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A number of studies conducted in the 1980s and the early 1990s showed that SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac led to short term reductions in alcohol consumption in both humans and rats. This led to a lot of enthusiasm and intensive research on the effects of SSRIs on alcohol consumption because some researchers hoped that SSRIs might hold the key to the cure for alcoholism.
 
However, the research proved that the effects of SSRIs on alcohol consumption are far less simple than they initially appeared. The short term reductions in drinking in human alcoholics lasted no longer than a week and then the subjects were once again drinking just as much as they ever had. Moreover, the research showed that SSRIs may actually worsen drinking in Early Onset Alcohol Abusers and in women.
 
There is one group, however, which seems definitely to benefit from SSRIs. Patients who have both Alcohol Dependence and severe Major Depressive Disorder show significant improvement both in depression and alcohol consumption when treated with SSRIs. In this article we will take a look at the research which has been done on SSRIs and alcohol consumption in these populations.
 
In 1995 and 1996 Dr Henry Kranzler MD and his colleagues did a study which suggests that the SSRI Prozac may actually worsen the drinking behavior of Early Onset Alcohol Abusers while having no effect at all on Late Onset Alcohol Abusers. Early Onset Alcohol Abusers are defined as those who begin heavy drinking in early life and who have worse alcohol related consequences. Late Onset Alcohol Abusers are defined as those who begin heavy drinking later in life and have fewer alcohol related problems.
 
The Kranzler group studied the effects of Prozac on 95 non-depressed patients who were being treated with talk therapy for Alcohol Dependence. Half of these subjects received Prozac and the other half got a placebo. When Kranzler and his colleagues analyzed the group as a whole they found that there was no significant difference in improvement between the placebo group and the group receiving Prozac.

However, they then divided the patients up into two categories: Late Onset Alcohol Abusers and Early Onset Alcohol Abusers. When they reanalyzed the data using these two categories they obtained a very surprising result which was quite contrary to what they expected. They found that Early Onset Alcohol Abusers receiving the Prozac did significantly WORSE than the group receiving the placebo. There was no significant difference between the Late Onset Alcohol Abusers who received Prozac and those who received the placebo.
 
The Kranzler study strongly suggests that Prozac may actually worsen the drinking of Early Onset Alcohol Abusers who are not receiving any sort of talk therapy for their Alcohol Dependence. All that remains is for someone to do the crucial experiment needed to verify this highly likely conclusion.
 
In 1995 Dr Claudio Naranjo MD and his colleagues did a study of the effect of the SSRI Celexa on 62 non-depressed problem drinkers who were being taught moderate drinking strategies. 56% of the subjects in the study were male and 44% were female. Half of the subjects in the study got Celexa and the other half got a placebo. The Naranjo group found that women receiving the Celexa did significantly WORSE than women receiving the placebo in moderating their drinking. The men did the same whether they received Celexa or the placebo. This suggests that Celexa may actually INCREASE the drinking of female problem drinkers who are not receiving moderation training or some other form for talk therapy. All that is needed to confirm this is an experiment with drinkers who are receiving Celexa but no talk therapy.
 
The patients in the studies we have discussed so far did not suffer from severe Major Depressive Disorder. In 1997 Dr Jack Cornelius MD and his colleagues studied the effect of the SSRI Prozac on 51 patients with both severe Major Depressive Disorder and severe Alcohol Dependence. The subjects were 51% male and 49% female. All patients received talk therapy for their Alcohol Dependence. In addition to the talk therapy, 25 patients received Prozac and 26 received a placebo. In this study the patients who received the Prozac showed significantly greater improvements in both depression and in drinking outcomes than did those receiving the placebo. Taken together with the other studies this leads to the conclusion that SSRIs can lead to a reduction in drinking in people with severe Major Depressive Disorder but not in other groups.
 
In 2007 Dr Kathryn Graham PhD and her colleagues published the results of a massive telephone survey of 14,063 individuals in Canada which asked people about their use of alcohol and antidepressants. This survey showed that depressed men who took antidepressants drank less alcohol on the average than did depressed men who did not take antidepressants. However, depressed women who took antidepressants drank at least as much as did depressed women who did not take antidepressants, if not more.

Like the Naranjo study, this study also suggests that antidepressants affect the drinking behavior of men differently than they do the drinking behavior of women. Since this study did not specifically ask respondents if they were taking an SSRI or another type of antidepressant such as a tricyclic we must be somewhat cautious in what we can conclude from it. It is possible that if the data were limited to SSRIs that the researchers might have seen an increase in the alcohol consumption of women taking the medication. It remains for further research to confirm whether this is actually the case.
 
The studies to date seem to suggest that SSRIs only lead to reduced alcohol consumption in men who have severe Major Depressive Disorder. SSRIs do not seem to affect the alcohol consumption of most other people either one way or the other. However, the studies also suggest that it is possible that SSRIs might tend to increase alcohol consumption in some individuals–particularly in women and in Early Onset Alcohol Abusers.

Therefore, we would like to suggest that people become pro-active health care consumers. If you drink alcohol and take antidepressant and the antidepressants seem to be causing you to increase your drinking or to drink in a dangerous fashion, then you should talk to your doctor. You may need to switch to a different kind of antidepressant or stop taking antidepressants altogether. Or you may find that quitting drinking is your wisest course.
 
REFERENCES:
Cornelius JR, Salloum IM, Ehler JG, Jarrett PJ, Cornelius MD, Perel JM, Thase ME, Black A. (1997). Fluoxetine in depressed alcoholics: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Archives of General Psychiatry, 54, 700-5.
Graham, K, Massak, A. (2007). Alcohol consumption and the use of antidepressants. CMAJ. 176(5), 633-7.
Kranzler HR, Burleson JA, Korner P, Del Boca FK, Bohn MJ, Brown J, Liebowitz
N. (1995). Placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine as an adjunct to relapse prevention in
alcoholics. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 391-397.
Kranzler HR, Burleson JA, Brown J, Babor TF. (1996). Fluoxetine treatment seems to reduce the beneficial effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy in type B alcoholics. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 20, 1534-41.
Naranjo CA, Bremner KE, Lanctot KL. (1995). Effects of Citalopram and a brief psycho-social intervention on alcohol intake, dependence and problems. Addiction, 90, 87-99.

Tom Cruise’s criticism three years ago of a fellow colleague taking an antidepressant to overcome her postpartum depression, came to mind when his interview with Oprah Winfrey was telecast a few days ago.

Back in 2005, Tom didn’t mince words when he described the antidepressants as “dangerous” and “mind altering”, that they simply “masked the (real) problem”. In the video below (NBC’s TODAY show), Tom is not able to counter with strong logic or solid evidence, Matt Lauer’s contention that the fellow colleague, Brooke Shields, had indeed benefited from the dose of Paxil to overcome her PPD. “If antidepressants work for Brook Shields, (then) why is it not okay (for her and everybody else to continue following this route of medical intervention)?” is Lauer’s punch line. Tom resorts to hemming and hawing to that.

Tom’s words had stung both Brooke Shields and the general public then. Hot exchanges through the media gave an expectedly different color to the whole issue. That he eventually backed off and apologized to everyone, is not the point here.

Very ironically, while Tom was hemming and hawing and generally facing the flak for his provocative comments on the use of antidepressants (the TODAY show was telecast in June 2005), around the same time the FDA was releasing the result of its “…analyses of short-term (4 to 16 weeks) placebo-controlled trials of 9 antidepressant drugs (SSRIs and others) in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or other psychiatric disorders (a total of 24 trials involving over 4,400 patients)…” The result of the analyses had been unequivocal: “… a greater risk of adverse events representing suicidal thinking or behavior (suicidality) during the first few months of treatment in those receiving antidepressants. The average risk of such events in patients receiving antidepressants was 4%, twice the placebo risk of 2%.”

The drum roll has been crescendoing since the FDA report. The pharma industry these days is still trying to come to terms with a new fatwah that makes it mandatory for makers of all antidepressant medications to “update the existing black box warning on their products’ labeling to include warnings about increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior, known as suicidality, in young adults ages 18 to 24 during initial treatment.” (Here is a post on this subject.) Also now in place is a new, “suicide rating” that companies will have to put on every new drug before releasing in the market.



Suicidality. A new word has been quietly brought into coinage. To describe suicidal thinking and behavior. In order to make matters complete in the book of vocabulary, pray what should its antonym be? Optimality? Cheerfulity? Or Zestforlifeivity?

Tom must be feeling vindicated. Let Lauer invite him to the show now! Tom would arm himself with all the latest evidence and prove that he indeed is Top Gun. If there is one group of people who can turn the spotlight on issues that matter the most, it is the celebrities. But he appeared mellowed in the Oprah show this time around. There was none of the effervescence and head-over-heels-display-of-love of the courting-Katie days. Boy, haven’t we aged! The fires appear to have ebbed, which is sad. He could have played with aplomb, a more active role in spreading awareness about indiscriminate antidepressant drug prescription. May be somebody can talk to Katie about rekindling the fires. It will do us all good.

As time goes by and millions of more people turn to antidepressant drugs to ‘escape’ the anxiety, stress and depression that modern life can sometimes cause, alarming horror stories about antidepressant use are piling up. The SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor was introduced as a ‘miracle’ drug that would greatly reduce the side effects of the previous class of tricyclic antidepressants with little or no downside. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical companies are not telling the whole story. These drugs can be dangerous for some people in ways that most people have no idea about. Not surprising really when you realize they work the same way that cocaine does.

One of the little known things about antidepressants is that the process in which SSRI drugs function in order to increase the levels of serotonin is remarkably similar to the way that cocaine works. In selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the drugs function by preventing existing serotonin from exiting the brain by crossing the brain/blood barrier. This creates a ‘backlog’ of serotonin in the brain and as new serotonin is produced it is simply added to the ‘old’ serotonin that is being prevented from leaving the brain. The theory is that since serotonin is one of the primary neurotransmitters responsible for the ‘feel good’ emotion of happiness and satiety that this is a good thing.

The same holds true for the other feel good neurotransmitters of dopamine and norepinephrine. There’s only one problem. The substance that causes dopamine to be kept in the brain and to not cross the blood/brain barrier so to increase levels of dopamine in the brain is…you guessed it…cocaine. Our experience with cocaine however shows that there is a distinct downside of having all this ‘old’ dopamine circulating in the brain along with the new. At a certain point, the brain simply stops making fresh dopamine causing the famous cocaine ‘crash’. Could the same be true of Serotonin? Is it really ‘good’ to have old serotonin and new serotonin circulating in the brain together, especially for long periods like months and years? Perhaps this is why some people have an opposite reaction to antidepressants and end up more depressed than they began after a short while.

The truth is that scientists willingly admit that they don’t truly understand many of the implications of ssri and similar drugs on the human brain. The studies initially submitted to the FDA only followed patients for very short periods. No long term studies that delved into the safety or efficacy of patients were ever done on people taking these drugs for months and years. Now, after almost 2 decades and millions of users later it is coming out that there are many adverse side effects and even life changing and personality altering reactions that were never known or disclosed when these medications first became legal.

You won’t find many of these adverse or dangerous outcomes listed on the back of your medicine bottle. But is it any wonder why? Would you expect to see negative reviews in a brochure printed up by a car manufacturer about their newest car? Would you purchase a home without doing any research on if the homebuilder or town was any good? Of course not. But this is exactly what doctors and patients do every day by simply accepting the limited warnings, usually physical and not mental, that are on the inserts in antidepressant medications. To find out unbiased and very revealing stories and experiences from people that have actually been on the drugs and know first hand one should search the internet for the numerous sites that people use to tell their real life stories on these drugs. One such site is www.sedatednation.com where we are building a community that tells the real story and not just the ‘corporate line’ about antidepressant and other mood altering drugs.

Antidepressants are big business.  Over 120 million drugs are dispersed to individuals each year in America alone for the treatment of depression and related conditions.  Although these may provide temporary relief, they come to us with unwanted harmful side-effects including liver damage, insomnia, hallucinations, convulsions, low blood pressure, dizziness, blurred visions, difficulty breathing, and much more.

This is the main reason why so many individuals are now turning to natural herbal antidepressants as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs such as paxil, prozac, Zoloft, etc.  Although these remedies have been around for thousands of years successfully treating depression as well as other illnesses, they are just now catching on in the Western World.  In fact, in Germany the use of natural herbal remedies far exceed that of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of depression.

Advantages of Taking Natural Herbal Antidepressants

There are no known serious common side effects: No known possibilities of addiction or withdrawal; individuals do not need a prescription No doctor visit required – however one should consult with a physician before hand; Individuals do not seem to develop weight problems; and No sexual dysfunction reported

It is only fair to mention that although these natural herbal alternatives have great outcomes they too come with certain risks factors, but by far the risks are less common and less severe.    Remember they are very powerful medicines – many prescription medications come from trees, herbs, or shrubs.  Therefore, it is important to check with your physician to be sure they are right for you – a common problem can be drug interaction.

Having said this, a few of the most common natural herbal antidepressants which seem to be safe and effective are as follows: 

Kava:  Recommended daily dose is 65-85 mg of kava lactones three times daily – results usually appearing in two to three days.  Individuals may develop mild stomach upset.  There are restrictions when taking this drug – be sure to avoid other central nervous system depressants, alcohol, prescription axiolytics or St. John’s Wort.

Valerian Root:   Recommended daily dose is 450mg at bedtime.  This medication is very successful without daytime drowsiness or impaired concentration.  Pregnant and lactating women may also use this drug without repercussion.

St. John’s Wort: Recommended daily dose 900 to 1800 mg depending on how severe depression is – may take four to six weeks to notice full effects.  Be careful for interaction with other medications – cold medicines as well as other antidepressants.

SAM-e which is a chemical that’s found naturally in the human body and is believed to increase levels of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.  In studies SAM-e has been proven more effective than placebo.

5-HTTP: Recommended dose ranges from about 50-400mg.  Supplements are available in 50 mg. and 100mg. capsules.  This is treated for other than depression, but when treating depression, it is usually beneficial if one takes a 50 mg. capsule or two once to four times daily.  If taking 100 mg. three tablets should be divided.  Always consult with your doctor to see which amount will work best for you.

It is obvious that more and more people are becoming aware of what is and what is not good for them.  Organic foods are becoming popular, natural materials are becoming popular and it shouldn’t surprise us that we are turning to nature to heal us as well and that is why herbal natural antidepressants are becoming increasingly popular.

In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from depression.

1. Major depression is the leading cause of disability. The indirect and direct costs of mood disorder illnesses totals over 43 billion dollars a year. Depression and related mood disorders rank behind high blood pressure as the most common reason people visit their doctors.

Most individuals who consult their medical doctor for mood disorders are placed on prescription medications.

And in fact as many as 10% of the U.S. population has taken one of these medications. Prescription antidepressants sales reached a total of 37 billion in sales in 2003, which came out to $9 million more than was spent on treatments for the heart, arteries and blood pressure.

2. The largest growth spurt in antidepressant use has been among preschoolers, ages 2-4.

3. In 2003 over one million American children were taking an antidepressant medication.
4. However, several studies show that between 19-70% of those taking antidepressant medications do just as well by taking a placebo or sugar pill.

5. These studies help explain why most individuals may initially benefit from taking an antidepressant drug only to find that the positive affects soon wear off. Some may switch from one antidepressant drug to another. And while patients are attempting to correct their mood disorders with prescription dugs that may or may not be more effective than a sugar pill, all of these drugs have potential, sometimes serious, side effects.

Prozac has been associated with over 1,734 suicide deaths and over 28,000 adverse reactions.6
Prescription antidepressants can cause depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal tendencies, tremors or involuntary muscle spasms, and senility. Yes, prescription antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs can and do cause depression and anxiety.

7. Those suffering from anxiety are commonly prescribed one of the benzodiazepine (tranquilizer) medications, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin or others.

National surveys show that 5.6 million adults over the age of 65 are now taking tranquilizers.

8. These medications are associated with numerous unwanted side effects including poor sleep, seizures, mania, depression, suicide, ringing in the ears, amnesia, dizziness, anxiety, disorientation, low blood pressure, nausea, fluid retention, tremors, sexual dysfunction (decreased desire and performance), weakness, somnolence (prolonged drowsiness or a trance-like condition that may continue for a number of days), and headaches.

9. Over 73,000 older adults experience drug-induced tardive dyskinesia (tremors or uncontrollable shakes). For many, these tremors are permanent.

10. Orthomolecular Medicine

Fortunately for those looking for a safer, often times more effective way to beat mood disorders, a group of progressive minded physicians helped pioneer a new way of treating mental disorders, known as orthomolecular medicine.

In 1968, two time Nobel Prize-winner Linus Pauling, Ph.D., originated the term “orthomolecular” to describe an approach to medicine that uses naturally occurring substances normally present in the body. “Ortho” means correct or normal, and orthomolecular physicians recognize that in many cases of physiological and psychological disorders health can be reestablished by properly correcting, or normalizing, the balance of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other similar substances within the body. And unlike drug therapy, which attempts to cover-up the symptoms associated with a mood disorder, orthomolecular medicine seeks to find and correct the cause of the illness.

Where do the neurotransmitters come from?
Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that help relay electrical messages from one nerve cell to another. Neurotransmitters are produced from the amino acids in the foods we eat. Amino acids join together in different patterns to form a protein. Eating a protein rich food allows us to replenish our ongoing demand for the essential amino acids. Half of the amino acids are essential. This means our bodies can’t manufacture them and we must get them from the foods we eat (protein). Certain amino acids along with certain B vitamins and minerals produce the neurotransmitters. The amino acid tryptophan turns into serotonin. The amino acid phenylalanine turns into epinephrine. Amino acids are the raw nutrients needed to manufacture the neurotransmitters, which regulate our moods.

What do neurotransmitters do?
Neurotransmitters help regulate pain, reduce anxiety, promote happiness, initiate deep sleep, boost energy, and mental clarity.
The neurotransmitters that cause excitatory reactions are known as catecholamines. Catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline) are derived from the amino acid phenylalanine.
Inhibitory or relaxing neurotransmitters include serotonin and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). The neurotransmitter serotonin is produced from the amino acid tryptophan. GABA is produced from the amino aid glutamine.

Amino Acid Replacement Therapy
The most popular antidepressant drugs are known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI’s). SSRI’s including the drugs Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, and Zoloft are supposed to help the brain re-uptake the serotonin it produces. It is analogous to using a gasoline additive to help your car get more mileage out of the gasoline in your tank.
Unfortunately, many of the individuals who suffer from mood disorders, don’t have any serotonin in their brains to re-uptake. A gasoline additive poured into an empty gasoline tank doesn’t help much, if at all.
No one is born with a Prozac deficiency. However, people can develop a serotonin deficiency. Orthomolecular medicine uses amino acid replacement therapy to correct serotonin and other neurotransmitter deficiencies. I’ve found this approach to be just as effective (if not more so) than prescription antidepressant medications.
I’ve found very few problems with mixing amino acids with prescription anti-depressants. In fact, ninety percent of my patient’s are initially on prescription antidepressants when I first start them on amino acid replacement therapy.
Over the years I’ve used various questionnaires or tests to determine which amino acids needed to be recommended. I’ve been using the questionnaire below and have found it provides a quick and accurate assessment tool to diagnose a person’s brain chemistry.

Brain Function Questionnaire

The “S” Group
If three or more of these descriptions apply to your present feelings, you are probably part of the “S” group:
• It’s hard for you to go to sleep.
• You can’t stay asleep.
• You often find yourself irritable.
• Your emotions often lack rationality.
• You occasionally experience unexplained tears.
• Noise bothers you more than it used to; it seems louder than normal.
• You flare up at others more easily than you used to; you experience unprovoked anger.
• You feel depressed much of the time.
• You find you are more susceptible to pain.
• You prefer to be left alone.
Serotonin is a hypothalamus neurotransmitter necessary for sleep. A lack of serotonin causes difficulty in getting to sleep as well as staying asleep. It is often this lack of sleep that causes the symptoms mentioned above.
Serotonin levels can easily be raised by supplementing with the essential amino acid L-tryptophan, but dietary supplements of L-tryptophan are banned in the United States.
However, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP), a form of tryptophan, is available over-the-counter and works extremely well for most patients. Patients should start with 50mg. of 5HTP, 30 minutes before bed. They should take on an empty stomach along with 4 oz. of grape juice. They may need to increase this dose, up to 300 mg. per night. Individuals who don’t have trouble sleeping at night but do have other symptoms of the “S” group might want to take 100 mg. of 5HTP three times daily, with food. 5HTP doesn’t usually cause drowsiness when taken with food.

The “G” Group
If three or more of these descriptions apply to your present feelings, you are probably part of the “G” group:
• You often feel anxious for no reason.
• You sometimes feel “free-floating” anxiety.
• You frequently feel “edgy,” and it’s difficult to relax.
• You often feel a “knot” in your stomach.
• Falling asleep is sometimes difficult.
• It’s hard to turn your mind off when you want to relax.
• You occasionally experience feelings of panic for no reason.
• You often use alcohol or other sedatives to calm down.
The “G” group symptoms are from the absence of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is an important neurotransmitter involved in
regulating mood and mental clarity. Tranquilizers (benzodiazepines) used to treat anxiety and panic disorders work by increasing GABA.
GABA is made from the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine passes across the blood-brain barrier and helps provide the fuel needed for proper brain function.
A deficiency in L-glutamine can result in foggy thinking, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
Usually only a small dose of GABA is needed, 500-1,000 mg. twice daily. Some individuals may need to take it three-four times a day. Like most amino acids, GABA needs to be taken on an empty stomach.

The “D” Group
If three or more of these descriptions apply to your present feelings, you are probably part of the “D” group:
• You lack pleasure in life.
• You feel there are no real rewards in life.
• You have unexplained lack of concern for others, even loved ones.
• You experience decreased parental feelings.
• Life seems less “colorful” or “flavorful.”
• Things that used to be fun aren’t any longer enjoyable.
• You have become a less spiritual or socially concerned person.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with the enjoyment of life: food, arts, nature, your family, friends, hobbies, and other pleasures. Cocaine’s (and chocolate’s) popularity stems from the fact that it causes very high levels of dopamine to be released in a sudden rush.
A dopamine deficiency can lead to a condition known as anhedonia. Anhedonia is the lack of ability to feel any pleasure or remorse in life. Brain fatigue, confusion, and lethargy are all by-products of low dopamine.
The brain cells that manufacture dopamine use the amino acid L-phenylalanine as a raw material. Like most cells in the hypothalamus, they have the ability to produce four-five times their usual output if larger quantities of the raw materials are made available through nutritional supplementation.
Start your patients with 1,000 mg. of L-phenylalanine one-two times daily on an empty stomach. If they don’t seem to notice any benefits, keep increasing the dose, up to 4,000 mg. twice a day. If they experience a rapid heart beat, agitation, or hyperactivity, have them reduce or stop taking L-phenylalanine.

The “N” Group
If three or more of these descriptions apply to your present feelings, you are probably part of the “N” group:
• You suffer from a lack of energy.
• You often find it difficult to “get going.”
• You suffer from decreased drive.
• You often start projects and then don’t finish them.
• You frequently feel a need to sleep or “hibernate.”
• You feel depressed a good deal of the time.
• You occasionally feel paranoid.
• Your survival seems threatened.
• You are bored a great deal of the time.

The neurotransmitter norepinephrine, when released in the brain, causes feelings of arousal, energy, and drive. On the other hand, a short supply of it will cause feelings of a lack of ambition, drive, and/or energy. A deficiency can even cause depression, paranoia, and feelings of apathy.
Norepinephrine is also used to initiate the flow of adrenaline when you are under psychological stress. The production of norepinephrine in the hypothalamus is a 2-step process. The amino acid L-phenylalanine is first converted into tyrosine. Tyrosine is then converted into norepinephrine. Tyrosine, then, can be supplemented to increase norepinephrine (and dopamine). But too much tyrosine can cause headaches, so I usually recommend L-phenylalanine replacement first.

1. Robins LN, Regier DA (Eds). Psychiatric Disorders in America, The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, 1990; New York: The Free Press.
2. Beth Hawkins, A Pill is not Enough, City Pages.com
Vol 25 issue 1225 Minneapolis MN.
3. JAMA February 23, 2000;283:1025-1030,1059-1060
4. Drug report barred by FDA
Scientist links antidepressants to suicide in kids
Rob Waters, Special to The Chronicle
Sunday, February 1, 2004
5. Joan-Ramone Laporte and Albert Figueras, “Placebo Effects in Psychiatry,” Lancet 334 (1993):1206-8.
6. Death and near death attributed to Prozac, Citizens Commission on Human Rights.
7. Whittle TJ, Wiland Richard, The story behind Prozac the killer drug, Freedom Magazine, 6331 Hollywood BLVD., suite 1200 Los Angeles, CA 90028. 7. Monthly Prescribing Reference Haymarket Media Publication Nov 2005, New York NY.
8. Sidney Wolfe, Larry Sasich, and Rose-Ellen Hope, Worst Pills Best Pills.
Pocket Books New York, NY 1999 pg179.
9. Sidney Wolfe, Larry Sasich, and Rose-Ellen Hope, Worst Pills Best Pills.
Pocket Books New York, NY 1999 pg11.
10. Sidney Wolfe, Larry Sasich, and Rose-Ellen Hope, Worst Pills Best Pills.
Pocket Books New York, NY 1999.

A nutrition client of mine asked me about taking an antidepressant to ease despair over her financial crisis. Her retirement savings are all but gone. She is devastated and wants relief.

Although it may seem like taking an antidepressant is a powerful way to escape emotional pain, it turns out sugar pills may work better than drugs. Placebo produces similar or greater improvements than nine FDA-approved antidepressants according to a 2002 study published in the Journal of Neuopsychopharmacology. Yet nine of 10 people get a prescription drug on the spot when they go to their doctor complaining of depression. I guess it’s easier to send someone away with a pill than to discuss feelings or lifestyle.

Drug companies are required to conduct two trials showing success before they can market an antidepressant. It took five trials of Prozac before seeing results. Paxil and Zoloft required even more tests to show improvements.

More than 100,000 deaths per year result from properly prescribed meds. Even more people die from overdose and drug interactions. Suicide is so strongly linked with antidepressants, warning labels are required. Why not choose a natural, safe and effective remedy?

Three natural alternatives to antidepressants have been shown in study after study to be highly effective for depression, fatigue and anxiety. They include:

Aerobic Exercise:

Studies show one hour of aerobic exercise relieves depression, tension, anger and fatigue. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine reported that in patients with major depression, exercise worked as well as the antidepressant Zoloft after four months, and went on to outperform this drug after 10 months. Exercise stimulates catecholamines, our own natural energy and mood boosters. Get out and walk, swim, cycle or dance for 45 to 50 minutes at least three days per week.

Omega-3 Fat:

International and national studies show populations who consume the most omega-3-rich fish have the lowest levels of depression. A recent study found depressed patients have 35% less DHA (an omega-3 fat) in their cells than non-depressed patients. The American Journal of Psychiatry reported that in one month just 2 grams of the omega-3 fat, EPA, improved symptoms of depression, where drugs failed. Eat more anchovies, wild salmon, sardines, leafy greens, flax and walnuts. Take 2 to 3 teaspoons of fish oil, cod liver oil or flax oil per day.

Sunlight:

The shorter days of winter leave many people depressed with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Sunlight boosts a brain enzyme that enables us to produce chemicals that keep us energized and happy; lack of sunlight causes neurons that produce these chemicals to die off. Neuroscientists recently discovered rats deprived of sunlight suffered damage to brain regions known to be underactive in humans with depression. Hospitalized patents exposed to sunlight report more vitality, less distress and less pain than those who get little sun. Sunlight enables us to make vitamin D, a key to balanced mood but also to prevention of bone loss, cancer, infectious disease, heart disease and diabetes. Enjoy sunlight on at least half your unclothed body 10 to 20 minutes (more if you have dark skin) five days a week. Don’t burn. Sunscreen blocks the benefit.

The depression pills known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely prescribed medication for depression. SSRIs work by blocking the reuptake of a chemical transmitter called serotonin into the nerve cell endings. This action maintains a higher level of serotonin in the brain, which in theory reduces symptoms of depression.

The first drug in this category to find its way to the market was Prozac in 1988 followed by Paxil and a few others. From day one they have been the most popular and some would argue most overprescribed prescription antidepressant medication. Perhaps on reason for their popularity is that their side effects are less severe than older antidepressants (MAO inhibitors) and the consequences of overdose are also much less severe. 

An SSRI is often a doctor’s first choice in treating cases of depression. These drugs are also used in cases involving dysthymia and seasonal affective disorder. They usually take from one to four weeks to become effective. While their side effects are not as severe as older antidepressants the list is still very long. Side effects include increased anxiety, fatigue, upset stomach, insomnia, apathy, lack of sexual interest, dizziness, sweating, tremors, dry mouth, weight loss, weight gain and headache.

Additional complications:

*Drug interactions: Taking SSRIs with another type of antidepressant called MAO inhibitors can trigger dangerous even life threatening interactions.

*Suicide in children: The popular SSRI Paxil has been linked to an increase in self harm in children which could possibly lead to suicidal attempts.

*Withdrawal: Abrupt discontinuation of any antidepressant including SSRIs can produce flu like symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, sweating and headache. Sudden withdrawal has also been linked to sleep problems and vivid dreams.

*If you are bipolar just say no: If you have bipolar disorder SSRIs can activate manic states which can involve dangerous behaviors. 

Naming names 

There are currently six selective serotonin uptake inhibitors on the market. They are Celexa, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft.
 
In summary, if you have severe depression you should consult with your doctor to find the best treatment option for your unique situation. On the other hand many people with mild to moderate depression have found help in the form of herbal remedies for depression containing ingredients such as St. John’s wort and Passionflower. These all natural alternatives are very safe and have been shown to be effective as a stand alone treatment or in combination with behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy. Herbs should not be mixed prescription antidepressant medications and you should consult your doctor before changing your treatment plan.

Recently there’s been a lot of media attention directed at the antidepressants versus placebo debate. It seems controlled studies have shown placebos, given unknowingly to a depressed patient, have gained as good results as giving the actual medication. In the fine print to the study, which seems news reports fail to mention or skip over quickly, is that this finding was based on people with mild depression.

Naturally all this study has done is raise the ‘It’s all in your imagination’ statements and, I dare say, reiterated a whole lot of mental illness ignorance along the way. Personally I do agree antidepressants are prescribed too often. I think they’re overused and overrated in several cases. There is a difference between clinical depression caused by a chemical imbalance, and situation depression caused by, yes you guessed it, a certain situation. But, for many people who struggle with clinical depression, antidepressants have been the key to life or death.

Perhaps a lot of the problem stems from the ‘quick fix’ mentality of several medical professionals. Over recent years scripts for antidepressants are passed over almost as willingly as antibiotics. I doubt this is helping anyone in the long run. A script for Xanax can’t cure a volatile marriage for instance. It can’t cure financial problems and it can’t cure loneliness. These are situational examples of where depression may not be classified as clinical. Examples of where antidepressant placebos are likely to ‘help’ by way of mind over matter.

I’m not speaking from the point of view of someone who takes antidepressants. I was diagnosed with bipolar in December 2006 and, for me, antidepressants were more harm than good. They brought on rapid mood cycling and increased the psychotic features of my bipolar. (Hearing voices, paranoia, hallucinations, etc) Given that, it’s obvious there was no placebo mind over matter cure all for me. They didn’t make me feel fantastic; they made me feel as though I were going insane. Hence, I was promptly taken off them and placed on antipsychotic medication and mood stabilisers.
Mental illness, in all its forms, is right up there with epilepsy in regards to mediaeval misunderstanding and ignorance. Such a controlled study – and I often wonder how controlled these studies actually are and the cross section of people really used – has achieved nothing in regards to science other than point out the blindingly obvious whilst pushing mental awareness further back into the dark ages. I wonder how much money was invested in this study? They could have handed the cheque over to me and I’d have told them immediately what probably took them months to discover. Antidepressants are little help to those existing in depressing, anxiety filled situations. No antidepressant in the world is able to cure my grief over my partner’s suicide. What has helped me is talking it out, attending a support group, interaction with people and my psychiatrist.

So instead of these scientists, and ultimately journalists who sometimes misreport stories, telling the public a very broad finding, they would do mental illness awareness far more justice by telling the whole truth. Rather than point blank state antidepressants don’t work on many people, they should give an explanation of why. The last thing those who suffer from mental illness need is the ’snap out of it’ attitude of others. Doctors need to stop handing out scripts for antidepressants like candy and concentrate on the root of the problem. In dire situations, where a patient presents as suicidal or deeply depressed, then a prescription for medication is warranted. But, when a patient presents as mildly depressed this avenue, in my opinion, isn’t the most logical route to take.

I’m all for studies on mental illness. What I don’t agree with is anything that throws any progress made straight down the toilet. We don’t need to hear the ‘it’s all in your head’ comments from friends or family let alone in the media.

Do antidepressants work for everyone? No they don’t. Have they saved other’s people’s lives? Yes they have. Does aspirin ease a headache? Yes it can. Can it cure a migraine? No it can’t. The fact medications don’t work for everyone is old news. Scientists should focus their attention on discovering new theories not regurgitate what intelligent people have already figured out for themselves.

It goes without saying that prescription medications or prescription drugs can be quite expensive without having proper insurance or health coverage, this remains to be a true statement in many countries across the world however within the UK there are many ways that you can reduce your costs when it comes to buying your much-needed medication and as you will learn there are also many ways for you to get your drugs for free. Let’s take a look at some of the options that you have available within this country:

– It is widely known among seniors that they can get their NHS medications for free if they are 60 years old or over. This is a great regulation within the health industry in the UK which has been designed to help seniors get their prescriptions they need at a point in their lives when they become indispensable.

– You can also get free NHS prescriptions if you are 16 years of age or younger. However, if you are within 16 years old and 18 years of age you are also qualified to get free prescriptions if you are a full-time student.

– Females who are currently pregnant or have had a baby within the past 12 months are also entitled to free medication provided they have completed the required forms, in this case form FW8.

– If you have a medical condition that is listed in an exception certificate you are also entitled to free medication.

– if you hold a valid war pension exemption certificate in the prescriptions or you’re getting are for your accepted the settlement then you are equally entitled to free prescriptions; likewise you are able to get the same benefits if you are an NHS inpatient.

There are also several other financial conditions that you may meet and that will allow you to qualify for free medications such as:

– receiving income support to will automatically qualify you for free medication, the same can be said if you receive income-based jobseekers allowance, pension credit, have a valid NC2 certificate or hold an NHS tax credit exception certificate.

Those with a listed medical condition will need to fill out a form and have it signed by their doctor or hospital in order to have access to medication, once this form is signed it will become effective for one month prior to the date the NHS receives such information and it will also remain effective for five years until it needs to be renewed once again, at this point you may receive a notice from the NHS so you can have this document renewed but if you do not receive such noticed you need to be aware that it is your responsibility to have it renewed.

As you can see there are many ways for you to get free medication if you are a UK citizen, there are many other ways that have not been mentioned in this article which is why you need to consult with your doctor in order to figure out the best ways for you to get financial aid when it comes to purchasing your much-needed prescriptions.

Chronic depression and anxiety are debilitating mood disorders that need to be treated with the help of a licensed therapist. There are different modes or approaches in treating these orders. One of the most common is psychotherapy and administration of medications. There is a wide array of medications for depression and anxiety that your therapist may prescribe – the different types are described below.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

The current standard medication for depression and anxiety is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI. An SSRI belongs to the class of antidepressant that aims to maintain high levels of 5-HT in the brain’s synapse. To do this, the main component of SSRI inhibits or prevents synaptic nerves (presynaptic) to reuptake serotonin. With low levels of serotonin in the brain, the brain will have difficulty or will slow down in its transmission of signals between neurons.

SSRI has been proven to be effective and much safer than other types of anti depressants. Which is why more doctors or therapists select this first before resorting to other medications for depression and anxiety.

Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) is a newer form of medications for depression and anxiety.

In SSRI, the only focus is on maintaining levels of 5-HT. With SNRIs, however, there is an increase in level of both norepinephrine and 5-HT to treat depression and stop anxiety attacks.

For side effects, SNRI resembles that of SSRI since they are similar in a number of chemical components. What makes this medicine different from SSRI is that it needs tapering when there’s a plan to discontinue this medicine. With SNRIs, patient can experience withdrawal syndrome.

Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressants (NASSAs)

Makers of noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NASSAs) claim that these new forms of medications for depression and anxiety works as effectively as SSRI and SNRI yet are much safer.

Like SNRI, this medicine works to increase levels of norepinephrine in the body and serotonin in the brain. Just like SSRI, it does its job by blocking presynaptic receptors (an alpha-2 adrenergic). However, what makes it different from SNRI and SSRI is it doesn’t have the withdrawal syndrome effect of SNRI (when discontinuing the medicine) and serotonin related side effects in SSRIs. It also blocks serotonin receptors responsible for common side effects in SSRIs that patients experience within the adaption phase.

Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs)

Norepinephrine (noradrenaline) reuptake inhibitors (NRIs) work by increasing levels of norepinephrine in the body. This medicine is said to be effective in treating depression but not anxiety. Because this medicine focuses mainly on noradrenaline, it can cause or increase thoughts of aggression in a depressed, more so an anxious patient.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

The oldest form of medication for depression and anxiety is tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclics works by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and serotonin neurotransmitters. This medicine, however, is now rarely prescribed because of side effects that are attached into it. However, tricyclic antidepressants are known to effectively treat depression and anxiety, especially the severe cases. This medicine is usually the last resort in the event the patient didn’t respond well with safer antidepressants such as SSRIs.

Caution When Buying

All antidepressants are prescription drugs. This means that you can not buy them over the counter. If for some reason someone offers you antidepressant at a low price, don’t accept it. It may be a fake or it may contain ingredients that can do you more harm than good.

Select with the Help of your Doctor

It is not easy to select the medications for depression and anxiety that will work for you. Usually, in this form of therapy, it’s only through trial and error that you and your therapist would know if the medicine works for you. In this regard, whenever a new medication for depression and anxiety is prescribed to you, ask your doctor or therapist to brief you thoroughly about the drug. Ask what it does, how it works, what are the expected side effects and what are the things that you should do in the event that major side effects are manifested or when there’s a suspicion of overdose.