/sedation. The CRNA gave me my “margarita” (versed) in my IV. I just laid my head back to try to relax as they rolled the bed down the hallway. We went through these double doors at the end of the hall and stopped for what seemed like a few seconds. I remember the circulating nurse just looking at me. I don’t know what they did or what happened after that point. I woke up in PACU 4 hours later. Did the versed make me go to sleep? Or did it just wipe out any memories? Did they possibly give me propofol at that point? They never had me breath through the mask that I know of. The PACU nurse was really nice and helped me get pain under control afterwards. The more I woke up, the more pain I was in. She maxed me out on pain meds and made me really nauseous. Luckily I had some zig ran back at my hotel to help. For some reason, hydrocodone make me really hyper. My doctor and nurses told me I would probably sleep the rest of the afternoon, but once they gave me the Loritab, I was bouncing off the walls. Why does it have this effect on me?
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION, AND CONTENT. IT WILL HELP INFORM THE DOCTORS I INTERACT WITH, PARTICULARLY ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHEN AND IF THE TIME COMES. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS SURGERIES IN MY EARLY TEENS AND TWENTIES.IVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. HOPING TO NEVER " GO UNDER THE KNIFE" AGAIN.✌🏾
My Experience Is That SSRI's In A Persons' Brain (mine, actually)- Especially When That Person Is Extremely Tired Or Even Sleep Deprived...Can Help To Cause These "Twitches" Or "Tremors" Once That Person Is Finally Quiet, Calm & Lying Down To Finally Sleep...These Movements Aren't Painful Or Violent In Any Way But Can Be Jarring If You Aren't Used To Them Occuring, Which Doesn't Happen All The Time Or Even The Same Way Twice. I Think If It As A Kind Of Power Surge In The Brain - "Clearing The Board & Restarting Fresh"... These "Tremors" Or "Twitches" Can Be Strong & Involve Many Muscles In The Upper Body - Mostly Arms & Hands - But They Seem Harmless Enough. Still - I Notify ALL My Doctors & Anesthesiologist About Any Meds I Take Of This Kind, As Well As Dosage & Frequency, Just As With Any Other Meds for Blood Pressure, Etc...A Well Informed Anesthesiologist Is A Better Anesthesiologist! If I Were Ever Going To Lie To Or Withhold Information From Any Doctor (I Wouldn't!) - It Certainly Wouldn't Be This One!😬
Aren't those twitches just hypnic jerks? I get them frequently when I'm just starting to go to sleep. There are some studies that say that escitalopram can increase them though.
I have had Akathisia following a GA. I believe it may be related to the anti-emetics in the GA, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I have read that this is not an uncommon experience. Luckily the few times it has occurred it has gone away of its own accord, but I understand that some people can be permanently affected by it. I too am a "victim" of years of different psychotherapeutic? medications (Effexor XR and Clonazepam now for years) which I know are very problematic, but other drugs used in GA's can cause problems too. Big Pharma is a mad world.
Haven’t seen a doctor for years. Do I have problems, sure do, in a matter of two years I lost a family (ex and children), my dream job, my dog. I was depressed as hell. Took a while to get over it. I use good food, exercise and a healthy dose of perspective to overcome everything. Do I get pissed off and sad about all the things and people I have lost? Sure. It is about perspective. I lost a lot because I had the fortune to experience a lot. I’ve lost love because I’ve truly loved and was truly loved. No drugs for my brain. My thoughts are precious to me. Good or bad, they are mine! No chemical is gonna mess with them.
I developed Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction at 20 years old, 3 years later off the medication I only took for 22 days, I still have symptoms such as genital numbness/reduced sensation, anorgasmia, difficulty climaxing/delayed ejeculation which all contribute to me low libido, mentally I crave intimacy… Very hard for me to do that my symptoms are very prominent during the act and make me feel like it’s a chore before lexapro this was not prevalent in my life prior to medication anda gust of wind was enough to get me in the mood, this condition is becoming more known as more people are contracting it, it’s an iatrogenic condition and should be addressed like any naturally occurring condition.
Yes! And awareness should be rised about this issue! Could you go and get help from somebody like Somatic sexualcoach, Sexologist etc. Alternative sexual healer? Anyway, that could enchance your sexual experiences regardless.
Gotta tell you, I went on a tricyclic antidepressant after years of resisting any medication and it changed my life. I was wary of Serotonin Syndrome but otherwise gave it a chance. I think there are a thousand concerns for all medications, and eventually, you need to break it down to worth it (or not?) with your doctor. I also hold a medical marijuana card, given you mention psychadelics, though I never used it. I'm very open minded about solutions psychological, medicinal, etc when it gets to treating chronic pain and anxiety/depression. Of course, one should absolutely be open with an anesthesiologist before surgery. I don't think I'd see you running off to call the cops once knowing someone smoked a joint, doctor.
It absolutely saved my life after a major depressive episode and PMDD, it should only be used for certain people and for me it was my last resort. I will be forever grateful for Lexapro.
Found your channel a few days ago and have been binging. Love all the info and insight. Thank you for all you do. And thank you on for calling your patients the night before. Ive never had that and I know it would relieve so much pre-procedure anxiety for me. I wish I could afford ketamine therapy as ive been on a bouquet of ssri and other meds that work at first, but after 15 years, nothing helps. Much respect for all you do. Thank you ❤
I am psychology student, it is surprising how much I find myself in agreement with this doctor. Usually doctors tend to be very molecule pilled (nothing against molecules, they are fantastic things). Studying molecular interactions is of course quite useful and powerful, but it seems to be pushed a little bit too far to the verge of reduction-ism and oversimplification.
All I know is I've been on SSRIs... It made me feel like a happy zombie. Like I could see someone I loved be shot in front of me and there'd be no feelings of sadness, hate, urgency, just nothing... just ok this is what we do. Passion was gone, hate was gone, no love no nothing.... Just a zombie that was happy. I struggle woth depression everyday. Takes me every ounce of my being to not end it, to find reasons life still has a point.... But ill never go back on that shit. Numbing the pain doesn't heal the pain. You can't walk on a broken leg, even if they inject nerve killers so you don't feel it, legs still broken, even if you don't feel the pain
@davontayoden6020 No... Guess a good way of saying it was like in the movie The Matrix, how they described that something was inherently off with the world. You can't put your finger on it, but your entire "feel" of the world was incongruent. Situations that warranted "negative" feelings like sadness or loathing just produced happiness. You know it's not how you should feel but you're happy. Not a legit happy, a fake happy. Like my brain knew it shouldn't be producing those emotions..... So hard to explain but my heart knew it wasn't right even though my brain was "highjacked".... Yea just complete incongruence with the world
I felt absolutely amazing after waking up from my surgery. The best my brain worked after a decade of depression. It felt incredible having ny brain running at 100% again. I really hope therapies like ketamine become more mainstream. I have several friends who describe their ketamine therapy very similarly to the experience I had from anesthesia, and it's been the only treatment for two of my friends that's worked at all. I'm not interested in SSRIs... Very hopeful in a few years there will be anesthetic or psychedelic alrernatives available without having to go through years of SSRIs or electrically frying my brain first.
Opiates to treat my pain completely ended my depression. I still get sad, but that’s okay because it passes. It’s natural. SSRIs have always screwed me up
Opioids can be extremely effective for depression and anxiety. They were used for such purposes right up until the “miracle” era of pharmaceutical antidepressants. Allowing those who don’t respond to antidepressants to continue suffering when there’s an alternative should be considered a crime against humanity. Opioids need to be a third tier option in psychiatrists’ toolboxes.
People with Parkisons that receive dopamin agonists has showed lessened symptoms of depression, leading to a hypothetis that depressed people are actually so due to a lack of dopamin. Several trials have been done in people with SSRI resistent depressions and data is looking good so far. Particularly in people with anhedonic symptoms that feel distanced and not being able to feel happiness or enjoyment on just SSRI.
Most, if not all, conventional antidepressants are useless against some severe cases of anhedonic depression. Certain dopamine agonists (pramipexole, for one) have displayed hedonistic side effects, like obsessive gambling or hypersexuality, in otherwise normal Parkinson’s patients. This has led to such agents being explored for treating anhedonia, with some promising studies. It’s worth noting that these molecules are agonists at specific dopamine receptors rather than generally, unlike dopamine itself.
I got much worse from taking an SSRI. I was starting to get serotonin syndrome soon after starting to take a slightly higher dose. I warned my doctor in advance but they never listen to me until after the drugs have bad reactions.
As long as I live I'll never forget when I was going in for surgery requiring anesthesia and the anesthesiologist walks in and hollers "Oh Nooooo. Not a redhead. I hate working with redheads." And to top it all off....it's the only time I've been put under that the experience for me was horrible. Nightmares like I've never encountered that required professional counseling to adjust to this side of life after that horrendous experience. Needless to say I complained to the doc who chose this anesthesiologist in hopes he'd not use them anymore. Never encountered any type of issue the other couple times I've been put under.
@@jillthompson4280 apparently 2 outta 3 docs knew that and performed wonderfully on my other surgeries over my life! It's this nitwit that was the only problem. Can you imagine a professional blurting this out when a patient is already a little stressed just from having to have the surgery itself? Geesh. He needed to be sent back to school!
@@MedicalSecrets Thank you! I let the anesthesiologist know about my experience this last time I had surgery and she promised me she wouldn't let that happen. True to her word, it went smooth as silk...I only remember a very pleasant experience now.
"I can't find a vein! I can't find a vein!" That's what I heard during my 2nd brain surgery. I wasn't awake very long, thankfully, and I woke up with blood all over my arms. They apparently searched everywhere. 😅
SNRI was prescribed for me off-label, for my peripheral neuropathy. And, it helped my anxiety. It has become my miracle drug! I had serious side effects with Gabapentin and other neurontins for my neuropathy. And had given up finding anything else. Many doctors aren't aware that this drug can be used for certain pain, not just depression.
Thank you for the education and talking about the undesired side effects of ssri's. I wish they would pull this non sense off the market and go with more natural psychotropic/active remedies that actually work. Psilocybin, Ketamine mdma, lsd, etc. when psychological therapy is not quite enough.
I had severe, suicidal depression but SSRIs were effective maybe 20%. Out of 1 to 10, my depression was a 100. I traced it to five foods I was eating, and as long as I avoided them I was fine. But taking antibiotics meant for a sinus infection completely cured me and now I can eat whatever I want.
I’m so glad to hear you taking such a holistic approach. Antidepressants do not work. They do not address the cause. There is no antidepressant on the market that I can tolerate and it’s my fault?!?!
I take Lexapro. I've been on SSRI's for 25 years. I find the depression and extremely low moods are gone. But, I had 3 deaths in my family and I didn't even cry! It was bizarre, because I totally loved them! So ya, it rather makes me unfeeling.
I was on Venlafaxine for 5 years. At no point my gp thought i needed a review, i was just on taking my monthly prescription and poisoning my brain and body. Then when i suggested decreasing the dose with the aim of coming off the meds, the gp said maybe i wasn't strong enough yet. I insisted and started the gradual weaning off which all in all took more than 6 months. While on venlafaxine i never felt right, it certainly didn't help with my pms symptoms which are quite bad, mood related, i didn't feel myself, i had night sweats and very vivid dreams and i would wake up acreaming, i would bruise very easily. The weaning off was brutal, coming off them was the hardest thing, i lived a month of hell, i could not eat, i was nauseous, my face was numb, my brain was buzzing, i was dizzy and had proprioception issues. Now I've been off them for more than a year, i feel great, even my friends have noticed I'm a different person. Yes, i have ups and downs but that is nornal, i'm a cancer nurse, an immigrant and i have my struggles. A pill would not sort that out. I would never encourage anyone to get anywhere near antidepressants. A strong support system, people that matter and can listen to you, finding meaning in your life is what would make it worth living and enjoying.
I highly recommend reading Lost Connections by Johann Hari, a very informative book about depression and treatments written by someone who has experienced it. Another thing people don't seem to know is that SSRI's double your chance of getting dementia.
knowing what i know now about SSRIs, and experiences of friends who have taken them, i never would have taken them for my mild depression for 2-3 years
I don't understand WHY anyone would want to have a psychedelic experience? Will someone please help me out with that? It sounds terrifying. Is it supposed to help with depression? I'm so lost.
LoL, well if you are scared you probably don't want to do anything like that. Not a good idea to do these things when in a negative mood. I've seen amazing things. Trees and things literally growing before my eyes. Life blooming. Plus the greatest sex. This occurred from mushrooms. I've only done them 3 or 4 times. I've tried LSD but did not like the effects. Simply monstrous. Still you're not going to die if you have basic control and realized the things you see aren't real. I'm older so I did these things when I was quite young. I have sleep narcolepsy and was put on 600 mgs seroquel for sleep which makes absolutely 0 sense. Dr. totally caught me on an off day. Plus 6 1mg Xanax which I was told I'd never have to worry about getting prescribed yet here we are. Long story short that seroquel made me see things. I am not psychotic nor do I normally see or hear things. Quite disturbing how this drug actually causes what it's supposed to treat. I'm 4 months off and I still can't sleep and I have a sleeping disease. Panic, anxiety and shaking so bad. The withdrawals were so bad. I knew that if I didn't get off this drug at my age I would die. Every night it simply made me die a little at a time. Heart pounding in the chest and unable to move. Soo happy to have gotten off of it but wondering if I'll ever sleep again.
A biologist once sent me excerpts from a medical journal about prozac. They concluded that the mechanism of action was because of its ability to prevent the breakdown of alopregnenolone rather than serotonin. Depressed people and those with ptsd have reduced alopregnenolone in their spinal fluid (~60%)
Sure there is a lot more to know. We are just using what we have available. And SSRIs might be best utilized by persons, say, 40 and over, who are actually losing some of these feel good chemicals in our brains. When you are young is the right time to really dig deep to find out what is causing your depression and work on your whole being, possibly without all these medications.
I got Serotonin Syndrome in December and nearly died! Cocktail of drugs including an SSRI and a SNRI plus Tramadol and Relpax. I’m now off EVERYTHING and petrified to get SS again ! Scariest thing ever
Irving Kirsch PhD got the original data used to get FDA approval for the SSRIs and shied that the data had been cherry picked and exaggerated. Basically, SSRIs rely on expectant effects to get therapeutic results. Therapy work as well without the side effects.
I’m a redhead 6 weeks postpartum. I told the anesthesiologist the epidural wasn’t working and he didn’t believe me. Ended up having an emergency c section. Kept telling the anesthesiologist the epidural wasn’t working. They just kept giving me more and more and it wasn’t working. I couldn’t move my legs but could feel everything waist up…. Surgeon started cutting. I could feel EVERYTHING. Once they pulled my baby out I kept trying to say “pain… pain” but I was in so much shock I couldn’t really communicate. They had to knock me out completely to sew me back up. Please tell other anesthesiologists that the redhead thing is a legit thing.
As a 55 year old woman I can state categorically that 99% (and I’m being generous) of MDs immediately go to “here’s a prescription for antidepressants and birth control pills” for literally every complaint/question I’ve been in their office for. It’s a broken system.
It’s because you have anxiety. Come on now. Every single one of us women do, and we are hysterically as well.😉😏
@@HildeAzul right?! I mean, obviously those are all we need to fix whatever ails us women! 🤣
Yes!! It’s so insulting.
@@calliopec544 just throw us some SSRI’s and poof the pain is gone! Why? Duh; the anxiety is fixed. Gah!!!
Thank God for my Cymbalta, I had been in severe pain for 2 years and that is the only meds that eased it until I could get injections in my lower back.
I totally agree with the overuse of SSRI’s. I am a NICU nurse who has been living with serotonin toxicity for about 4 years. These drugs are over used and not understood. 24 visits to the ER and a stroke and finally on the 28 th ER visit I was blessed to have a doctor who realized what these crazy symptoms were. This is a topic that needs to be at all medical conventions.
Yes, my sister was hooked on prozac and zoloft for 30 years and now at 66 yesrs old has full blown dementia and can no longer function on her own.
@@maryjodolle472 So sorry for you and your sister. You be a voice that shares the dangers. These drugs are very effective if used properly. However now they are over prescribed. Early symptoms are shaking, seizures in the upper leg muscles, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and Deep depression.
@@susiemauldin1405 Thanks, Susie. Just saw a video by Dr. Robert Whitaker who sites an Italian study that states "Rather than raise seratonin levels , the drugs, over the long term impair serotonergic pathways in the brain. In lab rats, long term treatment with an SSRI led to markedly reduced serotonin in "nine areas of the brain" in addition, treatment with an SSRI leads to a reduced density of receptors for seratonin in the brain."
Everyone in the U.S. is bombarded with phama's advertising and want a magic pill for everything. How many ever question what these drugs may do to them long term? How many even think about nutrition and exercise? My friends children are hooked on Aderall and one of my friends is now on Ozempic to lose weight. Wonder what problems they will face in the future? Afraid it is too late for my sister....no magic pill to reverse the damage done to her brain. I wish I knew how to go about being a voice to share the dangers, but most people don't want to even listen....
I was given drugs for asthma for years that didn't help and caused other problems until I learned about the microbiome and started fasting and diet to figure what foods where triggering me. It's not always easy to deny yourself, but I am so happy to not be dependant on any drugs other than my vitamins and probiotics at the ripe old age of 73.
@@susiemauldin1405 very effective if used properly? what, on mars? the data indicates anti depressants are about effective as placebos. taking weeks to work is an indication that they're useless but with side effects. if it takes trying multiple anti depressants to "find the right one that works for you", they're useless and they're placebos at best. there is genuinely effective things that could be prescribed for depression but it isn't useless anti depressants. the things that tend to work induce euphoria but the medical system is more concerned about catching addicts and preventing addicts from getting their fix vs actually doing their job and treating patients properly
@@maryjodolle472 Omg. That's awful. I was on zoloft for about 6 years and decided I wanted off. I went through hell for 11 months. Finally getting better.
Hi, I was an ICU clinical nurse specialist and then educator for many years in London. So I understand what your saying about medication and anaesthesia. It’s so refreshing to hear your views on all of the above. Excellent - thank you - so many people will benefit from your talks on you tube.
I need help. Can you please help me out 🙏🏼
Give us something that kills STRESS. In my experience, constant stress is what brings me down, and the absence of it gives me back my will to do stuff.
Good point. I’ve been under an enormous amount of stress for about 6 years. The depression in crippling me.
Use saffron
how about you get rid of things that cause this stress?
I was "causually" prescribed an SSRI while in college, after telling my primary care doctor that I was burned out and having sleep issues. Big mistake. It triggered new phobias, worse insomnia and anxiety. I've had hypervigilance issues ever since.
Are you still on them?
take a pill for being burned out... ? instead of rest and setting a routine... you were in college, you should be smarter than that. Starting a good routine of sleep and good, regular eating may be a good solution. Why the hell do people take a mind altering pill... and for years ?!! Just to fill some greedy company's pockets. I almost don't have sympathy for that kind of stupidity. Americans, wake up!
I urge you to research some of the timely videos out right now about CPTSD and other possible causes of hypergivigilence, anxiety and depression.
So much is making me realize I was right about some of my flashbacks and the label put on me years ago.
I was told I was a bipolar type2 and given prescriptions.
I had some counseling and taught ways to cope privately and in group therapy.
I did the HARD WORK and progressed some.
Out of the blue, I seemed to plunge into a downward spiral and couldn't readily recover.
When I think of the wasted weeks and months different physch meds were tried on me, none working, I did some deep diving and asked God to make me whole.
Did it happen over night, no but I am more fully aware that I had PTSD, however that was never addressed.
I could bore with a long list of events that all contributed to my mind altering brain episodes, but suffice it to say, each person is unique although so much alike in so many ways we react to the really tough times we experience.
I am not bipolar at all and it took me having to be hospitalized and 'out of commission ' for what seemed like an eternity.
There is hope. Seek it because you're worth it.
I'm truly living my best life now. God bless you.
That means you ran out of serotonin on your dorsal raphe nuclei, which helps to tone down the anxiety nuclei in the brain, yoga, excercise and 5-htp plus L theanine before supper might help
@@andresdelavega ok 😃
I was put on Elavil years ago for migraines. I don’t think it’s an SSRI (not sure the difference exactly) but I know it increases serotonin levels and I also know that as someone who had never suffered genuine depression before (or since), I’ve never lost the will to live more than I did in the time I was taking that medication. It was to the point where I didn’t care about anything at all and thank God for my friends who recognized the signs and helped me realize it was the medicine. I will never ever take anything like that again.
I'm so sorry to hear about that scary experience. Thank you for sharing it. All medications have risks, and some can be severe, like the side effect that you encountered. While that sounds like an extreme example, it underscores the appreciation we should have for any medications you put in our bodies for a long periods of time
That was the medication the dr added to my moms already meds was norco and soma it literally was not to be mixed I lost her 4days after she began the medication 9.11.17
@@tcmomcoffey4028 Very sorry for your loss. I hope you’ve been able to come to some peace.
@@tcmomcoffey4028 I’m so sorry ❤️❤️
Never take a BENZO! Never take SSRI. Don't take a quinoline antibiotic if you are on any psyche meds. It will throw you into akastisia. That is what you had from taking that med. It's horrific
Dr. Kaveh, my best friend was rushed to the ED a little over a month ago and was suffering from Serotonin Syndrome (SS). If it weren’t for her husband asking the doctors if this might be SS, she would be dead. The doctor in the ED was trying to fix the individual symptoms rather than treating all the symptoms as a whole. We both feel like SS is not discussed enough in the medical field or the pharmaceutical field. There needs to be more education regarding SS on all levels; patients, medical and pharmaceutical. She is home now, but is still experiencing many symptoms of SS and as a result is still struggling. Please do a video on Serotonin Syndrome to educate patients so others will not suffer because of the lack of knowledge on the seriousness of this condition. Thank you.
Sorry you all experienced that. Please share specifics of symptoms to help other understand . Thank you.
Isn't SS caused by very high doses of certain antidepressants? Or can anyone develop it on low doses?
It’s not discussed because it’s very rare, barely happens
We need more education on this, especially from someone like Dr Kaveh.
Yes I agree. I have cancer and every time I see a certain doctor I get asked about SSRI no thanks I experienced that back in the 90's sexual dysfunctional. Thank God it went away. But SS kills! I agree the doc schools are not teaching how common this is
Adding medications on top of medications sounds like breaking something that's broken.
Part of the agenda of big pharma and the new world order. Why we are where we are, including an administration that falls up the stairs.
Not so. As a pain management patient and someone who developed anxiety/depression a result of said pain, I can tell you that doctors prescribe multiple medications with care and for specific reasons. To begin with, these are complex issues which sometimes need to be attacked from different angles. Less considered by people is the fact that medications can also interact in positive ways, enhancing their effects or producing new, needed ones. All cases are different.
I was prescribed an anticonvulsant to stop symptoms of akathisia while on antipsychotics. Maybe do something to stop akathisia instead? Not to mention the stimulants to keep me awake and the insulin to counteract the rising blood sugar. You are totally right.
I am a ptsd sufferer. At one point it was quite difficult for me to leave my home
Therapy has helped, but it was an ssri tat allowed me to actually live. I have no doubt it affects my health in some negative ways, but not nearly as negative as the anxiety and depression of ptsd. I never want to go back to tdark days days.
That's fine as long as you were given fully informed consent by your doctor before you started this drug that SSRIs cause physiological dependency as well as permanent sexual dysfunction, akathisia, metabolic disorder, suicidal ideations, neurological dysfunction, neurotoxicity, serotonin syndrome and emotional blunting. Many doctors downplay these adverse effects and say they're rare when that's not true.
@@hiya1399and if they weren’t? What is your solution?
@@hiya1399100%
I totally agree with you. I do have slight side effects, but it's worth it not feeling suicidal and being able to participate in life with everyone else. I do really hope that I will be able to feel this way without the medication one day, but I'm only 2 months into treatment, and it is just one day at a time right now.
@@SurlyBill963
If you are told by anyone medical that a pill will cure you or make you feel better you are being mislead.
Placebo's effects contribute to the life long after affects like sexual dysfunction. All you can do is try to eat well meditate emerse your❤self in natural world get to the parks and the Beach.
Life long issues like hyper vigilance insomnia. There has never been a study on long-term use of antidepressant use.
Patient beware.
I took SSRIs (Sertraline) for 3.5 years. I've suffered with general anxiety for my whole life so initially after the SSRI started working I felt great; I was sleeping better, I felt less socially anxious but slowly the anxiety would come back and I'd ask the doctor to up the dosage. Recently the pharmacy price jumped up to $30 for a month's supply and I couldn't afford it anymore and I had to do the risky cold turkey approach. I wouldn't recommend it, the withdrawals are horrible. Nausea, vertigo, mood swings, horrible panic attacks. But now about 2 months later I feel back to my pre SSRI self. The anxiety is still there but it is what it is.
Thanks for this Livestream; it was really informative on SSRIs and how we need to look at the whole picture of health instead of just the symptoms!
I went through the same thing. Getting off SSRIs had me dry heaving and getting nauseous from random things like bacon when I usually love bacon. And the massive panic attacks. I didn’t want to leave the house for over a year.
I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 in my mid thirties. Prior to that I had long recognized my depressive symptoms but not my hypomanic ones. So I was constantly needing treatment for depression (it turned out there's a lot more going on too). I was prescribed a lot of SSRIs and SNRIs over the years and never stuck with them because they made me feel really wired, like I was on speed, even on small starter doses. In hindsight I realize that every one of those medications I tried had triggered a hypomanic episode (except for one, Mirtazapine, which makes me feel drowsy and need a lot of sleep). I've also since been diagnosed with ADHD and what I find interesting is that while I'm taking actual amphetamine for that, it doesn't trigger me like those SSRI and SNRIs did.
My point is SSRIs and SNRIs can have some very weird and unexpected side effects when you have certain other conditions, and can make them much worse. They (Psychiatrists/Neurologists) really don't know what they're doing poking around in people's brains with these chemicals. It all seems very experimental, even after decades of being prescribed to patients.
I had a similar experience. I've been on just about every anti depressant, anti psychotic and mood stabilizer in the book. The combo of mirtazapine and lithium work the best for me. I still have manic and depressive episodes, but they aren't nearly as intense. Most other antidepressants gave me very unpleasant side effects.
Yes, it is experimental. They say it "treats" low levels of Serotonin but there is no test to even check for low Serotonin!
Agree. I felt like a guinea pig with Nurotin
@Rebecca-1111 I'm on nurontin too. It can have some unpleasant side effects but it's also helped me a lot with my anxiety and manic episodes.
i've experienced the same thing!! never heard of anyone who's effected like this. brain weird
I so love that you reaffirm in every video that each of us have so much more power over both our health and our outcomes when undergoing surgeries with anesthesia than most of us realize. I am so grateful for the education that you are providing and the gifts you are sharing with all of us that we already have the means to unlock! God Bless, and Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year!
It’s encouraging that there are doctors whom believe that we have authority over our own body and mind. I was diagnosed with depression 3 years ago and the doctor prescribed adderall. It was awful, my mind was going a hundred miles an hour and my body seemed to be paralyzed. I stopped taking the drug and when I told the doctor he was very upset. Thank you for helping me realize that I done the right thing. By the way I’m depression free by eating the proper diet.
That’s odd because Adderall is a stimulant used for ADHD, and not ( that I know of) for depression. Maybe because depression slows you down it makes sense to speed you up.
@@stephenpowstinger733ADHD meds screw people off with major depression it only makes you energetic and much more depressed person. It feels like you are manic and depressed at the same time. My doctor wanted to try it on me once and I threw it into thrash the second day after prescription.
SSRIs and SNRIs combined can drag me out of near-suicidal despair, to mere ongoing anguish. So, Yay!?
Prozac stopped my anxiety incredibly well. However my dear friend is dying and I feel nothing. This is alarming. Stopped taking it cold Turkey. Day 5, wobbly but would rather feel my emotions good or bad.
Until your anxiety comes back 2 fold. You will get past your withdrawal symptoms after a few weeks, your seretonin levels will still be okay and you will feel okay. But after 3 to 6 months you will crash, but this time even worse. Been there, and done that. Actually, Prozac has a really long half life. You won't get withdrawal symptoms for a long time and may take up to 1 year for you to crash.
@@cespo77 well thats cheery thank for that encouraging message lol
@@victoriaholden6296 I am sorry Victoria! lol That has been my personal experience as I am very sensitive to drugs. Though everyone is different. But, on another note, SSRI's also cause hair loss. If you are taking anything, pay attention to that as well.
Never go cold turkey. One needs to taper off very very slowly. I'm finding this out now. Let me refer you to Dr. Mark Horowitz , a psychiatrist who has personal experience with long term use and withdrawal problems.
PLEASE ask your doctor how to wean off of the Prozac slowly!! There can be some significant side effects stopping suddenly!!
2018-2019: I lost a lot of weight, weighted like in my early adulthood again, and started to feel better and more confident. Then in 2020, I was prescribed SSRI due to depression and anxiety issues, and then began the downfall with rapid weight gain. My entire dieting, new motivation and workout results years before went straight to the toilet.
Women gain weight with most depression meds - hate that!🤨
I had to go off welbutrin because it killed my appetite and made me scary skinny if that’s any help to you. I lose frightening amounts sometimes which l wish l could share with you but yeah it seems just about all of them cause weight gain especially amitriptyline. Good luck to you.
How refreshing to listen to a Dr who’s main focus is on treating each patient individually, as a human being, who’s needs differ and that each individuals requirements for well-being differ hugely. As a nurse of over 20 years, thank you, I wish more Drs had similar concerns. As a human being who has suffered from many major depressive episodes, (treatment resistant but still on SSRIs 😮) , thank you for your open mindedness, your compassion and for your insight and thoughts on this topic. I totally hear what you are saying. Continue being you, we need more medical professionals out there like you. Bless x
I am 71 and this is what I have learned. 1. Psychiatrists are not practicing science. 2. If you fell better on antidepressants you have 6 months to a year to get to the cause of the depression, because if you don't, they will add a second pill. And if you feel better on that for a while, it won't be long until that isn't working and they will add a third pill. One of these pills will be almost free. One of them will carry the risk of permanent severe side effects. One of them will cost $10 a pill. 3. If you have experienced ONE -mTBI (mild brain injury or concussion) your chance of developing depression/anxiety goes up by up to 30%. I saw psychiatrists for years and not once was I asked if I had a history of concussion. (see what I mean, psychiatrist don't even address this known fact.)
Psychiatry is not your friend. Culture is not your friend. Downsize. Some women just don't have the energy to work full-time and raise a family. Stay home and raise your children and make oatmeal for breakfast for a few cents a serving vs. McDonalds. Simplify. Organize, if you don't know who you are, find out. Pray. Start walking every day.
Every day you are granted $100 worth of life energy. Go into debt, it is taken out on your physical body. Your attention is your most valuable possession. What you give your attention to determines the future. So pay attention to what you are spending this $100 on. If you start the day with distress, now you have $50 to run your life with. It is all about your energy, so forgive it all and move forward.
Thank you for your message. I'm go8ng to re-read this
, after a few hours sleep
Let's not forget that it's psychiatry and neurology development that allows, for example, schizophrenic patients to lead normal lives - whereas historically,they would be treated as possessed and institutionalised for life,if not worse. Depression is a complex disease and we are very complex being, physiologically and chemically, and we still don't understand so much. Removing sources of stress and utilising exercise, diet, contact with good people and nature is all around good advice, for everyone but especially for depressed patients - however many people still need some sort of support to be able to implement any lifestyle changes. We need to learn more but we can't give up on so many people. There are, unfortunately,some dishonest, badly trained, uncaring doctors in every field but is it fair to judge a whole branch of medicine, science and research, based on one - or even few - bad apples?
Well said.
@@margodphd I judge the profession. Antipsychotics and antidepressants were not invented by psychiatry, they were developed by chemists. Over the course of 25 years with appointments (sometimes monthly) with a dozen different psychiatrists and not once was I asked if I had a history of concussion injuries.
Excellent wisdom.
Happy new year man, I learned so much about SSRI’s that was awesome and amazing, I never lied to my anesthesiologist about my health! I really enjoy donating to the anesthesiologist Foundation, since it was hard for me to go to college to be a anesthesiologist because of my cerebral palsy! You rock man
I have fibromyalgia. Years ago, I was put on paxil cr for my insomnia and pain. It didn't help. I took it for 3 yrs.and decided I wasn't gonna waste my time or money on this medicine. I was weaned off with the help of another Dr. It took me 18 months to get back to feeling somewhat normal. I was dizzy, had brain zaps, arm zaps and and tremors. I was put on klonopin for the tremors. Another monster I want to get off my back, but I hear that's not gonna be easy. Lucky me!
Thanks for all your wonderful videos. I wish there were more doctors like you. You seem very passionate about your patients and what you do.
SSRIs saved my life. After living with anxiety and post partum depression for 2 years and not sleeping more than 2 hours a night, I was a mess and had convinced myself my family would be better off without me. My doctor prescribed me an SSRI and it took about 3 months for it to really start to work but after about 9 months I finally started sleeping 7 hours regularly every night and I wasn’t a jittery mess. I did have some side effects that went away after a few weeks and I’ve been great ever since. I’m not on a high dose and am thinking of trying to go off them to see if I still need them after using them for 10 years. I do think our brain chemistry can get/be screwed up and these and other meds can be helpful, but like all other types of meds they don’t work for everyone, unfortunately. We still know so little of how are bodies work, but I thank god I live in an era where there can be real help for all these conditions.
I was on SSRIs for almost a year, and it helped me start to get things done that I couldn't do like bathing, sleeping, eating on a routine. Once I became more balanced my therapist helped me build coping mechanisms to the depression. Then we decided to wean the medications over the next few months until I got completely off it. I still have some symptoms but because I have better coping skills and awareness, it's not as overwhelming. It's been about 7 years since and I've been improving each year.
Same here.. if I am not on SSRI's I don't want to live.. I hope that one day I can taper off the fluoxetine and live a normal life without meds.
Are you guys just here to spam with promotions ?
@@DipayanPyne94
No .. I am legit on fluoxetine,. I suffer from GAD
SSRI + Wellbutrin worked pretty well for me
Keep the important info coming, please.
This particular video confirmed what I've been I've been considering and praying about.
You are so helpful. Thank you.
One way to treat the out of control depression in the US should start with affordable housing, fair pay and worker protections & a real work/life balance like Europe has, social safety nets, universal healthcare, free education paid by our taxes etc. It’s cheaper for most people in the US to pop some generic anti-depressant when you constantly work and make just enough to survive
Exactly...big pharma makes money on the backs of suffering people that's another reason why medication is the most expensive then any other country.... late stage capitalism only works for the richest 1%
Uh oh! It sounds like you're suffering from a medical brain problem only pharmaceutical drugs can help! Those are classic thoughts symptomatic of a mental illness.
Helpful hint I used to wean myself from ssri: break or divide the pill, start using a nail file and each day for a few days, do the same number of swipes. Following week, add some more swipes. You get the picture. Very grateful for Simple advice I learned from a fellow commenter. Not medical advice, just what worked for me. You could talk to your Dr, but they wouldn’t recommend becoming untethered from the system. Just my knowledge guided by experience
Thank you for constructive criticism. I agree as a 42 year old male medicated since 16. I agree fully with your insights. Thank you!! So much more to learn.❤
Thank you for this video. Many years ago I was treated in hospital for depression. I found the antidepressants did nothing for me and argued constantly with the nurses over my medication. Finally it was agreed to give me an antipsychotic instead. I was on that for 4 months; once it was stopped, I never had the need for psychiatric medication again.
I probably wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for antidepressants. I've had severe depression with suicidal tendencies from an early age (about 6 years old). I could never fight it, as though a dark cloud hung over my head, causing a very negative outlook on life. I had multiple serious attempts at suicide over time. When I was in my 40's, I was put on antidepressants, and after a month, felt such gratitude for finally feeling NORMAL. The person hidden inside of massive depression came out of hiding, and I felt like I was finally able to be myself. My genuine self, unaffected by the dark cloud.
I am a completely different person now, with hope and a positive outlook on life. I know for certain that I suffered from some form of chemical imbalance and can tell the difference between the chermical depression and any natural depression that occurs from difficult periods of life, such as the loss of a loved one, or painful trauma. And yes, I do experience real emotions, tears, sadness, and depressed thoughts during those times.
I have also never had any side effects from the medications. I was on celexa 20 mg for about 15 years, then increased to 40 mg. About 2 years ago, I was switched to venlafaxine and wellbutron. Again, very effective, and no side effects. Although antidepressants may be overly prescribed to the general public, there are those like myself with true severe depression that never goes away without treatment. I believe in counseling therapy as well, which is helpful during traumatic periods.
I'm 69 years old and my one and only regret is that I was not given antidepressants many years sooner, which could have saved me from so much misery and many suicidal attempts.
My opinion (as a depressed person) is that taking anything chronically to treat a mental condition is no different than addiction because instead of treating the problem, you are treating the symptom. It seems like doctors don't first ask the patient whether the depression is situational or inherent. If it's situational, then anti-depressants should never be given because that means there is nothing wrong with the patients brain and instead they need therapy to get through the situation.
You can actually get a cure with natural remedies, after I learnt about psychedelic mushroom about how it cures depression and some other mental illnesses that was wrinkling my performance in every area of my life it was really the best treatment for the pssd symptoms I was experiencing, you can get a cure naturally without complications and depression is a thing of the past for me , no more SSRI for treatment
*Wellmans11*
So many doctors including psychiatrists don’t do that unfortunately
Reactive depression is a normal part of life and shouldn’t really be considered an organic illness. It also responds well to psychotherapy. As someone with an _actual_ depressive illness which is unrelated to life events I can vouch for the ineffectiveness of antidepressants generally. When people respond positively to modern antidepressants it’s usually just placebo effect.
@@anhedonianepiphany5588 Problem is that many depressions are not rooted in psychogenic factors (like a divorce) but more in infections, immunological or endocrine dysfunction or genetic mutations. If you look at other "psychiatric" diseases like schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder, you see that they have a pretty high heritability. The most important risk factor for schizophrenia is not a stressfull life event but having a twin who develloped the disease. If you have a schizophrenic in your family, you are also more likely to get certain autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases (dementia, epilepsy) or other psychiatrc diseases (bi-polar, anxiety, major depression, somatic disorder).
It is needless to say that most symptoms of schizophrenia can directly be linked to cognitive decline and dysfunction of various brain parts and those symptoms are considered "neurologic" but not "psychiatric". And to be honest, I don't even understand why we differenctiate between psychiatric or neurologic symptoms.
In people with active Covid or Long Covid, we call olfactory hallucinations (phatosmia) "neurologic" while in schizophrenia they are seen as a "psychiatric" symptom, yet recent research is showing that in both conditions, that symptom correlates to monocytes (immune cells) infiltrating the olfactory nerve as well as having a certain gene for some receptor in the olfactory nerve. (So that symptoms has the same root cause in both conditions) (Btw it can also be seen in epilepsy, alzheimer's and other conditions)
What I wanted to point out with all of that is that understanding of psychiatric diseases is still rather infantile and reducing psychiatric diseases to a psychogenic disease might lead to inefficient treatments or inefficient prevention meassures.
PS. English istn't my mother tongue so please forgive me if I made any spelling mistakes.
What a brilliant doctor. I wish more doctors understood (or acknowledged) this.
I had bad results with SSRIs, including addictive/impulsive behavior and seizurelike activity.
Dopamine boosting medications have been the only help for me, and they've helped immensely. Cabergoline especially.
I can say that I had impulsive and crazy behavior as well.
Wow! People need to tell the anesthesiologist everything! They are our world in there and our lives are in their hands. 🫶🏼
It blows my mind anesthesiologists in the states talk to patients. I've never had a anesthesiologist talk to me, they get info from whatever info nurses give them & from official medication administration record from provincial pharmacy system. Literally only speak to you when it's time to put ya out. This last time, it was a nurse who told me he started propofol, I looked down and there it was going up the IV line, I burst into tears 😢. Literally no one, not my GP, NP, hospital nurses knew why I was having this procedure, it wasn't procedure that was suggested; specialist wouldn't explain it. I wish doctors & nurses here would see Dr K's videos.
I have huge panic attacks for 11 years right now, and im on SSRI since my 1st panic attacks. At first when i started SSRI my panic attacks stopped, hadnt any untill i stopped taking SSRI. Now after i stopped and my panic attacks came back its much harder to stop them. I changed SSRI, it worked for 2 years and my panic attacks came back. Now im taking higher dose+ alprazolam and wishing it will work and i could stop taking alprazolam. It seemd like a miracle in first years, i wish it will start working again. During these 11 years i finished collegue in mechanical engineering faculty, was process engineer in supplier company, now i am process enginner at OEM. I believe SSRIs are working.
I dont have depresion, no negative throughts at all
I have panic Disorder and started taking sertraline (zoloft) and it’s seems to work
SSRIs were terrible for me. SSNRIs kept me alive long enough for my autism and ADHD to be diagnosed -- because norepinephrine reuptake inhibition IS effective for treating my ADHD, and I was less anxious and depressed when I was able to do the things. Serotonin leaves me feeling okay with not doing things that aren't urgent, so it actually makes things worse. Within 3 months of diagnosing my neurodivergence and stepping from the SSNRIs to atomoxetine, I no longer met diagnostic criteria for GAD and I haven't had a depressive episode that lasted more than a day or two (so also not meeting diagnostic criteria) in the three years since then. I did have to go back to using an SSNRI (Fetzima, which has the lowest relative action on serotonin to norepinephrine), because I have fairly debilitating symptoms when norepinephrine levels plunge and taking the extended release Fetzima in the lowest possible dose prevents such sudden plunges early in the morning following stressful days. I REALLY look forward to the day that atomoxetine is available in an extended-release form. My body produces dopamine and serotonin just fine when I can do the things, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition works very well for helping me do the thing (well, there are also trauma response patterns and resulting rigidity, learned helplessness, delays in skills normally learned implicitly, etc. which can interfere with doing the thing, but I am working on all of those.)
I just wanted to share and THANK YOU for such a detailed, honest, post about your experience with the Strattera, and from an adult view.
My 10yo son has adhd and asd. Not some behavior problem at school type, but legit. He is really high IQ has to be 120+, despite his "quirks" like tongue wiggling, finger tip bouncing etc. He can play SRV licks on guitar, creates mods for games and is learning basic code language. I'm not exaggerating the least. (the detail in your post keyed me to your similar intelligence). Anyways..
A couple months ago we started the lowest possible dose of Strattera, at the recommendation of his awesome counselors referral, and he has become a complete Jedi. His quirks have all but disappeared, he doesn't get agitated at all. His focus is lazer its just unreal how "Luke coming back for Leia and frozen Han" he has become. So far the only issue has been constipation, which tbh he's always been a dry type. Can't wait to see how it helps his GAD at school next month. So far he's been dragging ME out into the world lol. Sorry for the book, thanks.
edit: he takes his at night with full glass of water.
I am 65 and have had depression all my life. I'm currently on two antidepressants. I'm very interested in psychedelics the more I hear about them. My son has done this and feels on a more even balance. I'm tired of switching meds, nightmares, interrupted sleep and still feeling not good.
Yikes you gotta get off that crap I was on them for two years all it did was numb me then I had a complete break down. You gotta deal with your issues I've done ayahuasca and iboga they definitely changed my life but healing is hard work.
I watched a TED Talk years ago from a doctor who was concerned about so many teenagers being on SSRIs, due to the sexual side-effects. Namely, the lack of libido, and how that would affect romantic relationships on a large scale. As the years have gone on, I've seen so many young people come out as asexual/aromantic, and I wonder if SSRIs have had any effect on that.
Please know, if you're asexual/aromantic, you're asexual/aromantic. That doesn't have to be justified in any way, shape or form. It's finally a time in history where people can openly talk about their sexuality, and for the majority of asexual/aromantics, they have no experience with psych meds.
But for me personally, I identify as asexual/aromantic now, but there was a time when I was hetero, before SSRIs. I've been on them so long now though (25 yrs), that being asexual is just...me.
So as someone who did have a before & after, I wonder if you start out on SSRIs young, would you know how you identified sexually before you started SSRIs versus after? Would it be as simple as "No, I never had a crush on anyone growing up or felt sexual feelings", so there was no after, or would it be confusing that you did feel some of those things, but since you stopped experiencing them, your identity grew around that? What happens to those that come off SSRIs and begin to feel sexual or romantic feelings - that seems like it would be really upending?
I feel like this is also something that needs to be talked about, in ways that don't invalidate anyone's experiences or identities.
I almost was in the same boat. Before my most recent regimen of psychiatric drugs, I was a happily a bisexual woman with a healthy sex life. However, I was put on a medication called Depakote (an anticonvulsant used to treat bipolar 2 and eating disorders) that completely erased my libido, even moreso than some SSRIs I’ve been on in the past. I genuinely thought I was either turning asexual or had miraculously stopped being gay, which was very distressing to say the least.
It’s interesting that you bring up the topic of asexuality in conjunction with taking SSRIs (or even mood stabilizers as I found in my case), because I’ve often wondered the connection between the two during times throughout the 10+ years I’ve been on antidepressants and such.
@@Nocomment552 Thank you so much for sharing this. I brought up the SSRIs, but I have Bipolar II as well, and yeah, the mood-stabilizers _really_ seemed to turn it off. It's hard to tell what's done what as I have chronic pain too, so I'm on several meds that fiddle with my brain. But the only time it got reversed was when a psychiatrist tried Wellbutrin...aaaand that's because it made me manic 😅
I can only imagine how distressing that would be. Sometimes med effects can feel very much a part of you, so it's hard to separate out what's you-you and what's medication-you (which is why so many of us will go off them, thinking we don't need them, lol). But it's an odd, existential quandary to be in.
That’s why bipolar people don’t like to take their lithium because they like their manic phase where they can often be extremely and inappropriately hyper sexual. Just read the biography of Scarlett O’Hara herself, Vivien Leigh. very tragic. on another note, we often don’t think of the medication’s that can feminize boys and men leading to loss. of libido, but really loss of masculinity. There’s an old saying that if somebody is a heroin addict, they’re probably not gonna be a murderer, because heroin feminizes the brain and men who could be quite aggressive are super chill, I’m sure you’ve heard of the soy boys well we know that soy feminizes men. I wonder what other anti-depressants might do that; it’s not talked about. And the powers that be want a very passive cooperative herd.
Very well thought.
I am 42 and never been on medication. I recently lost my libido. My depression has always been severe. I am pretty sure I have low testosterone now due to age and depression.
For the longest time, i did not want to take medication bc i was afraid of the side effects especially the sexual side effects. But now that i lost my libido, what do i have to lose? Why cant i just try medication for a few months to see if my libido comes back? I just made an appointment to see a Psychiatrist.
I am going to ask for Lexipro bc I have heard good things about it.
I am a part of a depression group and everyone had only good things to say about their anti-depressants.
I love your content, but I just wanted to add that it's important to put a caveat on psychedelic promotion: please be VERY CAREFUL with psychedelics if you have a history of psychosis in your family. It can harm you long term, so it's best to dose safely and, ideally, with a professional.
What you are saying is not borne out by my clinical experience as a psychiatrist.
Most people respond well to antidepressants.
I would say 70% of my patients have a good response.
And it definitely does not take months to see an effect.
There is usually a improvement within the first week or 2. Some people take a bit longer. I would not continue prescribing a medication for months without seeing an effect.
Psychiatrists do know that the serotonin hypothesis is oversimplified and that we don’t really know how SSRI’s work.
That doesn’t alter the fact they work….without us fully understanding why.
We certainly don’t regard our patients as bags of chemicals and reduce them to a diagnosis.
I don’t know if that how they average American psychiatrist thinks. I don’t live there. Nor do we think that popping a pill is the answer to all
of life’s problems.
Why do you assume that the average psychiatrist has such a coarse approach to patients?
I find it disappointing, because I enjoy your videos.
I agree with you about the side effects.
Sexual side effects are a problem with SSRI’s and SNRI’s.
When the alternative is feeling suicidally depressed and not being able to function and enjoy life, people often choose an SSRI.
I discuss the different medications with patients and make a plan with them in a collaborative way.
When other alternatives aren’t effective people will sometimes choose not being depressed and not coping with life over libido and orgasms.
Not everyone can afford the cost of ketamine treatment or psychotherapy.
And there are a lot of people who would rather take medication than have psychotherapy.
That is a valid choice which should be respected.
I had to learn this because I have always advocated for healing emotional wounds.
Finally, sometimes no amount of therapy will be enough to permanently abolish depression and anxiety.
I take antidepressants myself.
I spent many years doing therapy and trying non pharmacological treatments. I did lots of personal growth courses and tried different kinds of therapy.
One day it struck me that the
patient I was seeing was well after a month on medication, while I was struggling to get through the consultation because of my own depression!
I have found out over the years what works best for me, with negligible side effects.
I still see a clinical psychologist for myself and one to help with parenting my autistic child.
Without the medication I would not be able to work enough to support us or have the emotional
resources necessary for solo parenting my child.
From all of my experience in my personal life and working in the medical field myself, I appreciate whenever conditions like depression and anxiety are not portrayed in the reduced chemical imbalance argument. In my view and experience, I honestly believe that a majority of depression and anxiety cases are result of living in today's horrible predatory society. Work a job, pay your bills, or be homeless. Obviously there is more to it than that, but that seems to not be something that is brought up nearly enough is the influence of environment and society on the development of these conditions.
I agree. I have a background in sociology and some social and psychology theories about social and mental behavior are rooted in the nurture vs nature dichotomy. There’s a debate about how much influence each have on mental and social issues. I tend to lean more on the nurture side, that human behavior is shaped by individual experiences and reactions. There are some mental behaviors and cognitive functions (or impairments) that can only be caused by brain chemistry and development however. Human behavior can be a complex and ambiguous, yet fascinating study.
Good man, keep the message going.
Too many good people have blindly trusted their GP right up to realizing that their life has come to a standstill revolving around the doctors & the chemist, with no real positive progress to report.
Thank you, Dr. Kaveh. You are a real good Doctor and a honest one. Hugs from Italy.
Jesus. You are amazing. You are so empowering on any topic you tackle. I love that you have so much openness to questions about human experience and physiology.
Jesus sure is amazing.
I love that as soon as he says that he doesn't do ads some ads pop up. Also his whole discussion is an ad for his ketamine clinic.
SSRIs make me ill. I don't react in expected ways to meds. Anesthesia has always worked super-fast for me though.
TH-cam puts ads on videos which are beyond the content creator's control.
One of the best books I read years ago was ... relief without drugs by ainsley mears. He was one of the first doctors to advocate meditation instead of medication.
Thank you so much for clarifying for wider audiences with such amazing and first hand knowledge. Have so much respect for you🙏 My sister was dependent on Zoloft since has epilepsy since six and was on it over 15 years and was horrible time, esp as she was already prescribed segraline and the aforementioned Ssri was only for “comfort” thank you so much for bringing so much incredible knowledge. Wishing all the best
Already prescribed zonasimide****
It's not ketamine but I have the same mindset with my ADHD medication over my SSRI'S, I can take them whenever I need them rather than have to every day.
Glad I came across you bro
I love the nurse practitioner I have. her goal was to get me off of all the SSRI’s that she could and use talk and relaxation practices to help with the mental illness that I’ve been disabled with for 40 years. I was 22 when I had a breakdown and I’m almost 63.
If I had her helping me in the beginning or anywhere along this long illness, I believe I would have gotten better enough to be able to be a functioning and working happy woman. In stead my life was wasted being put on meds and getting no good therapists to help me. In the past 18 months with the psych NP and a new younger therapist, I have improved so much and have come a long way more than the 39 years before
What a great provider. Her name please? City?
@@grandma460 She is part of a program offered in Massachusetts only, for those over 55 and disabled. She doesn’t see other clients. I’m sorry. Her name is Denise Bouvert. She is extremely well knowledge in medications as well. She’s a gift from God.
So happy to hear this for you! If I'm looking for someone like her what is her exact title? Or speciality that I would search for? Thank you!
The thing about mental health issues is that they are so complex and nuanced, can be caused by numerous environmental factors. I dont know what it is about Western countries and this is me being non- scientific but merely observation and reading of studies, there is such a big % of population being depressed and anxious. I am from Viet Nam and ai never really have depression there, once I move to America, I started having terrible anxiety and then depression in my second year living here. Humans need community and companions and individualistic society robs us a lot of that core human experience...
I am honest with my doctor
about my weed use and all of the prescribed SSRI's and tricyclic meds I'm on. I have had to have several brain surgery . I have been told in the past to stop taking benzo and weed a couple of days before the surgery. I personally feel that it's safer to be honest with your use to avoid possible life threatening drug interactions. I think people generally worry
that the doctor is going to rat then out to law enforcement.
Legally HIPPA
avoids that.
Unfortunately HIPAA doesn’t protect people. Almost every US state has a reporting site to the DEA. Reporting is mandatory for all doctors, pharmacists, NPs, and PAs. Each state designs its own website and determines its own guidelines of meds, both legal and illegal, that are required to be reported. Also, law enforcement officials have access to these websites and the information they contain. So if you get pulled over for speeding and the officer suspects, or is just nosy, he/she might put you up on the state’s website and view your profile. As I said every state’s website and laws are different.
You are true healer. In the truest sense of the word. Lots of love for you
FYI I've been on effexor for 25 years and thanks to it I'm here to tell the story of being on the medication for 25 years 🎉
Lexepro SSRI seems to of worked quite well for helping me with my social anxiety.. I suffered with this from a early teen and wasn’t till around 26 and a few years of therapy that I started talking the medication. it seems to make a significant improvement for making certain social situations much more bearable and I’m much less likely to get overly anxious and blush in the face which was a major problem for me. I still suffer from high general anxiety at times and when it comes to depression I still go in and out. I basically spend close to half of my adult life in periods of mild or slightly sever depression which last anywhere from a few months to close to a full year. Iv been on them now almost 15 years. The obvious side effect seems to be lower sex drive which after turning 40 is extremely low.
I wish I lived near your practice. My quality of life is just so sorry. No matter how good things get my brain is still sick. My loved ones all just think depression is a “me” thing and a laziness thing and can be changed by “thinking positively”. Every therapist and professional wants to funnel SSRIs into me. I feel so trapped and misunderstood. I eat well, take vitamins, exercise, but none of it is enough to combat how traumatized and tired my poor brain is. I wish I could just tell it to act right. I wish my family could understand me.
You can actually get a cure with natural remedies, after I learnt about psychedelic mushroom about how it cures depression and some other mental illnesses that was wrinkling my performance in every area of my life it was really the best treatment for the pssd symptoms I was experiencing, you can get a cure naturally without complications and depression is a thing of the past for me , no more SSRI for treatment
The Instagram handle below is the contact information of the vendor to get it
*Wellmans11*
I'm someone who used to have anxiety and panic attacks. I started to use LSD recreationally but also with an awareness that there was research into treatment for anxiety and depression. Well, it induced panic attacks in me and I used that opportunity to learn overcome them. There's more to the story but the gist is that I tamed the overactive parts of my brain (default mode network) and learned to live in the moment. I haven't had a panic attack since 2016
I taught my son (20yrs old) your breathing technique to calm himself. I have a pulse/ox to prove its real.He thought it was pretty cool like kung fu stuff.😊 Any anxiety mostly it works great. I have my son with autism do it when i can get him to, and use it myself. Thank you❤
Dude you're a picture perfect doctor.
OMG! You aknowledge the issues with EDS and local anesthesia! I'm so tired of doctors not believing me until its too late. Or maybe believing me but refusing to deviate from what they usually use. I wish more anesthesiologists knew about that.
I knew it!!
I never felt that SSRIs were helping me. Paxil the first few times I took it chilled me out and lifted me-- into a numb zone.
I hated being in that zone.
Not too low - and not too high. Just numb.
Dr. Kaveh, I had general anesthesia on Friday of this past week and it was so easy. I was really nervous as this was my first time to ever have any kind of anesthesia/sedation.
The CRNA gave me my “margarita” (versed) in my IV. I just laid my head back to try to relax as they rolled the bed down the hallway. We went through these double doors at the end of the hall and stopped for what seemed like a few seconds. I remember the circulating nurse just looking at me.
I don’t know what they did or what happened after that point. I woke up in PACU 4 hours later.
Did the versed make me go to sleep? Or did it just wipe out any memories?
Did they possibly give me propofol at that point?
They never had me breath through the mask that I know of.
The PACU nurse was really nice and helped me get pain under control afterwards. The more I woke up, the more pain I was in. She maxed me out on pain meds and made me really nauseous. Luckily I had some zig ran back at my hotel to help.
For some reason, hydrocodone make me really hyper. My doctor and nurses told me I would probably sleep the rest of the afternoon, but once they gave me the Loritab, I was bouncing off the walls. Why does it have this effect on me?
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION, AND CONTENT. IT WILL HELP INFORM THE DOCTORS I INTERACT WITH, PARTICULARLY ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHEN AND IF THE TIME COMES. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS SURGERIES IN MY EARLY TEENS AND TWENTIES.IVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. HOPING TO NEVER " GO UNDER THE KNIFE" AGAIN.✌🏾
I'm wishing you the best 🙏
Lexapro saved my life, panic attacks stopped, derealization stopped, anxiety attacks stopped. It did not help my depression.
I like how you say we are more than a bunch of chemicals. So precious.
My Experience Is That SSRI's In A Persons' Brain (mine, actually)- Especially When That Person Is Extremely Tired Or Even Sleep Deprived...Can Help To Cause These "Twitches" Or "Tremors" Once That Person Is Finally Quiet, Calm & Lying Down To Finally Sleep...These Movements Aren't Painful Or Violent In Any Way But Can Be Jarring If You Aren't Used To Them Occuring, Which Doesn't Happen All The Time Or Even The Same Way Twice. I Think If It As A Kind Of Power Surge In The Brain - "Clearing The Board & Restarting Fresh"... These "Tremors" Or "Twitches" Can Be Strong & Involve Many Muscles In The Upper Body - Mostly Arms & Hands - But They Seem Harmless Enough. Still - I Notify ALL My Doctors & Anesthesiologist About Any Meds I Take Of This Kind, As Well As Dosage & Frequency, Just As With Any Other Meds for Blood Pressure, Etc...A Well Informed Anesthesiologist Is A Better Anesthesiologist! If I Were Ever Going To Lie To Or Withhold Information From Any Doctor (I Wouldn't!) - It Certainly Wouldn't Be This One!😬
Powerful experience and good wisdom to be honest with your doctors!
Aren't those twitches just hypnic jerks? I get them frequently when I'm just starting to go to sleep. There are some studies that say that escitalopram can increase them though.
How did you write each word with a capital letter ? Looks neat !
@@nicolenicole319 It's Like Regular Typed Script - Kind Of Like In A Book - Easier To Read! And Habit...
@@nicolenicole319 I find it really hard to read and almost gives me need for medication LOL
I WISH doctors would warn people about the movement disorders that can be caused by these meds.
I have had Akathisia following a GA. I believe it may be related to the anti-emetics in the GA, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I have read that this is not an uncommon experience. Luckily the few times it has occurred it has gone away of its own accord, but I understand that some people can be permanently affected by it. I too am a "victim" of years of different psychotherapeutic? medications (Effexor XR and Clonazepam now for years) which I know are very problematic, but other drugs used in GA's can cause problems too. Big Pharma is a mad world.
Very helpful and honest . I suffered from seretonin syndrome. Its an awful thing. Your brain and body are never right after it.
Haven’t seen a doctor for years. Do I have problems, sure do, in a matter of two years I lost a family (ex and children), my dream job, my dog.
I was depressed as hell. Took a while to get over it.
I use good food, exercise and a healthy dose of perspective to overcome everything.
Do I get pissed off and sad about all the things and people I have lost? Sure.
It is about perspective.
I lost a lot because I had the fortune to experience a lot.
I’ve lost love because I’ve truly loved and was truly loved.
No drugs for my brain. My thoughts are precious to me. Good or bad, they are mine!
No chemical is gonna mess with them.
I developed Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction at 20 years old, 3 years later off the medication I only took for 22 days, I still have symptoms such as genital numbness/reduced sensation, anorgasmia, difficulty climaxing/delayed ejeculation which all contribute to me low libido, mentally I crave intimacy… Very hard for me to do that my symptoms are very prominent during the act and make me feel like it’s a chore before lexapro this was not prevalent in my life prior to medication anda gust of wind was enough to get me in the mood, this condition is becoming more known as more people are contracting it, it’s an iatrogenic condition and should be addressed like any naturally occurring condition.
Yes! And awareness should be rised about this issue! Could you go and get help from somebody like Somatic sexualcoach, Sexologist etc. Alternative sexual healer? Anyway, that could enchance your sexual experiences regardless.
Prevalence of 1/216 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37085865/ You should give a try to cyproheptadine
Happy New Year Doctor!!
You, too!
Gotta tell you, I went on a tricyclic antidepressant after years of resisting any medication and it changed my life. I was wary of Serotonin Syndrome but otherwise gave it a chance. I think there are a thousand concerns for all medications, and eventually, you need to break it down to worth it (or not?) with your doctor. I also hold a medical marijuana card, given you mention psychadelics, though I never used it. I'm very open minded about solutions psychological, medicinal, etc when it gets to treating chronic pain and anxiety/depression. Of course, one should absolutely be open with an anesthesiologist before surgery. I don't think I'd see you running off to call the cops once knowing someone smoked a joint, doctor.
It absolutely saved my life after a major depressive episode and PMDD, it should only be used for certain people and for me it was my last resort. I will be forever grateful for Lexapro.
Found your channel a few days ago and have been binging. Love all the info and insight. Thank you for all you do. And thank you on for calling your patients the night before. Ive never had that and I know it would relieve so much pre-procedure anxiety for me. I wish I could afford ketamine therapy as ive been on a bouquet of ssri and other meds that work at first, but after 15 years, nothing helps. Much respect for all you do. Thank you ❤
I am psychology student, it is surprising how much I find myself in agreement with this doctor. Usually doctors tend to be very molecule pilled (nothing against molecules, they are fantastic things). Studying molecular interactions is of course quite useful and powerful, but it seems to be pushed a little bit too far to the verge of reduction-ism and oversimplification.
Thank you, Dr. Johnson
I appreciate you
Sir, akastisia is absolutely horrifying. Ty for this video
All I know is I've been on SSRIs... It made me feel like a happy zombie. Like I could see someone I loved be shot in front of me and there'd be no feelings of sadness, hate, urgency, just nothing... just ok this is what we do. Passion was gone, hate was gone, no love no nothing.... Just a zombie that was happy. I struggle woth depression everyday. Takes me every ounce of my being to not end it, to find reasons life still has a point.... But ill never go back on that shit. Numbing the pain doesn't heal the pain. You can't walk on a broken leg, even if they inject nerve killers so you don't feel it, legs still broken, even if you don't feel the pain
You said you were a zombie but "happy" isn't that still a positive state of being, happy? Pls elaborate
@davontayoden6020 No... Guess a good way of saying it was like in the movie The Matrix, how they described that something was inherently off with the world. You can't put your finger on it, but your entire "feel" of the world was incongruent. Situations that warranted "negative" feelings like sadness or loathing just produced happiness. You know it's not how you should feel but you're happy. Not a legit happy, a fake happy. Like my brain knew it shouldn't be producing those emotions..... So hard to explain but my heart knew it wasn't right even though my brain was "highjacked".... Yea just complete incongruence with the world
@@johnkuwik2477Ik exactly what you mean… you definitely feel like you’re just existing and not really living and experiencing the world naturally.
I felt absolutely amazing after waking up from my surgery. The best my brain worked after a decade of depression. It felt incredible having ny brain running at 100% again. I really hope therapies like ketamine become more mainstream. I have several friends who describe their ketamine therapy very similarly to the experience I had from anesthesia, and it's been the only treatment for two of my friends that's worked at all. I'm not interested in SSRIs... Very hopeful in a few years there will be anesthetic or psychedelic alrernatives available without having to go through years of SSRIs or electrically frying my brain first.
Opiates to treat my pain completely ended my depression. I still get sad, but that’s okay because it passes. It’s natural.
SSRIs have always screwed me up
Opioids can be extremely effective for depression and anxiety. They were used for such purposes right up until the “miracle” era of pharmaceutical antidepressants. Allowing those who don’t respond to antidepressants to continue suffering when there’s an alternative should be considered a crime against humanity. Opioids need to be a third tier option in psychiatrists’ toolboxes.
People with Parkisons that receive dopamin agonists has showed lessened symptoms of depression, leading to a hypothetis that depressed people are actually so due to a lack of dopamin.
Several trials have been done in people with SSRI resistent depressions and data is looking good so far. Particularly in people with anhedonic symptoms that feel distanced and not being able to feel happiness or enjoyment on just SSRI.
Most, if not all, conventional antidepressants are useless against some severe cases of anhedonic depression. Certain dopamine agonists (pramipexole, for one) have displayed hedonistic side effects, like obsessive gambling or hypersexuality, in otherwise normal Parkinson’s patients. This has led to such agents being explored for treating anhedonia, with some promising studies. It’s worth noting that these molecules are agonists at specific dopamine receptors rather than generally, unlike dopamine itself.
I got much worse from taking an SSRI. I was starting to get serotonin syndrome soon after starting to take a slightly higher dose. I warned my doctor in advance but they never listen to me until after the drugs have bad reactions.
As long as I live I'll never forget when I was going in for surgery requiring anesthesia and the anesthesiologist walks in and hollers "Oh Nooooo. Not a redhead. I hate working with redheads." And to top it all off....it's the only time I've been put under that the experience for me was horrible. Nightmares like I've never encountered that required professional counseling to adjust to this side of life after that horrendous experience. Needless to say I complained to the doc who chose this anesthesiologist in hopes he'd not use them anymore. Never encountered any type of issue the other couple times I've been put under.
Redheads seem to have different requirements for anesthesia. Look it up.😊
I'm so sorry you had that experience 😔 I hope it hasn't left significant ongoing trauma
@@jillthompson4280 apparently 2 outta 3 docs knew that and performed wonderfully on my other surgeries over my life! It's this nitwit that was the only problem. Can you imagine a professional blurting this out when a patient is already a little stressed just from having to have the surgery itself? Geesh. He needed to be sent back to school!
@@MedicalSecrets Thank you! I let the anesthesiologist know about my experience this last time I had surgery and she promised me she wouldn't let that happen. True to her word, it went smooth as silk...I only remember a very pleasant experience now.
"I can't find a vein! I can't find a vein!" That's what I heard during my 2nd brain surgery. I wasn't awake very long, thankfully, and I woke up with blood all over my arms. They apparently searched everywhere. 😅
Your perspective is so fascinating.
Such a good video, i really enjoyed everything you had to say about this ❤❤
being evidence-based, it should be easier to say "I/we don't know". good on you doc for saying it!
SNRI was prescribed for me off-label, for my peripheral neuropathy. And, it helped my anxiety. It has become my miracle drug! I had serious side effects with Gabapentin and other neurontins for my neuropathy. And had given up finding anything else. Many doctors aren't aware that this drug can be used for certain pain, not just depression.
Amazing information you've covered in this video!
Thank you for the education and talking about the undesired side effects of ssri's. I wish they would pull this non sense off the market and go with more natural psychotropic/active remedies that actually work. Psilocybin, Ketamine mdma, lsd, etc. when psychological therapy is not quite enough.
They all cross the blood brain barrier and they all have side effects.
I had severe, suicidal depression but SSRIs were effective maybe 20%. Out of 1 to 10, my depression was a 100. I traced it to five foods I was eating, and as long as I avoided them I was fine. But taking antibiotics meant for a sinus infection completely cured me and now I can eat whatever I want.
I’m so glad to hear you taking such a holistic approach. Antidepressants do not work. They do not address the cause. There is no antidepressant on the market that I can tolerate and it’s my fault?!?!
I take Lexapro. I've been on SSRI's for 25 years. I find the depression and extremely low moods are gone. But, I had 3 deaths in my family and I didn't even cry! It was bizarre, because I totally loved them! So ya, it rather makes me unfeeling.
I was on Venlafaxine for 5 years. At no point my gp thought i needed a review, i was just on taking my monthly prescription and poisoning my brain and body. Then when i suggested decreasing the dose with the aim of coming off the meds, the gp said maybe i wasn't strong enough yet. I insisted and started the gradual weaning off which all in all took more than 6 months. While on venlafaxine i never felt right, it certainly didn't help with my pms symptoms which are quite bad, mood related, i didn't feel myself, i had night sweats and very vivid dreams and i would wake up acreaming, i would bruise very easily. The weaning off was brutal, coming off them was the hardest thing, i lived a month of hell, i could not eat, i was nauseous, my face was numb, my brain was buzzing, i was dizzy and had proprioception issues. Now I've been off them for more than a year, i feel great, even my friends have noticed I'm a different person. Yes, i have ups and downs but that is nornal, i'm a cancer nurse, an immigrant and i have my struggles. A pill would not sort that out. I would never encourage anyone to get anywhere near antidepressants. A strong support system, people that matter and can listen to you, finding meaning in your life is what would make it worth living and enjoying.
I highly recommend reading Lost Connections by Johann Hari, a very informative book about depression and treatments written by someone who has experienced it.
Another thing people don't seem to know is that SSRI's double your chance of getting dementia.
You've got that right - like everything else you generously share. Thank you!
knowing what i know now about SSRIs, and experiences of friends who have taken them, i never would have taken them for my mild depression for 2-3 years
I don't understand WHY anyone would want to have a psychedelic experience? Will someone please help me out with that? It sounds terrifying. Is it supposed to help with depression? I'm so lost.
@medicalsecrets . He has a few Utube videos on it.❤
LoL, well if you are scared you probably don't want to do anything like that. Not a good idea to do these things when in a negative mood. I've seen amazing things. Trees and things literally growing before my eyes. Life blooming. Plus the greatest sex. This occurred from mushrooms. I've only done them 3 or 4 times.
I've tried LSD but did not like the effects. Simply monstrous. Still you're not going to die if you have basic control and realized the things you see aren't real. I'm older so I did these things when I was quite young.
I have sleep narcolepsy and was put on 600 mgs seroquel for sleep which makes absolutely 0 sense. Dr. totally caught me on an off day. Plus 6 1mg Xanax which I was told I'd never have to worry about getting prescribed yet here we are.
Long story short that seroquel made me see things. I am not psychotic nor do I normally see or hear things. Quite disturbing how this drug actually causes what it's supposed to treat.
I'm 4 months off and I still can't sleep and I have a sleeping disease. Panic, anxiety and shaking so bad. The withdrawals were so bad. I knew that if I didn't get off this drug at my age I would die. Every night it simply made me die a little at a time. Heart pounding in the chest and unable to move. Soo happy to have gotten off of it but wondering if I'll ever sleep again.
Psychedelics in small doses are not causing psychedelic experience, there is a lot of information about it all over the internet.
It lowers the veil. What is the veil. Your lies your B.S.
@@drunaisis9797 sometimes people have reported horrible hallucinations..so that's a huge risk
A biologist once sent me excerpts from a medical journal about prozac. They concluded that the mechanism of action was because of its ability to prevent the breakdown of alopregnenolone rather than serotonin. Depressed people and those with ptsd have reduced alopregnenolone in their spinal fluid (~60%)
Do you have any information on preventing the breakdown of allopregnenolone or how to increase it naturally?
Sure there is a lot more to know. We are just using what we have available. And SSRIs might be best utilized by persons, say, 40 and over, who are actually losing some of these feel good chemicals in our brains. When you are young is the right time to really dig deep to find out what is causing your depression and work on your whole being, possibly without all these medications.
I got Serotonin Syndrome in December and nearly died! Cocktail of drugs including an SSRI and a SNRI plus Tramadol and Relpax. I’m now off EVERYTHING and petrified to get SS again ! Scariest thing ever
Most people do not need SSRIs. They need a better life
Irving Kirsch PhD got the original data used to get FDA approval for the SSRIs and shied that the data had been cherry picked and exaggerated. Basically, SSRIs rely on expectant effects to get therapeutic results. Therapy work as well without the side effects.
I’m a redhead 6 weeks postpartum. I told the anesthesiologist the epidural wasn’t working and he didn’t believe me. Ended up having an emergency c section. Kept telling the anesthesiologist the epidural wasn’t working. They just kept giving me more and more and it wasn’t working. I couldn’t move my legs but could feel everything waist up…. Surgeon started cutting. I could feel EVERYTHING. Once they pulled my baby out I kept trying to say “pain… pain” but I was in so much shock I couldn’t really communicate. They had to knock me out completely to sew me back up. Please tell other anesthesiologists that the redhead thing is a legit thing.