Panorama v Seroxat.

[battersby]

I'm posting this in TV as well. For anyone who's taking or has been on Seroxat. Panorama is showing an update on Monday 29th @ 8-30pm. In the UK alone there are 59,000 victim's of this defective AD. Other SSRI's will be mentioned such as Cipramil, Sertraline/Lustral, Prozac, and Efexor/Venlaxafine.

[rowie]

are we getting on the anti depressants make people kill themselves bandwagon?

[beryllium]

the fact that all these drugs are highly physically addictive....

[battersby]

Hi there, rowie,nobody is jumping on the band wagon. These SSRI's have, in some aspect's helped people but,for the majority Seroxat especially, the side effects and withdrawal is sheer hell and is on a par to coming off heroine. Thousand's of patient's, even children who were prescribed Seroxat are still suffering either side effect's or withdrawal symptoms. Many have commited suicide after being prescribed Seroxat and the other SSRI's. Children as young as 3 years old on being prescribed Seroxat for maybe bed wetting have ended up self harming. Im not telling you to watch Panorama,its your choice.

[rowie]

Sorry its just that its so frustrating when people think that being on an SSRI makes you suicidal. If somone is so low and they can't even make it out of bed then thay are not going to attempt to kill themselves. What the press fail to recognise is that often once a person starts on anti depressants after a few weeks the volition to do things rises and so its then that is the most critcal time. its then that people feel that they can do something about how they feel. This is the most critical period of being on a drug like an SSRI. The drug itself does not cause sucidal feelings, the very fact that alot of the time the drugs work allow people to be bothered about doing things just goes to show that perhaps they are over prescibed and that an inpatient setting may be the best choice for starting severely depressed people on anti depressants.

[battersby]

Hi again rowie, Sorry I cant agree. In many cases where a patient has suffered a breakdown and is in the "Stay in bed,sit a corner" situation,they have been prescribed Seroxat which helped initially thus making then feel able to cope but out of the blue thoughts of suicide have flooded their minds. Again, what about little children who after being prescribed Seroxat have suddenly self harmed themselves? In the mildest of people Seroxat causes aggression to a point where a patient could easily harm other's. Panorama would'nt waste their time on a case if they did'nt deem it worthy likewise the Guardian. There's so much more rowie. As mentioned earlier, I cant tell you to watch Panorama but suffice to say Shelley Jofre had Alistair Beckingbridge,head spokeman for GSK quaking in his boots as he was one of the "Bigwig's" who approved Seroxat fit to be taken. Needless to say,he resigned after the 2nd Panorama interview with patient's on and withdrawing ffrom Seroxat.

[battersby]

I meant to add, In test's patient's put on the older Tryliclic AD's showed no sign's of agression or suidical idealation over a 2 year period.

[rowie]

I have problems with the out of the blue suicial thoughts thing. Having nursed people withdrawing from SSRI's I can see both sides of the argument but after some time working in actue admissions and secure units I am yet to see a patient who feels suicidal cue to anti depressants. Maybe its the client group I am working with but I will be watching on Monday with interest.

[battersby]

Ah so you're a medical rowie? that's interesting. Have you ever nursed a patient withdrawing from Seroxat and how? if you dont mind me asking. I co moderate for Online Seroxat Support Groups,the only one in UK and boy have we seen some bad cases. I hope you do decide to watch Panorama. Take care.

[SRH]

Speaking from personal experience I think the allegations against Seroxat should be taken more seriously. I went through living hell trying to get off it and ended up in a far worse state than before I started taking it. I seriously thought I was going out of my mind after taking it for a year and started self-harming - which I had never done before, even at my lowest ebbs. I had auditory hallucinations and became extremely paranoid - to the point where schizophrenia was suspected (the symptoms eventually stopped 18 months after stopping Seroxat). I've been prescribed other SSRIs and none had the terrifying side effects of Seroxat. Thankfully I'm no longer on medication but I agree that sometimes it's necessary when severe depression kicks in (I've also done a BSc and MSc in psychology to try and get my head round the whole depression problem). I would urge anyone to think twice before taking Seroxat. There are so many people reporting problems with it (and the same side effects) that there is no doubt that this drug is dangerous for a good number of people.

[battersby]

Hi SRH, As a victim of this terrible,evil drug I can understand your feeling's. Thousand's of patient's took Seroxat on faith only to suffer terrible side effects such as you describe and go through sheer hell when trying to reduce their doses in a bid to Seroxat free! Thankfully my surgery stopped prescribing Seroxat 2 years ago but many GP's are still prescribing to over 18's. Im relieved to know you're Seroxat free and kudos to you re your BSc and MSc! Thanks for your input:-)

[SRH]

Thanks Battersby. Nice to get support. I don't like to wallow in it (which is one way I've managed to get through it) but I feel the utmost empathy for anyone still going through the effects. The best advice I can give to anyone is don't take Seroxat in the first place. There are always other options (and plenty of people in places like this to offer support!)