Depression and SSRIs
By Dan Goldstein

At certain times in our lives, all of us become sad, stressed, unhappy, or experience grief. After experiencing a personal tragedy, most of us are able to return to our normal activities within days or weeks. But if our sadness continues to prevent us from getting through the day after an extended period of time, or we get to the point of contemplating suicide, we are likely experiencing clinical depression.

Each year, approximately 17 million Americans get depressed. Depression contributes to about half of all suicides. But depression affects people besides those who are diagnosed with it. The families of people who are victims of clinical depression, in fact, often feel helpless and become overwhelmed.

Fortunately, most people can be effectively treated for depression. But guilt and shame prevents many from seeking treatment. Others don't recognize the symptoms which, among others, include:

•  Loss of interest in people or activities you previously found meaningful or pleasurable

•  Loss of energy

•  Disturbed sleep

•  A change in eating patterns

•  Crying spells

•  Decreased interest in sex

Treatment for clinical depression may require psychotherapy, or a combination of psychotherapy and medication. While antidepressant medications alone will not cure depression, they can help control some of the symptoms, allowing patients to make the life changes necessary to better cope with their problems.

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Antidepressant medication has come a long way, even since the early 1980's, when medications from the group of antidepressant drugs known as tricyclis (TCAs) were the prescription of choice. The newer Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have generally been shown to be as effective yet safer, less addictive, with fewer side effects, and less prone to "mask" the underlying issues that contribute to depression.

The use of SSRIs has also demonstrated some success in lessening the symptoms for eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and a variety of additional anxiety disorders. SSRIs have also been found successful in treating premature ejaculation.

But SSRIs have also been the focus of some controversy. Some critics complain that pharmaceutical companies' marketing and sales departments are influencing mainstream psychiatric theory and that these medications are being overzealously prescribed in cases where their use is only marginally indicated.

In 2004 some media reports suggested a link between SSRI use and juvenile suicide. Paxil was one of the SSRIs mentioned in this report as being associated with juvenile suicide. The FDA has since issued a black box warning in SSRI packaging inserts alerting potential users of the likelihood of such danger.

There has also been some evidence that SSRI manufacturers have downplayed risks associated with these medications and withheld information from the FDA. Some of this information is in regard to potential adverse effects associated with discontinuing the use of SSRIs. This behavior has led to a large amount of litigation aimed at many of these pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Trade names for SSRIs include Zoloft, Prozac, Fontex, Sarafem, Seromex, Seronil, Serlain, Lustral, Paxil, Seroxat, Paroxat, Aropax, Deroxat, Celexa, Cipramil, Seropram, Emocal, Sepram, Lexapro, Esertia, Cipralex, Faverin and Luvox.