Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
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Anonymous
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As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety for over 20 years and who had a long and terrible experience on multiple SSRIs, this study is validating.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-08-08/what-causes-depression-it-s-more-complicated-than-low-serotonin I am happy for the people helped by these drugs, but there is a pervasive attitude that if you just take an SSRI, your depression will be fixed. If you take one and it isn’t, adjust the dose. If that doesn’t work, try a different one. If that still doesn’t work, adds second drug that is supposed to help the first. The fact that all these drugs have side effects, including making your depression and anxiety worse and potentially causing it worsening suicidal ideation, is treated like a minor issue. Meanwhile, therapy is often minimally covered by insurance and it can be hard to find therapists. We need to start addressing mental health fir real and not just believing pharma companies when they say they’ve solved it. They haven’t. |
Anonymous
| Agree 100% |
Anonymous
| I wonder how the SNRIs compare to the SSRIs? Do the SNRIs fare better? |
Anonymous
| The side effects can be freakin terrible. On lexapro I lost my ability to sleep soundly, it made me frequently awaken. Totally went away once I got off the drug. |
Anonymous
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The one that worked for me, the side effects were worse than the struggle.
The one with no side effects was as helpful as a tic tac. |
Anonymous
| didn’t we already have a huge thread on this a month ago? |
Anonymous
We did. |
Anonymous
Maybe that was placebo, since they don’t do anything. |
Anonymous
It’s a very important issue, unlike whether or not you bathe your baby every or every other (which is discussed over and over again). |
Anonymous
| This is not shocking at all. There is money to be made by Big Pharma and they are certainly not going to promote the fact that these drugs don't work well. |
Anonymous
OP here. I searched for one and didn’t see it. The article was new. |
Anonymous
| Agree somewhat with OP, but therapy is not a silver bullet. Insurance should cover a range of therapies including EMDR, acupuncture, and others that are effective. |
Anonymous
It’s also a libido killer and people find themselves gaining excess weight. |
Anonymous
OP here and I agree. For me, CBT and DBT have been most effective of everything I’ve tried at helping me manage my depression and prevent major episodes. But I’ve done them mostly on my own with workbooks I’ve bought— I would have loved to be able to just go to a clinic or take a class on these, but I’ve never found one (and I go did, insurance wouldn’t pay for it!). I also think GPs need more tools to help people than just referring to a psychiatrist or prescribing an SSRI. Depression is so common and is often linked to other issues. People with depression are often given little guidance or support even when they are reaching out for help, which is exactly what you should do. I think the lack of infrastructure is making the problem harder for people. Which is why, when you get an SSRI, it’s maddening when it doesn’t work or when the side effects are debilitating. It’s incredibly defeating, and unlike other treatments for depression, the drugs offer zero coping mechanisms. |
Anonymous
Same. I had terrible sleep and awful night sweats. Also digestive issues. My doc and DH would ask me if it was helping and I was like “it’s impossible to tell because I’m tired and feel disgusting.” And that was on the lowest possible dose. |