« Back to alt.support.depression.medication

FAQ Part III

DEEPSAND562@AOL.COMBRAIN (LOSTBOYINNC) 2004-12-05 22:10:06

13) Question: What is the difference between "responding" to an antidepressant
and "remitting" to an antidepressant?

Answer: Responding means you get exactly that...a response. You get better, but
are not well or totally normal. Remission means you totally remitt or become
totally normal again. Obviously, full remission is the objective in any case of
major depression. However, it should be noted that current studies show that
most depressives do not "remitt" with the present crop of antidepressants. Most
people who take antidepressants get about a 50% "response" rate, rather than a
full remission.

To become FDA approved, all a drug company has to prove is that their
proposed antidepressant consistently provides a 50% response or improvement
rate on the HAMD. An antidepressant does not have to show that it creates a
full remission the majority of the time to get FDA approved. This is not
particularly encouraging news for sufferers of major depression, particularly
if the depression is severe.

14) Question: What depression treatment has been proven in formal studies to
result in full remission most often?

Answer: ECT. ECT has been shown to be far superior in many, many studies to
medications or psychotherapy when it comes to achieving full remission from a
major depressive episode. However, this information is not widely known due to
the strong influence of the pharmaceutical industry which wants to sell
psychiatric drugs. And the small but very loud and vocal "anti-ECT" lobby also
likes to downplay ECT's success stories. The truth about ECT's effectiveness
for severe depression is oftentimes covered up.

15) Question: What about "alternative treatment" for depression? Are they any
good?

Answer: Most are scams. However a few are worthwhile and a handful are very
useful. Regular aerobic exercise has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to
have a strong antidepressant and mood stabilizing effect. Its possibly the best
single "augmentor" of antidepressant medications. To get best results, 30
minutes a day, five to six days a week for at least a month is necessary to
notice real improvement in mood. Basically, the "runners high" is the
antidepressant effect.

Another alternative treatment worth mentioning includes a "light box." There
are some depressives who crash extra hard in the late fall and winter, due to
lack of sunlight and the changing seasons. A light box can provide
antidepressant relief to these individuals. These light boxes are well
documented in psychiatric literatute for depression relief in the cold, dark
winter months.

Calcium/magnesium supplements are useful non addictive treatments for insomnia
or muscle tension. Valarian root is also well documented for insomnia and
anxiety and does work.

16) Question: Are there any medical conditions that can result in depression or
cause antidepressants not to work effectively?
Answer: Most definitely!!!! Among these include the following:

A) obstructive sleep apnea
B) thyroid conditions
C) low testosterone levels in male depressives
D) diabetes that is either undetected or poorly controlled
E) Low levels of certain B vitamins, although B vitamin deficiency is rare in
our Western society with fortified cereal and bread products.
F) Extremely high cortisol levels such as is found in Cushings syndrome or
disease

Depression oftentimes precedes the development of Parkinsons disease or other
major neurological illnesses by several years.

Eric

"Its the brain, stupid." quote from LostBoyinNC

STEVE N HOLLY 2004-12-05 18:06:34

Bear in mind that Eric has taken this on himself and this is simply his
opinion. He has no official capacity here and is regarded as a unreliable
and dangerous person to seek advice about serious issues from.

> 13) Question: What is the difference between "responding" to an

antidepressant

> and "remitting" to an antidepressant?
>
> Answer: Responding means you get exactly that...a response. You get

better, but

> are not well or totally normal. Remission means you totally remitt or

become

> totally normal again. Obviously, full remission is the objective in any

case of

> major depression. However, it should be noted that current studies show

that

> most depressives do not "remitt" with the present crop of antidepressants.

Most

> people who take antidepressants get about a 50% "response" rate, rather

than a

> full remission.
>
> To become FDA approved, all a drug company has to prove is that their
> proposed antidepressant consistently provides a 50% response or

improvement

> rate on the HAMD. An antidepressant does not have to show that it creates

> full remission the majority of the time to get FDA approved. This is not
> particularly encouraging news for sufferers of major depression,

particularly

> if the depression is severe.
>
> 14) Question: What depression treatment has been proven in formal studies

> result in full remission most often?
>
> Answer: ECT. ECT has been shown to be far superior in many, many studies

> medications or psychotherapy when it comes to achieving full remission

from a

> major depressive episode. However, this information is not widely known

due to

> the strong influence of the pharmaceutical industry which wants to sell
> psychiatric drugs. And the small but very loud and vocal "anti-ECT" lobby

also

> likes to downplay ECT's success stories. The truth about ECT's

effectiveness

> for severe depression is oftentimes covered up.
>
> 15) Question: What about "alternative treatment" for depression? Are they

any

> good?
>
> Answer: Most are scams. However a few are worthwhile and a handful are

very

> useful. Regular aerobic exercise has been proven beyond a shadow of a

doubt to

> have a strong antidepressant and mood stabilizing effect. Its possibly the

best

> single "augmentor" of antidepressant medications. To get best results, 30
> minutes a day, five to six days a week for at least a month is necessary

> notice real improvement in mood. Basically, the "runners high" is the
> antidepressant effect.
>
> Another alternative treatment worth mentioning includes a "light box."

There

> are some depressives who crash extra hard in the late fall and winter, due

> lack of sunlight and the changing seasons. A light box can provide
> antidepressant relief to these individuals. These light boxes are well
> documented in psychiatric literatute for depression relief in the cold,

dark

> winter months.
>
> Calcium/magnesium supplements are useful non addictive treatments for

insomnia

> or muscle tension. Valarian root is also well documented for insomnia and
> anxiety and does work.
>
> 16) Question: Are there any medical conditions that can result in

depression or

> cause antidepressants not to work effectively?
> Answer: Most definitely!!!! Among these include the following:
>
> A) obstructive sleep apnea
> B) thyroid conditions
> C) low testosterone levels in male depressives
> D) diabetes that is either undetected or poorly controlled
> E) Low levels of certain B vitamins, although B vitamin deficiency is rare

> our Western society with fortified cereal and bread products.
> F) Extremely high cortisol levels such as is found in Cushings syndrome or
> disease
>
> Depression oftentimes precedes the development of Parkinsons disease or

other

> major neurological illnesses by several years.
>
> Eric
>
>
>
>
> "Its the brain, stupid." quote from LostBoyinNC
>
>

STEVE N HOLLY 2004-12-05 20:31:20