July 13, 2007

Anti-Depressant Backlash Fuels Alternatives

Or so says this Wall Street Journal article. And we're talking about chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, massage, naturopathy and so on. While I don't buy the reporter's assertion that there's been a culture-wide backlash against SSRIs and the like (sales have leveled off after years of spectacular growth), it's nice to see the paper pay attention to alternative treatments.

Interesting bits: The article asserts that 80 percent of anti-depressants are prescribed by primary care docs, which is just wacko.

And:

"Using herbal supplements with conventional medicine can be dangerous, psychiatrists say. 'There are always snake oil salesmen,' says Carolyn Rabinowitz, president of the American Psychiatric Association."

That's some brave talk coming from the head of the APA.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at July 13, 2007 10:32 AM
StumbleUpon Toolbar del.icio.us Digg it reddit
Comments

"Using herbal supplements with conventional medicine can be dangerous, psychiatrists say. 'There are always snake oil salesmen,' says Carolyn Rabinowitz, president of the American Psychiatric Association."

Is Ms. Rabinowitz referring to alternative treatment providers or psychiatrists here?

Posted by: Francesca Allan at July 13, 2007 03:20 PM

It is not a backlash against SSRI's, as much as it is people finding something else that works for them, after [possibly]feeling worse on the medication. Speaking from experience, the months I suffered on Prozac were so bad that I sought immediate relief from the drug--meaning removal. Many people, in the quest to feel better also take on other therapies as an "add-on" to the SSRI, feel better and end up tapering off of the SSRI and leaving the therapies in place--lifestyle changes, exercise, meditation, etc. Then in the end the patient often wonders why they went on the medication in the first place sometimes not realizing the life style changes could have helped first. If PCP's stopped writing antidepressant scripts and started giving coupons for 1 month Yoga classes and therapeutic massages--I bet those patients wouldn't be back asking for a drug.

Posted by: Stephany at July 13, 2007 03:57 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?






pic1.jpg

Patient Blogs. Sites.
Doctor Blogs. Sites.
Activists. News.
Social Networking. Forums.
Science. Big Pharma. Ethics.
Current Affairs
Seattle Stuff
Smoking. Stuff.

Info
About Furious Seasons
Email
Other Articles
ZYPREXA Documents
Alt ZYPREXA Documents Source
Blakemore-Brown Transcript

 Subscribe in a reader

Recent Entries
Jim Carrey Criticizes Extended Anti-Depressant Use
FDA Orders Suicide Warning For Bipolar, Epilepsy Drugs
Another Seroquel Related Arrest
Minnesota Forced ECT Case Hits NPR Airwaves
Fundraiser Over
Boston Globe Reports Sexual Problems With SSRIs As High As 50 Percent
Winter Fundraiser, So Close It's Not Even Funny
Two Child Physicians Criticize ADHD Meds, The Bipolar Child, Pharma Influence
Michael Phelps: "I Didn't Want To Take Ritalin Anymore"
Winter Fundraiser, Oh So Close
Winter Fundraiser, Inching Closer
10-Year-Old Who Killed Father After Beginning Prozac Gets New Trial
Scientific American Interview: Is Depression Overdiagnosed?
Winter Fundraiser, Day 11
Paxil Documents Online
Recent Comments

Stephany on Anti-Depressant Backlash Fuels Alternatives

Francesca Allan on Anti-Depressant Backlash Fuels Alternatives

Archives
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
Resources
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
National Institute of Mental Health
McMan Web
Search


Powered by
Movable Type 3.2