Dear World
SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT
How are we living in daily life and what choices are we making that may contribute to depression.
What is really going on for us on World Health Day – 7 April 2019
70.9 million prescriptions for antidepressants
England | 2018 (1)
NHS digital figures showing number of drugs issued for conditions like depression and anxiety are on the rise.
WHY have we doubled the number dispensed in a decade in just one country.
Note – this figure does not include items issued on private prescriptions or those given out in hospitals.
What about those who can get antidepressants online as
– it is a way to hide it from others
– risk of losing job or relationship
– under age so it is a safe option
What if we simply add this all up and wake up to the fact – this is just one country so what is the real total worldwide figures for the antidepressant trade.
$15.98 BILLION
GLOBAL ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS MARKET BY 2023 (2)
Hello
Is this confirming that SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT
We have expected forecasts of where we are heading and our future does not look like things will be getting better.
$15,980,000,000
What does this long big fat number really mean to us
Do we want to know more or does it suit us to just ignore
Is this the right time to be asking some serious Questions
Are we going to wait for more and more drugs to be on the market to cope with our depression.
Are our researchers busy focussing on more Solutions but not even considering how on earth do we get depression in the first place.
Are we going to continue to alleviate our depression by using drugs to do the job for us.
Are we going to review our antidepressant dose as we have got used to it and we now feel like it’s not working.
Are we happy knowing we are using antidepressants to push down feelings we do not want to feel.
Are we ok with taking antidepressants to numb our pain, which comes from our deep buried hurts in the past.
Are we going to keep taking antidepressants for the rest of our lives, as we just don’t think there is a way to deal with our past issues.
Are we relying on the antidepressant market to come up with a miracle pill one day, that will keep all our pain at bay, so we don’t have to feel it every day.
Are we content taking antidepressants because we know most of those we hang out with do the same, so it’s kind of normal in our world.
Are we convinced that antidepressants make the problem seem less severe.
Are we sure that antidepressants make our suffering and misery much less, so we can cope and function in life.
WHY is there such a high demand to not feel depressed and get a Solution for this type of illness.
WHY are we ok about popping pills without ever questioning how we got to this point to start with.
WHY are we certain the antidepressants market is on trend to rise with no sign of going down in the near future.
WHY are we all not fully informed and educated about the real risks and side effects of antidepressants.
WHY have we got all this so-called Intelligence in our world today, yet we are nowhere near finding out the root cause of depression and nailing it.
WHY have we simply accepted that taking antidepressants is normal and ok in life.
WHY have we got a nation where patients have an attitude of ‘a pill for every ill’ and where did this come from in the first place.
WHY are we so good at Blaming this and that, the world and its mothers and brothers for taking antidepressants.
WHY have we got shame around the fact that we have been taking antidepressants for decades.
WHY have we never considered what the antidepressants might be doing to our brain chemistry in the long-term.
WHY have we never given it much thought that every drug has its side effects and that includes antidepressants.
WHY are some of us having to up our daily dose when it comes to antidepressants.
WHY do we avoid conversations about depression as we know we are living a Double Life, as no one knows we take antidepressants.
WHY are some of us ending up taking antidepressants when we don’t need to, if we are being Honest.
WHY are we taking antidepressants and choosing to have Alcohol too to take the edge off life.
WHY are we mixing antidepressants with a cocktail of other drugs just to function every day.
WHY are we ok with spending the taxpayers funding on avoidable prescriptions like antidepressants. (1)
NEXT
Antidepressant Withdrawal hits Millions (3)
Millions of people get bad side-effects trying to cut down or come off antidepressants.
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence review suggests –
4 million patients have withdrawal symptoms
50% of these experience severe symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms include Anxiety | Sleep Problems | Hallucinations
Guidelines say symptoms are usually mild and clear up in a week but it is not uncommon for side-effects to last for weeks, months or even longer.
So WHY are patients not properly warned and who is setting these guidelines that we all seem to be just accepting without questioning.
24 pieces of research | over 5,000 patients
Comments shared by some patients –
- It took me 2 months of hell to come off the antidepressants – was massively harder than I expected.
- While there is no doubt I am better on this medication, the adverse effects have been devastating – when I have tried to withdraw – with ‘head zaps’, agitation, insomnia and mood changes.
- The difficulty of getting off has been a tough road and taken me years of trying and is something that doctors could be more knowledgeable of and supportive with. (3)
“This new review of the research reveals what many patients have known for years – that withdrawal from antidepressants often causes severe, debilitating symptoms which can last for weeks, months or longer.
Existing NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) guidelines fail to acknowledge how common withdrawal is and wrongly suggest that it usually resolves within one week.
This leads many doctors to misdiagnose withdrawal symptoms, often as relapse, resulting in much unnecessary and harmful long-term prescribing.”
Dr. James Davies | University of Roehampton – London (3)
Hello
Can we go back and just re-read the above real life comments so we are all on the same page, so to speak.
This is a big study and something to take note of, because it is spelling out to us that coming off antidepressants often causes severe and debilitating symptoms which can last for many weeks, months or even longer.
So if this is the case and many patients have known this for years, why are we endorsing this and not asking more Questions to get to the root cause of WHY anyone has depression in the first place.
What we do know is that we are not born depressed and so that means life happens, something triggers inside us to then develop the symptoms associated with depression.
What we are hearing about is the age for depression is being diagnosed at younger ages and in the past this was not the case.
Back to the anecdotal evidence above – here is a microcosm of what happens when we try or attempt to come off antidepressants.
Could it be possible that what is being shown to us by the body is what we have chosen to De-Press. In other words, the stuff we have pushed down and buried by using a substance that alters our natural state.
All drugs alter our natural state
All drugs affect our mind and body
All drugs have side effects – Fact
So do we calculate the odds
Do we go for the easy option
Do we go for relief and release
Do we go for a comfortable life
Do we go for issue free days
Do we go for ‘pop the pill and deal with the problem later in life’
Do we go for anything that will take away the pain and suffering
Do we go for whatever drug is going to not make us face the pain
Do we go for the choice that allows us to continue our lifestyle
Antidepressants are one of the most common prescription drugs in the UK and their use has been rising (3)
NEXT
Antidepressant Prescriptions for Children on the Rise (4)
950,000 antidepressant prescriptions issued to children – April 2015 to March 2018
The figures relate to a group of powerful antidepressants known as SSRIs
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.
Steepest increase seen in the youngest patients – aged 12 and under
“Currently only 1 in 4 children and young people are treated for their mental health problems… what we do not know from today’s data is why these antidepressants are being prescribed and how…”
Dr Bernadka Dubicka – Chair
Child and Adolescent Faculty | The Royal College of Psychiatrists (4)
“The government recently suggested that the average waiting time for general access to Camhs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) is around 12 weeks, which is a long time to be in distress.
And that is why front-line professionals are turning to prescription pads because they are thinking ‘I am seeing someone in front of me in crisis with a level of distress I do not want to leave them with – how do I offer them some kind of alleviation from that?’”
Marc Bush – Chief Policy Advisor | Young Minds (4)
Hello
WHY are we all not up in arms about this
WHY are our children getting depressed
What on earth is really going on for them
What is going on that they want to take pills
What are we endorsing and subscribing to
Have we considered the long-term impact
Have we bothered to ask serious Questions
Have we wondered if we have a hand in this
Are we going to simply accept this is happening
Are we going to ignore the fact this is going on
Are we going to say it has nothing to do with us
Are we going to Blame the systems for failing us
The fact is we have children today taking antidepressants and we all need to read this as a 911 emergency wake up call.
NEXT
SSRIs and SNRIs
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. They are effective in treating depression and they have fewer side effects than the other antidepressants.
SSRIs block the reuptake or absorption of serotonin in the brain.
This makes it easier of brain cells to receive and send messages, resulting in better and more stable moods.
They are called “selective” because they mainly seem to affect serotonin and not the other neurotransmitters.
Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors are used to treat
ADHD
Anxiety disorders
Chronic neuropathic pain
Fibromyalgia
Major depression
Menopausal symptoms
Mood disorders
OCD
SNRIs raise levels of serotonin and norepinephrine – two neurotransmitters in the brain that play a key role in stabilizing mood. (5)
Neurotransmitters can affect pain signals sent by nerves, which may explain why some antidepressants can help relieve long-term pain. (6)
Side effects of SSRIs and SNRIs
- Abnormal thinking
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Low blood sugar
- Low sodium
- Nausea
- Rash
- Sedation
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sweating
- Tremor
- Weight loss
Reports of those who use SSRIs and SNRIs in particular under age 18 may experience thoughts of suicide especially when they first start using the drugs. (5)
To keep it simple –
- Serotonin is a chemical known as a neurotransmitter
- It is known to regulate our mood and emotions
- It helps to send signals from one brain cell to the next
- When we have depression, serotonin levels can be low
- Communication between the brain cells can be impaired
- Antidepressants are a medication designed to increase serotonin levels
- It does this by blocking reabsorption into the original sending cell
- This is so that normal communication between cells can resume again
- Symptoms of depression may improve but there is no guarantee
… the initial response to a stressful situation is anxiety – if the individual believes that the situation cannot be altered or controlled, anxiety is replaced by depression.
Hiroto, D.S. & Seligman, M.E.P. (1975) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (7)
If we just stop for a moment and read again what was said over four decades ago – is there something here or us all to consider.
What is our initial response to a stressful situation, if we can be honest
Can we all agree that if it is anxiety it is because we do not feel equipped to deal with what has happened to us
Is it our initial reaction that starts the ill inside our body
Is the trigger from the stressful event feeling like poison
Are we already exhausted and feeling overwhelmed with life and that is why we have stress popping up everywhere
Insomnia, the most common expression of mental disease is like a Cinderella disorder – seldom receiving proper attention, despite the fact that it is the most treatable precursor to depression.
Colin Espie – Professor of Sleep Medicine, Oxford University. (8)
NEXT
Here we have a Professor of Sleep Medicine telling us that insomnia is the most common expression of mental disease and the fact that it is a precursor to depression.
So what if we got our sleep business sorted and made it our Focus and Priority in life
What is there is a direct correlation between Sleep and Depression
What if our sleep quality is a key part of how we will make daily choices in life. In other words, with proper consistent sleep routine and rhythms, we could knock out many ills that are treatable without medication
What if we seriously applied the 9 o’clock hoover and read what the Sleep blog on this website is presenting
Are we ready to answer all the Questions presented in this blog thus far
Dear World
We are in a serious state when it comes to this topic about depression. It would be a wise move right now to read our blog on this website which presents the stats | facts and more… https://simplelivingglobal.com/world-health-day-depression/
Next
What if we start taking real Responsibility by being Honest about what is going on in our lives and what is not true.
What if we then get deeply honest and look at our lifestyle choices that could be a big contributory factor.
What if we then read the blog on Sleep which is presenting Another Way.
What if we then apply the 9 o’clock hoover blog and stick at it Consistently and see what happens.
What if we just need to start somewhere and not feel overwhelmed at where we are with life, but take real action that is simple and practical.
In other words, activate with our movements another way to how we have been going, where we have ended up taking antidepressants and perhaps other medication too.
While we wait for more research, more Solutions or a pill to take away the side effects or withdrawal symptoms – we could just have a go at what this blog is presenting.
If we are ready for real change, it would be well worth reading more Blogs on this website as they all present another way to live.
The wake up call has been made and it is up to each and every one of us to respond or stay where we are – always a choice.
If you are feeling suicidal, contact your GP for support or the Suicide Helplines.
In a crisis contact your emergency services.
Suicide Helplines
UK – Samaritans available 24 hours
Tel: 116 123
Childline – for children and young people
Tel: 0800 1111
USA – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Tel: 1-800-273-8255
Other Countries
Check International Association for Suicide Prevention Resources on Crisis Centers
https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres
References
(1) (2019, March 28). Jump in Antidepressant Prescriptions in England. BBC News. Retrieved April 3, 2019 from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47740396
(2) (2018, November 21). Antidepressant Drugs Market to Reach $15.98 Bn by 2023, Globally at 2.1% CAGR, Says Allied Market Research. PR Newswire. Retrieved April 4, 2019 from
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/antidepressant-drugs-market-to-reach-15-98-bn-by-2023-globally-at-2-1-cagr-says-allied-market-research-873540700.html
(3) (2018, October 2). Antidepressant Withdrawal ‘Hits Millions’. BBC News. Retrieved April 3, 2019 from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45717465
(4) Newlan, O. (2018, July 24). Antidepressant Prescriptions for Children on the Rise. BBC News. Retrieved April 4, 2019 from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44821886
(5) Nordqvist, C. (2018, February 16). All About Antidepressants. Medical News Today. Retrieved April 3, 2019 from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/antidepressants-work-248320
(6) (2018, August 16). Antidepressants. NHS. Retrieved April 3, 2019 from
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antidepressants/
(7) (2015). Depression Management Diploma Course. Stonebridge Associated Colleges
(8) Siddique, H. (2016, April 1). Britons Missing an Hour’s Sleep Every Night, Says Report. The Guardian. Retrieved April 6, 2019 from
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/apr/01/uk-hours-sleep-night-report-average-royal-society-for-public-health
Comments 9
https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/antidepressant-use-linked-weight-gain/
Rising antidepressant prescriptions linked to weight gain.
The study found that those taking antidepressants were 21% more likely to put on weight.
However, while findings suggest antidepressants are associated with weight gain, this study cannot prove that antidepressants caused the weight gain, as there may be other factors such as habits and lifestyle choices.
Without going into any more detail about this cohort study using routine health data collected from GP practices in England, we could reflect on what has been said above and ask some sensible questions.
Are people who feel depressed eating more as a form of comfort to avoid feeling something?
Are those taking antidepressant medication feeling dis-connected from their body and then making food choices that lead to weight gain?
Are our weight issues there in the first place which then causes us to feel depressed?
Are the antidepressants having side effects we have not clocked and this leads to excess weight as we stop all forms of movement and end up living a sedentary lifestyle?
Unless we all start some form of questioning, we are not really going to nail this at the root.
A great start would be to have conversations at every opportunity and if we need some support read this blog and then the comments and then our blogs on Depression and Mental Health on this website.
https://simplelivingglobal.com/world-health-day-depression/
https://simplelivingglobal.com/world-mental-health-day/
https://simplelivingglobal.com/world-mental-health/
There are literally heaps of questions and they do need to be answered if we want to get real and honest so that we can get to the truth.
CNN – 3 August 2018
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/03/health/tianeptine-antidepressant-poison-control-cdc-study/index.html
This news story could be seen as a bit old but it is relevant to this blog.
The headlines tell us about the unapproved antidepressant that is poisoning people.
From 2014 to 2017 there was a sharp increase in US poison control calls related to the intentional abuse and misuse of tianeptine – an unapproved antidepressant drug.
Even though this drug is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, it can be purchased in the US on the Internet.
Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at a New York hospital said this is a wake up call and warned of the dangers of tianeptine. He also noted that the drug does not show up on standard drug screens so people might decide to abuse it recreationally “to get high” without understanding potential negative side effects.
He said the reported high number “likely reflects the tip of the iceberg in an emerging picture of misuse and abuse of this antidepressant. But it also reflects the trend in patients searching for alternative medications to replace opiate painkillers in the midst of tightening of policies related to opiate prescribing.
So here we have the highlights of what is going on in the name of antidepressants.
Who created this drug in the first place – who came up with this cocktail of poison designed for human consumption?
As thee most intelligence species on earth, we are clearly not doing something right if we come up with drugs that are super harmfull to the human frame.
The reason the suppliers are getting away with it is simply because there is a demand. If there were no customers, this type of drug would be long gone.
What is going on in people’s lives that they need to be reliant on antidepressants and where is the education for all of us when it comes to any drug?
How many would clearly know the side effects of what drugs they have been subscribed?
Are we at the mercy of the doctor or physician or are we choosing not to take responsibility for how we got to this place where we need a substance called antidepressants?
BBC News – 3 May 2018
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43431453
We could dismiss this story as old news but research will tell us there is much more to report about children taking a well known anxiety drug.
The headlines tell us children as young as 11 are taking the drug.
Now there is awareness about 13 year olds “dealing” the tranquiliser on school premises.
There is concern from head teachers about the abuse of prescription medication and that it has become a trend. Pupils believed it was a “safe alternative to illegal drugs” obtaining supplies mainly from the dark web.
This particular drug is an anti-depressant and an anti-anxiety drug.
“Because it’s seen as a prescription drug and therefore not seen necessarily by some people as dangerous because it is prescription, they don’t’ understand the risks. They think it’s a safe way of getting into drugs. They know the background of this drug as an anti-depressant and they think they can use it when they are building up for exam stress or through difficult times in their lives.”
Nick Lind – Deputy Head Teacher | Bristol
Symptoms include slurred speech, unsteadiness and looking drunk but without the lack of inhibition associated with alcohol.
“Children are simply not aware that it is a benzodiazepine and they do not realise that tolerance builds to it very very fast. They are taking far too much, collapsing on school premises and being taken to hospitals.”
Neil Coles | Addaction – Drugs Charity
So how do we get on the front foot dear world as this is happening on our watch?
While Law enforcement agencies continue to work with internet providers to shut down UK based websites found selling these drugs illegally – is there more we as individuals need to be doing?
Can we start with real education from day dot, so our kids are properly informed about the dangers of any drug because they alter our natural state of being?
Do we need to find out the root cause of what is going on that leads young children and teens to want to take a substance that will harm their mind and body?
How on earth do our kids find out and access the dark web that we all know is a dangerous place?
Are our solutions going to work?
Are news stories like this just the tip of the iceberg?
On that note, this story is almost a year old, so what are the latest news stories about what is happening to school age children when it comes to drugs?
Are we going to blame the way parents are raising kids or do we blame the government?
Are we busy pointing fingers but not getting real and honest about how this has happened?
What we do know is this type of stuff was very rare decades ago so that means something has changed?
Are we policing kids enough or are they left to do what they want in the name of free will?
Are we engaging and meeting our children at the dinner table every day and asking them how they have been and getting open and honest with them, so we can nail it at home if there is some underlying problem?
Can we all wake up and stop pretending it’s not our problem if kids take drugs as it’s their choice?
These children will be our future adult population – how is that going to turn out if we have them addicted to substances at younger and younger ages?
We each have a responsibility to examine our own lifestyle choices and take an honest look at where in our life we have pockets of abuse.
This website is dedicated and committed to consistently deliver news and bring awareness to humanity because SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT and there sure is another way.
BBC News – 30 May 2019
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48457980
The Royal College of Psychiatrists are saying that patients suffering severe symptoms when they come off antidepressants too quickly and need more help and support.
The current guidance suggests that most people should be able to withdraw from the drugs over 4 weeks but psychiatrists say some patients taking medication long-term can experience serious side effects that can last much longer.
National clinical guidelines are currently being updated.
This blog has covered the stats and the facts so why do we have this news story now?
The president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists is saying that what they are hearing from patients and GPs – about the range of experiences of coming off antidepressants are why guidelines need to be amended.
As with all drugs there are side effects simply because we are taking something that alters our natural state of being.
Dear World
If we read the blogs on Depression and Mental Health on this website and then ADD this blog on AntiDepressants – what could we learn?
https://simplelivingglobal.com/world-health-day-depression/
https://simplelivingglobal.com/world-mental-health-day/
Can we join the dots and can we make some sense of any of this?
If we keep it simple – we are taking medicine to not feel something.
That means we are using anti-depressants to help and support us to not feel whatever it is we don’t want to feel.
Next –
We want a solution because we have a world geared up to coming up with solutions
We do not want to dig deep and ask questions about how this all happened in the first place
We want to continue with our lifestyle choices and deal with this dark cloud hanging over us called Depression
We want a pill to not make us feel those emotions that we simply do not like
We want to feel different and we want to feel normal like other people
But are our solutions failing us?
Is this why this has now come to light now – that antidepressants have severe and serious side effects and we just cannot simply ignore this fact and carry on as before?
Do we want to know what exactly it is that we are trying to negate, avoid, ignore, deny, suppress or forget because it is not going away by taking a pill everyday?
Could it be possible that all we are doing is managing our behaviour and our response to something we see and feel is negative in our life by taking medication?
Is our body holding an intelligence that we have yet to understand and master?
Is our body on the front foot warning us that this stuff we take called antidepressants is serious and harmful to our human frame?
Is our body communicating to us by giving us severe symptoms that we call the side effects of the drugs we have been prescribed?
Are our GPs and Psychiatrists doing their best to help us cope with life as that is what they are trained to do – nothing more and nothing less?
Do we, as individuals need to start by being honest and answering the questions presented in the blogs on Depression from Simple Living Global?
Could we then take even more responsibility and seek the help and support we need to make the necessary changes and deal with the issue we have?
What if we know deep down that coming off antidepressants is scary and not something we want to deal with?
Does that make us anxious or worried even more?
What if we start to education everyone of all ages about mental health and well being?
Are we ready as individuals to not rely so much on solutions, but get to the root cause of how we got to this point in life in the first place?
Could we begin with a dose of honesty and some truth that SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT and our old way of fixing the problem is not working anymore, so time for some real change?
Simple Living Global are dedicated and committed to presenting another way to live that does work. This website is full of practical and simple tips for daily life.
Neuroscience News.com – 23 April 2022
https://neurosciencenews.com/antidepressants-life-quality-20451/
Over time, using antidepressants is not associated with significantly better health related quality of life, compared to people with depression who do not take drugs, according to a new large longitudinal study from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia.
Overall, people who used antidepressants to manage depression long-term did not have a better quality of physical or mental health than those with depression who did not use prescription medication to manage their symptoms.
Previous studies have shown the efficacy of antidepressant medications for treatment of depression disorder. These medications’ effect on patients’ overall well-being and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) remains controversial.
The Guardian – 4 November 2022
GP’s giving antidepressants to children against guidelines
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/04/gps-giving-antidepressants-to-children-against-guidelines
New research reveals GP’s are breaching medical guidelines by prescribing antidepressants for children as young as 11 who cannot get other help for their mental health problems.
Official guidance says that under-18’s should be given the drugs only in conjunction with talking therapies and after being assessed by a psychiatrist.
But family doctors in England are “often” writing prescriptions for antidepressants for that age group even though such youngsters have not yet seen a psychiatrist.
The report linked the prescriptions to the long wait many young people, some self-harming or suicidal, face before starting treatment with NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Under 18’s are prescribed the drugs for Anxiety, depression, pain and bedwetting.
The guidance on antidepressants has been issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which advises the NHS on which treatments are effective.
THE STUDY SAID NO ANTIDEPRESSANTS ARE LICENSED IN THE UK FOR ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS UNDER 18 YEARS, EXCEPT FOR OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD). YET BOTH SPECIALISTS (PSYCHIATRISTS) AND GP’S PRESCRIBE THEM.
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS IN THE UK ARE TAKING ANTIDEPRESSANTS FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE AND MANY HAVE NOT SEEN A SPECIALIST.
The number of 12 to 17-year-olds in England prescribed antidepressants has risen sharply since 2005. It more than doubled between 2005 and 2017 and then soared again when Covid-19 struck in spring 2020, hitting an all time high of 27,757 in March that year. About two-thirds of patients using them were girls.
Dear World
This platform for posting comments does not allow bold or any other form of highlighting so capital letters have been used to bring focus to the above 2 points, which we can no longer ignore or dismiss.
To keep it simple – the license to prescribe antidepressants for Anxiety in children is not there so that tells us there is reason WHY the laws are not allowing this.
So why would our medics that we class as doctors and specialists go down that route of unlawful practice and prescribe something that is not licensed in the UK?
It makes no sense but are we prepared to go further, dig deeper and call out why this is happening and WHY any medical practitioner would even consider prescribing to a child.
Next – WHY are thousands of children taking antidepressants for Depression and Anxiety and WHY are the numbers rising.
Is it time we got back to the drawing board and start to find out what is behind all of this and how have we got to this point where more kids are depressed and suffer with Anxiety?
We call ourselves the most intelligent species on earth yet we fall far short of understanding what the intelligence is that is driving these numbers which we know are not just going to stop overnight.
Is there another way as the way we are operating in life is clearly not working?
The Pharmaceutical Journal – 7 February 2023
https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/antidepressants-mostly-ineffective-at-reducing-pain-finds-meta-analysis
Researchers have conducted a meta-analysis of systematic reviews of antidepressants for pain conditions, where an antidepressant had been compared to placebo. Results were included from 26 reviews, covering 8 antidepressant classes for 22 pain conditions. The systematic reviews included 156 placebo-controlled trials involving more than 25,000 participants in total.
They found evidence that certain antidepressants were likely to be affected for 8 of the 22 conditions, including serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for back pain and post-operative pain; and tricyclic antidepressants for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic tension headache.
Most antidepressants are ineffective at reducing pain or have unproven effectiveness for common pain conditions, according to a large review of evidence published in the British Medical Journal on 1 February 2023.
In 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued guidance recommending that antidepressants be considered for primary chronic pain conditions, although it accepted there was limited evidence that antidepressants actually reduce pain.
The researchers found no high-quality evidence to support the effectiveness of any antidepressant for any condition. For the remaining 14 conditions, there was either evidence that they did not work (for functional dyspepsia, SSRIs for back pain, fibromyalgia and non-cardiac chest pain) or the evidence was inconclusive.
The Pharmaceutical Journal – 7 February 2023
https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/antidepressants-mostly-ineffective-at-reducing-pain-finds-meta-analysis
According to a large review of evidence published in the British Medical Journal on 1 February 2023, most antidepressants are ineffective at reducing pain or have unproven effectiveness for common pain conditions.
Researchers said their findings showed the need for “a more nuanced approach” when prescribing antidepressants for pain.
They found no high-quality evidence to support the effectiveness of any antidepressant for any condition.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration News Release – 4 August 2023
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-oral-treatment-postpartum-depression
The FDA has approved the first oral medication indicated to treat (PPD) postpartum depression in adults.
The most common side effects of this new drug are:
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Common Cold
• Urinary Tract Infection
Use of this drug causes suicidal thoughts and behaviour.
It may cause foetal harm.
PPD is a major depressive episode that typically occurs after childbirth but can also begin during the later stages of pregnancy. Until now, treatment for PPD was only available as an IV injection given by a health care provider in certain health care facilities.
As with other forms of depression, PPD is characterized by sadness, and/or loss of interest in activities that one used to enjoy and a decreased ability to feel pleasure. It can present with symptoms such as cognitive impairment, feelings of sadness or inadequacy, loss of energy or suicidal ideation.