better living through modern medicine?

So i was looking up the side effects of some of my medications i take because of a depression disorder and wow! I was looking for possible problems with sexual pleasure instead i find all kinds of other shit that well i have been experiancing. why is it that a drug that is supposed to keep one "normal" also one that can make you batshit crazy?

Before i started taking this cocktail of meds yeah i was in big trouble but wow im surprised im still alive taking this stuff.

I dont know if i call it better living but i guess being alive is better than dead.

The obvious response here is to discuss this with your Doctor. Most drugs have a long list of possible side effects most of which rarely happen, but when they start tinkering around with your psychological makeup I suppose there's a potential for strange and unwanted effects.

I was on anti-depressants during a particularly difficult period of time. They really helped me out then. They also caused me to put on about 20 to 25 pounds that I never really was able to get rid of (until now). Otherwise I had no unusual side effects and they helped me through a difficult time, but I got off of them once that was over.

Again, I would discuss this with your Doctor. He might want to consider switching you to a different medication.

So i was looking up the side effects of some of my medications i take because of a depression disorder and wow! I was looking for possible problems with sexual pleasure instead i find all kinds of other shit that well i have been experiancing. why is it that a drug that is supposed to keep one "normal" also one that can make you batshit crazy?

Before i started taking this cocktail of meds yeah i was in big trouble but wow im surprised im still alive taking this stuff.

I dont know if i call it better living but i guess being alive is better than dead. Originally Posted by Duthgar1976

If you aren't experiencing those other symptoms, then don't worry about them.

For those with depression, anti-depressants are a like like women. The only thing worse than having them in you life is not having them in your life. But even under the best of circumstances, they can be a PITA.

An Orthopedic called me Humpty Dumpty ..."a product of a reckless youth". He had me on steroidal anti inflammatory drugs until the side effects became worse than the condition. I researched it and learned to live with it. The effects of getting off of this stuff can last for a year or more. I have never completely trusted a doctor since.

...I have never completely trusted a doctor since. Originally Posted by EZ.

Most of my Doctors (and I have several) seem very competent and their approach makes sense to me. But, in the past I have fired three specialists (two ENTs and one Urologist) when I was not comfortable with what they were doing, and if I have any doubt I don't hesitate to make an appointment with someone else for a second opinion. For a second opinion, I pick my own rather than ask for a reference from the original Doc.

Most of my Doctors (and I have several) seem very competent and their approach makes sense to me. But, in the past I have fired three specialists (two ENTs and one Urologist) when I was not comfortable with what they were doing, and if I have any doubt I don't hesitate to make an appointment with someone else for a second opinion. For a second opinion, I pick my own rather than ask for a reference from the original Doc. Originally Posted by billw1032

My oldest daughter was having ear aches and we had taken her to a highly recommended Pediatrician. After this had dragged on for some time, I asked her when we might consider having tubes put in her ears. She told me, "I'm the doctor and I will let you know when the time is right for putting tubes in her ears". I was livid. I promise that everyone in the waiting area heard me. I took her to an ENT specialist and upon examining her said asked, "How long has this been going on?" He did the surgery in under 48 hours, considering it an emergency.

Ya medicine is not black and white. The person delivering treatment has a huge impact on overall wellness based on their own personal beliefs and approach. I really sympathize with anyone who has to deal with a complex medical issue bc sifting through the "professionals" equipped to handle it can be debilitating in and of itself. Especially with psychiatry nowadays. I read a report where most psychiatrists can't even be reached anymore bc their patient load is so high that they change their numbers and leave them unlisted.

Thankfully, there is more awareness and acceptance now regarding depression and seeking treatment than there was 20yrs ago. Almost all prescribed meds have a laundry list of side effects attached to them. Have you seen the any given edition of a drug guidebook??? Don't be discouraged, sweetie. DSK is right about not worrying about symptoms that don't exist.

I hope the meds are working for you overall. You seem like a really nice man who got handed a shitty hand for little while. That is when med's can really make a difference in helping you see the forest thru the trees.

Happy New Year hon!

Oh yeah to double the whamy for you folks about this. I am a Navy veteran that goes to the V.A. Clinics and Hospital. Good times lol!!!!

Oh yeah to double the whamy for you folks about this. I am a Navy veteran that goes to the V.A. Clinics and Hospital. Good times lol!!!! Originally Posted by Duthgar1976

I was in and out of the VA, for the first year, after returning from Vietnam. I hope you are getting better treatment. I appreciate your service but they need to privatize the VA. It is a national disgrace.

Oh yeah to double the whamy for you folks about this. I am a Navy veteran that goes to the V.A. Clinics and Hospital. Good times lol!!!! Originally Posted by Duthgar1976

Wow - if you have to go to the VA that is unfortunate. They have good people there but unfortunately, the system grinds the life out of them.

VA medical professionals are either in it for the consistent salary, the educational experience or because they truly care (in that order).

VA medical professionals are either in it for the consistent salary, the educational experience or because they truly care (in that order). Originally Posted by thathottnurse

I had been cramming for the second Intermediate Accounting final and dozed off. I woke up having an anxiety attack. I took a tiny green pill from the VA. It was about 8:00 PM and I decided to walk downtown and have a beer at the local pub. I was still having the symptoms, so I took the other pill that I brought with me. Directly behind the pub was the police station and the cops used to come in mainly to check out the women which were abundant. After a couple of beers, I was pretty looped. One of the cops noticed me and said, "you seem to have had too much to drink". I replied, "no officer, it's the pills". I didn't get another word out before I had a cop on each arm dragging me to the police station. I had to call my Grandfather to bring the prescription. To their horror, he brought in a pint sized bottle filled with those tiny pills. The Police Chief said, "damn there is enough pills to get the whole town stoned." There wasn't a thing they could do about it.

When I was in the VA, they had me on a combination of Demerol and Valium. Patients are easier to deal with when you keep them zoned out.

I am very anti-medication. I truly believe that we are overly prescribed. I could write you a book about Big Pharma but this thread is not about that! Google it sometime.

My feeling is your diet has everything to do with many health problems, including depression. There is a ton of research on it. Making huge lifestyle changes is not as quick or as easy as taking a pill but I promise it will make you feel much better in the long term and no side effects except feeling great.
On my personal journey, I was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic and instead of taking the pills they wanted to give me, I drastically changed my entire lifestyle and now I am no longer diabetic. Through my diet I was able to change and control other health issues as well. Acupuncture, massage and natural medicine should be considered as well. At the very least, you could start on a low level depression medication instead of a big serious medication.
Of course this is not relevant advice for serious mental or physical health issues which I fully admit to having absolutely no knowledge of. And medication is absolutely necessary for so many health issues.
I am simply saying that before you take a pill, it may be fruitful to explore some other alternatives...especially if you are having unpleasant side effects.