• 10
  • March
    2011

Around 10% of Americans take antidepressant medications, according to a new study published by the Archives of General Psychiatry. Antidepressant pharmaceuticals make up a multibillion dollar industry, falling around $9.6 million in 2008. But are these medications effective?

Perhaps surprisingly, the new study found that antidepressant medications like Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, and Paxil, work no better than placebos.

One health analyst at George Washington University found that approximately 40% of the studies conducted by pharmaceutical companies on the effectiveness of antidepressant medications remain unpublished. The reason, he speculates, is that these 40% of the studies do not demonstrate the effectiveness of antidepressants. Another researcher at the University of Connecticut found that the difference in effectiveness between small and large doses of antidepressants was virtually non-existent.

A study done by the U.S. government in 2006 showed that less than 50 percent of people who have taken one or two types of antidepressant medications have become free of depression symptoms.

In addition to the limited effectiveness of these drugs, they may also be used incorrectly. According to one doctor, one danger with antidepressant medications is the possibility that patients will fail to make necessary changes in their life, thinking instead that taking medication will solve their problems.

Then there are the side effects antidepressants, which include dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, sleepiness, fatigue, tremors, sweating, dizziness, weight gain, decreased libido, anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness, among others. Patients over 65 years of age present other risks, as does pregnancy.

Some doctors advocate more natural approaches to depression treatment, including increasing omega 3 fatty acids, practicing meditation, getting regular exercise, getting counseling, as well as increasing social involvement.

Clearly, doctors have differing opinions on whether antidepressants are an effective tool in the battle against depression, and whether more natural approaches are worth considering. But perhaps not enough doctors consider natural ways to deal with depression, particularly given the side effects such medications present.

Certain antidepressant medications, such as Prozac and Paxil, in addition to the common side effects listed above, can in certain cases cause suicidal tendencies and birth defects. Dangerous drugs like these can do real harm to patients.

Source: Fox News, "Dealing With Depression Naturally," Chris Kilham, 8 Mar 2011.