I'd like to debate the current evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of SSRI's (Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, Luvox, dapoxetine, etc). I am rather biased against these things, because of my own personal experiences with the drugs over a decade ago. I'll put forth the evidence against. If someone has some evidence for them, I welcome you to post it in response.
Effectiveness:
A few months ago, a meta-analysis of nearly 50 studies on SSRI's was completed. The results show that SSRI's are no more effective than a sugar pill in all but the most severly depressed patients. This suggests that benefits from SSRI's are nothing more than a placebo affectin the majority of patients. It has been suggested that the drug's amphetamine affects profile is what helps the severe cases.
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045
Quote:
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"There seems little reason to prescribe antidepressant medication to any but the most severely depressed patients, unless alternative treatments have failed to provide a benefit," says study researcher Irving Kirsch, PhD, of England's University of Hull.
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Studies have shown that aerobic exercise is more effective than anti-depressants. It has also shown that exercise alone is more effective than exercising while taking anti-depressants.
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0898.htm
Safety:
In 2004 a study was released that shows that Prozac (an SSRI) significantly increases the occurance of suicide ideation in children.
http://www.naturalnews.com/002606.html
Studies and findings also show that SSRI's more than double the occurance of suicide in adults, and increase the occurance of violent behavior:
http://www.naturalnews.com/019342.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/18/opinion/18abramson_.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Quote:
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The most disturbing finding was that more than twice as many depressed adults on new antidepressants kill themselves than those taking placeboes. The difference was 8.4 versus 3.6 suicides per 1,000 patients a year, respectively.
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Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher, and her experiences with SSRI's:
http://www.gwenolsen.com/
Footage of an FDA hearing on adverse reactions to Prozac:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxJomeak4V4
The drugs have other side effects, including sexual dysfunction:
http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/LongTermSSRI.htm
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/ssri_side_effects.htm