Anonymous
Post 08/12/2022 08:28     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Anonymous wrote: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.


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.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2022 08:26     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Anonymous wrote: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.


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
Post 08/12/2022 08:13     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Anonymous wrote: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.


It’s also a libido killer and people find themselves gaining excess weight.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2022 08:07     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
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
Post 08/12/2022 08:04     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Anonymous wrote:didn’t we already have a huge thread on this a month ago?


OP here. I searched for one and didn’t see it. The article was new.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2022 08:02     Subject: Re:Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
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
Post 08/12/2022 07:52     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Anonymous wrote:didn’t we already have a huge thread on this a month ago?


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
Post 08/12/2022 07:37     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Anonymous wrote: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.


Maybe that was placebo, since they don’t do anything.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2022 07:36     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Anonymous wrote:didn’t we already have a huge thread on this a month ago?


We did.
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2022 06:01     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
didn’t we already have a huge thread on this a month ago?
Anonymous
Post 08/12/2022 03:44     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
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
Post 08/12/2022 03:03     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
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
Post 08/12/2022 00:08     Subject: Re:Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
I wonder how the SNRIs compare to the SSRIs? Do the SNRIs fare better?
Anonymous
Post 08/11/2022 23:28     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
Agree 100%
Anonymous
Post 08/11/2022 23:25     Subject: Large study shows SSRIs work for only 15% of patients, huge placebo effect
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.