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Fit-Rest-973 t1_ivqoxrz wrote

I am a nurse, worked in psych for many years. When SSRIs were new, the recommended use was short term. Like, getting through the loss of a loved one, etc. Targeted time for using was 6 - 8 weeks. Then came health care for profit.

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msmurdock t1_ivrndpv wrote

True, that's what was hoped when SSRIs were first introduced in 1987.

Then came much better research, trials, and a plethora of different medications as well as new science that allowed us the ability to study genetics and brain scans etc.

We have slightly more info 36 years later.

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MegaChip97 t1_ixyi81m wrote

Yet we actually still don't really know how SSRI work, even though the name (and most prescribing psychiatrists) act differently.

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evie_quoi t1_ivqy9ax wrote

I mean, we also have years of studies on them now and understand depression/anxiety differently

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Fit-Rest-973 t1_ivr9dl6 wrote

It is criminal, the way these drugs are being shoved down the throats of the elderly. Yes, they're depressed. Because they are old, and are close to death

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onwardtoaction t1_ivrj9n5 wrote

why is this criminal? there are generics available for every major SSRI and I bet profit margins are extremely thin. agree that the quality of life for much of the elderly is low, but if pills that have been shown to help end up helping, what is the harm?

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Fit-Rest-973 t1_ivrjl0r wrote

For starters, they're ineffective. The last thing elderly people need is more toxins for their organs to filter

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xPussyEaterPharmD t1_ivrprwt wrote

It seems you are inferring that the only reason patients take anti-depressants >8 weeks/chronically is because someone will profit. That is unequivocally false.

Antidepressant use shows sustained lower scores in clinical depressive scales validating its chronic mood enhancement overtime. Sure drug companies like to make profits from chronic meds, but they are only prescribed because there is a true benefit.

Your comment is honestly pretty disappointing as you are a healthcare practitioner and are feeding into the stigma of mental health treatment

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Fit-Rest-973 t1_ivrpvl7 wrote

Those who profit push the medication, whether it is effective or not

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BizzyHaze t1_ivrzb0d wrote

Most SSRIs are available generic for very cheap, it's not a very profitable drug anymore for big pharma.

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Fit-Rest-973 t1_ivrq23u wrote

Or, the corporations who profit have rules for doctors, as to what and what not to prescribe. Nobody prescribes therapy any more

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BizzyHaze t1_ivrzgq6 wrote

Talk therapy is expensive. $200/hr in my city for doctoral level provider. SSRIs are $2/mo.

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One-Gap-3915 t1_ivswuiv wrote

  • I live in a country with free universal healthcare and SSRIs are very widely used including for longer term treatment
  • SSRIs take time to start working, the first 6-8weeks would be adjusting to side effects and building up dose so idk how it would even work for a short term application. Aren’t you supposed to take SSRIs for a while and then once you’re stabilised and have done therapy etc you taper off.
  • We have way more data on SSRIs now. Despite the title of this post, SSRIs and therapy are more effective than either alone.
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MrX101 t1_ivrazzm wrote

I mean its a tool like anything else, can be correctly or badly. Personally for me anti depressants were only thing that helped. Now on Strattera which is/was by far the best one I had.(and I tried about 9 or so different medications)

Though for specifically the elderly, I don't know people keep trying to keep old people to live longer, even if their quality of life is awful. Its just dumb.

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Fit-Rest-973 t1_ivrb7hn wrote

I was on meds for ADHD. Wasn't diagnosed until I was 50. Thankfully outgrew the need for meds last year

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MrX101 t1_ivukp2d wrote

which meds were you on?, out of curiosity.

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Fit-Rest-973 t1_ivuszjn wrote

Lexapro, which I felt was helpful. For the time I needed it. Adderall, which was essential, for when I was working

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