Of course teens with acne are depressed. That comes as another chapter titled simple "Duh!" in Captain Obvious' biography. In addition to the normal uncertainties already present in teenage life which most teens try to pretend don't exist by putting on one mask or another (or just trying to get through the day with as little attention as possible), they have a visible - sometimes very obvious - symptom of their adolescence. Most teens already feel insecure about their appearance; acne only compounds the issue. I write about this from personal experience - my problems with acne lasted well into college when I finally gave in and took Accutane, the only acne med that actually WORKED for (and believe me, I tried everything from OTC cleansers through topical antibiotics and the highest dose of Retin-A I could get before taking that step). Of course, now Accutane is being blamed for causing suicidal ideation.

To me, all of this points out that medication only masks symptoms - what is the underlying issue going on? In this case, it may be that teenagers are just depressed (I know I was, I know most of my friends were, and I also know that it was situational, not chemical - being a teenager, stuck under mom and dad's thumb and having to go to high school is an utter fucking drag).

But really - when the hell did we all seem to get so suicidal, anyway? From the media's reporting, it seems that everyone is depressed or anxious and needs to take meds that will either cause, contribute to or resurface feelings of suicidality. Call me crazy, but I don't think this normal.

And one other thing - my fiancee recently started Wellbutrin to deal with what's now known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (but I remember as cyclothymia with the recommended treatment being exposure to sunlight if possible or treatment with light in areas - primarily colder climes farther north - where it wasn't). Within a week, she was having reactions so significant that she stopped taking the medication.

While we might like to believe that popping a pill is a cure all for whatever ails us, sometimes the answer is simply enduring it and allowing it to make us stronger.

I had a therapist tell me to give the dog benedryl when he was too hyper. Not kidding.( Of course I didn't).

Accutane for acne proved to be linked with teen suicide, I hope no one forgets that.

Cymbalta had the 19 year old healthy research study university student hang herself in their lab.

Most women and young girls now are offered birth control pills to combat acne, and even out bipolar moodswings. (hello 2 of my daughters).

On a side note re: suicidal thinking and meds..

FDA sent out a warning regarding Tamiflu and self-injury behaviors after taking a dose.

I wonder if your readers are aware that a "healthy volunteer" named Traci Johnson committed suicide during Eli Lilly's own clinical trial for Cymbalta at one of their own facilities by hanging herself from a shower rod. Because this clinical trial was for incontinence -- that's right Lilly was trying to get Cymbalta, aka duloxetine, approved for incontinence as well as depression -- they did not have to include this unfortunate incident in their application process for approval for depression. In order for Cymbalta to work for incontinence one has to take it at higher doses than for depression. Traci had been rapidly escalated to a large dose and then rapidly tapered down -- something known to be highly dangerous to do with an antidepressant. Her death came only days after the first FDA hearing on SSRIs and suicidality in children. To those of us testifying there it almost seemed like the hand of God but once again it was an incident that got dissed and dismissed by pharma and their cronies at the FDA. We're going to have another chance to plug the dykes on December 13 when the FDA convenes another hearing on the meta-analysis going on of SSRIs and suicidality in adult clinical trials. Stay tuned for some excitement.

Sara,
There is a link somewhere on this site where I passed on the Traci Johnson story....

G0 Puckett.

I knew and loved Traci Johnson all of my life. Her smile could brighten any room. She was one of the most optimistic people I knew and would NEVER have hung herself with the poisonous Cymbalta running through her veins. I am relieved that her death is finally bringing light to the dangers of SSRIs, especially connected with youth.

Dear Anon on 1.11.07

I am so sorry for the loss of your dear Traci.

Take care,
Stephany