Debate This: Psychiatric Medications & Their Positive And Negative Effects
Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry
Filed in:
news
1:30PM, Thursday October 2nd 2008
Last week I wrote a blog post about the 10 Ways To Survive The First Week Of Heartbreak. Just to be clear, these tips referenced the things that helped me personally during that rough week and certainly should not be taken as gospel for every single person reading The Frisky. I mean, that would be kind of unfair to those of you who are not within driving distance of an amusement park that throws a Gay Night party every year! Jokes aside, I also did not intend to imply that “popping pills” was something everyone should run out and do. In the interest of full-disclosure, I’ve been on anti-d’s (as we call ‘em) for the last year and a half (for a variety of reasons, in conjunction with talk therapy), so I didn’t just start taking them because my lame-o fiance dumped me. That said, I do know that being on them helped me get through that first week (and continue to help me get through the second and third).
The comments and emails we received that were concerned I was too flippantly recommending that the heartbroken should pop pills (truthfully, just a shout out to Jacqueline Susann!) made me think we should address the issue in depth. So, after the jump, two women in their 20’s who have taken psychiatric medication and can report on their positive and negative experiences.
(*Name obviously made up for someone who wished to be Anonymous. Fake name does not indicate a fondness for the Grateful Dead or Rachel Zoe.)
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Leigh Raines
wrote on October 2 2008 @ 02:12 pm: [report]
love the shout out to Jacqueline Susann, everyone should read “Valley of the Dolls” at some point.
Glam
wrote on October 2 2008 @ 02:34 pm: [report]
I took Effexor from 1999 through 2001, and I agree that getting off the meds is a long and arduous task. I remember being extremely nauseous and having uncontrollable electrical pulses that would zing through my body. After going off with the help of a doctor, I decided never to take antidepressants again. I’ve had bouts of depression since then, but I refuse to let myself get to a point of no return again. I think my therapist broke up with me last year because I refused to take meds, but that doesn’t matter because he wasn’t helping me anyway. Although anti-d’s aren’t for me right now, I can’t say that I’ll never take them again. There may come a time when I can’t handle my emotions or mental state without help. I applaud both of you ladies for sharing your stories.
Amelia
wrote on October 2 2008 @ 03:46 pm: [report]
@Glam One thing I would also say is that there are so many anti-d’s and anti-anxiety meds on the market that work in different, subtle ways, that the first one you may try, may not be the right one for you. That’s why it’s sooooo important to only take medicines like these under the strict advisement of a doctor. Going on and off different meds is bad, bad, bad.
Liz
wrote on October 5 2008 @ 07:39 pm: [report]
I’ve been on anti-depressants since I was eight years old. First I was on zoloft, then prozac, now celexa and ativan. I’ve never been the appropriate weight. At 15 I was 100 lbs and prozac made me drop 15 lbs in a week. My medications have brought me to the hospital and the psych ward. They’ve caused me to isolate myself, turn into a zombie. and feel I was descending into madness. I’ve had four suicide attempts while on medications, only two while off. I’m stable now, but without my meds I’m anxious and manic and depressed and suicidal and angry.
I don’t know if this is who I was going to be all along. I don’t know if I’m still here or if this is someone completely different.
Arthur
wrote on September 17 2009 @ 06:43 am: [report]
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