(No subject)

[Guest guest]

I

have posted the information that Bob has uploaded to his 'Research File' to the

forum for all to read. Bob, sometimes, it is best to post it to the members

first, and then put it into your Research Files so other members can read them

later. Hope this is OK.

Luv

- Sheila

____________________________

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/58092-DH.htm#SSRIs%20 & %20WITHDRAWAL

SSRIs

& WITHDRAWAL/DEPENDENCE

BRIEFING

PAPER: 20-06-2003

DAVID

HEALY

Summary

Dependence

on and withdrawal from antidepressants has been recognised since

the

early 1960s.

" The

withdrawal syndrome complicates the evaluation of patients after

drug

discontinuation since both patients and physicians often interpret

the

onset of symptoms as an upsurge of " anxiety " related to incipient

relapse,

and resume treatment with the gratifying subsidence of

the

" anxiety " .

This

may cause both patients and physicians to overvalue the importance of

the

medication to the patient’s stability " (Kramer et al 1961).

Therapeutic

drug dependence or normal dose dependence needs to be

distinguished

from drug dependence of the sort caused by opiates

and

amphetamines.

Therapeutic

drug dependence may give rise to withdrawal syndromes

lasting

months or more.

Companies

have not been required to test their drugs for therapeutic

drug

dependence prior to marketing.

In

the case of the SSRIs it would seem that therapeutic drug dependence

has

been used as a means to claim prophylactic efficacy for these drugs.

Companies’

marketing for SSRIs implies that these drugs differ from

the

benzodiazepines in terms of producing dependence; these claims are

not

warranted.

Recognition

of dependence on antidepressants will provide safety for

patients

and a stimulus to companies to produce safer drugs.

At

present under the influence of company marketing many clinicians

and

patients are operating with a model that claims depression is a

chronic

condition that may need treatment for life – this is a model with

no

basis in epidemiological data.

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/58096-DH%20to%20WARK.htm