When I was prescribed zoloft over ten years ago by a psychiatrist that had spent at most 15 minutes with me, she told me I'd need to take it everyday for the rest of my life. I don't remember if I even asked why, but do remember asking her what it was made of. "Why?" she asked. "Well," I explained, "if I'm going to need it for the rest of my life, I wonder what I'll do if the people who make it run out of the ingredients to make it." She had no idea what zoloft was made of and our time was up.

I quit taking it when I started my own business. Joined a health club with the money I saved from not taking it. Great decision. Still I'm wondering what's zoloft made of, or seroquel for that matter? I think asking your shrink may get you bumped up from generalized anxiety disorder to borderline, though I was labeled dysthemic back then.

I wanted to leave a comment here and it became notoriously long and rambling in different directions so I'm linking to this on my blog. After I sort the pet food one more time, and avoid licking lead-paint covered toys, and flushing my left over Seroquel down the toilet--then reporting it all to the FDA. Oh I forgot the FDA doesn't watch out for public safety.

Can't be flushing it down the toilet!... Here's a link http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/science/earth/03water.html?ex=1333252800&en=5db71d2bdb7e6777&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss that shows why Pharma should be filing "Environmental Impact Statements" for their drugs before they're launched - because so many of their pills are trashed after people clue on to their side effects.

Ingredients from China? What could go wrong? I'm sure their drug ingredients are every bit as safe as their toothpaste and toys....

AstraZeneca hands production to Far East in effort to cut costs.

"As part of a restructuring drive designed to cut $900 million (£440 million) of the drugs group’s costs by 2010, the drugs giant is to begin purchasing Lactam, a key chemical ingredient used to make Seroquel, its blockbuster schizophrenia drug, from contract manufacturers in China."

More re: Drugs and China:

Unregulated Chinese Chemicals Wind Up in Drugs-Wall Street Journal Health Blog.

"Why does this make me nervous?"

"Date-rape"chemical prompts recall of toys--made in China.

"Scientists say a chemical coating on the beads, when ingested, metabolizes into the so-called date-rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. When eaten, the compound can induce unconsciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and cause death."