Posted by bookgurl99 on June 10, 2003, at 18:50:13
In reply to great visit with pdoc/no meds update » bookgurl99, posted by bookgurl99 on June 10, 2003, at 18:44:42
when i asked my pdoc about the long-term safety of meds, he pointed out that we have to weigh the benefits of not living with severe anxiety/ocd, etc., with the apparently low risk of taking meds.
i asked about brain changes that can be permanent, and he said that as neurotransmitters, receptors, etc., are made from protein by our bodies every day, we do not need to fear 'losing' receptors. This was a fear of mine; that I would 'downregulate' and not be able to get those things back!
But he did say that a small group(1 or 2%) of people who use antidepressants are unable to get off of them for life. He said this small subgroup of people develop severe depression from getting off the meds. He said that it is not known whether those people have a separate illness than typical depression, or if they had permanent brain changes due to using meds.
I am not fearful of being in that small percent, but I was glad that he was honest with me about that.
I'm also glad that he supported me in my search for 'natural' methods.
books
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