Originally Posted by Portia26

I am so SICK of the fear mongering that goes on online. I agree that our society is overmedicated, and I think these drugs should NOT be used on those who don't absolutely need it. However... these drugs have done wonders for millions of people in the world, myself included. I think I would be dead WITHOUT them, effexor in particular. I don't think any of us reading this board is stupid enough not to know about any risks for side effects, etc. But to say these drugs CAUSE suicide and homicide is just not something I can agree with. PEOPLE cause suicide and homicide, not DRUGS. People who commit these suicides/crimes are SEVERELY depressed to begin with, psychotic, etc.. and have problems that the drugs just aren't helping, unfortunately. I am so sick of people implying that an SSRI can cause murder is someone who was not otherwise going to do it. That is ridiculous. These drugs do not change who you are. Depression and psychosis does.

Originally Posted by Portia26

I am so sorry these drugs have reeked so much havoc in your lives. Perhaps since I have not experienced it myself, I do not understand. I'll give you that. I think Tanis tells a perfect story of overmedication. I firmly believe that those who do not ABSOLUTELY need these meds should NOT take them. Lack of energy and a desire to quit smoking is not a good enough reason. They are SO overprescribed. Tanis's story tends to make me think there there must be some genetic component to these intense side effects... they happened to her whole family. I just get really frightened, as I imagine others who are doing well on these drugs do, when people throw around words like suicide and homicide. I suppose if we are not experiencing the mental anguish you describe then we have nothing to worry about. A side note about myself: I have OCD, in the form of unwanted obsessions. Mine are unwanted obsessions of harming others. So whenever people talk about the SSRI's causing violence, it strikes a major chord in me and I feel the need to speak up. These posts increase the anxiety of people like me, with OCD obsessions, to increase so much. I'm not really trying to get you to take back anything you are saying, but I'm here to give a balanced perspective for those of us reading who worry about violence, and are on SSRI's. I can't imagine going through what you both describe. Sounds like the hell I was in BEFORE I went on meds, oddly enough. Isn't that ironic... such a strange drug that can literally make people have opposite responses. I really believe though that this happens when the drug is prescribed unnecessarily, which unfortunately happens all to often.

Originally Posted by Portia26

Thanks for being understanding to me and responding. I'm sorry too if my initial response to your post struck a nerve with you. We all have different experiences...(post quote cut for brevity)... I don't ask any more of my meds than to get me to the point where I can take care of the rest of the problems myself. I think if I were to see a psychiatrist, they might argue that my symptoms seem to show that I am not responding well enough to meds, and to increase my dose. I am not going to do this. And if it comes to the point where they no longer work, we will see what I will do then. Perhaps I will try another round without the drugs. Ideally, I would love not to have to take them. But without them, I am not capable of working on my problems with OCD and GAD. For me, going on meds has not been the glamorous miracle it appears to have been to some. I do believe I am still firmly grounded in reality. I still fight the fight every day. But meds have helped me to fight. I have become more responsible, more caring and more mature in the last few months. I do NOT attribute this to meds. My meds allowed me to face my demons, but I had to do that on my own. It has taken and it still taking a lot of hard work with my therapist. I agree that most people need to know as much as possible about these meds before starting them. But liek you said Sandalla, when you first read up on Effexor, you were so scared, you decided to ignore what you read. But then, you posted a VERY frightening message, so do you understand what I'm getting at? It's all about balance. Maybe people will, like you, be so scared when they read your post that they too will resist reading anything negative in the future because they were so scared, and then they may encounter side effects and have no clue what to do. I am promoting a healthy balance of information here. I really think a solution would be the enzyme test. So many people could be spared problems. I wonder how we could get e movement going in favor of this test being standard practice? And by the way Sandalla, how are you doing now? I hope things are great for you, after such a struggle. And you too Tanis. Are you back with your children? Is everyone OK? Let me know, and everyone, pardon my initial hostility. I think we all understand eachother a lot better now.

Originally Posted by Portia26

I'm sorry it came out that way. I'm so sorry you went through that, and felt so depressed. I believe you when you say it was the drugs. I was just mad and scared when I wrote that. Again, I apologize. Fortunately for me I suppose, I clearly don't understand how bad the withdrawals can be. But on the other side of the coin, I have reached that level of despair, so I do know how that feels. Ironically, before I went on meds. We are all so different. Seems like it's playing Russian roulette with these drugs!

Originally Posted by Portia26

I totally agree that we MUST find a way to prevent these horrible side effects from happening. I am saying that the side effects of these meds can most certainly PUSH you to any number of horrible outcomes, but it must be noted that these side effects can only be one of a NUMBER of factors that lead to such horrible crimes/tragedies. That being said, I think we must fight to learn more GENUINE, SCIENTIFIC information about these drugs. EXTREME CAUTION must be used in prescribing them! IE: Prozac for WEIGHT LOSS? Insanity. These drugs are being abused all over the place. However, they have also helped many. If only we could find a way to figure out who they may help and who they may hinder BEFORE people are put through such pain.

Originally Posted by Portia26

I agree, the science is just NOT established the way it is for insulin and diabetes. It is not a logical comparison. And by no means will suicidal/homicidal people be better if they only take these meds... so much more needs to be done for these people, and sadly, it seems that sometimes nothing can be done to stop them.