Do antidepressants cause permanent brain damage?

I enjoy a little brain damage.
Life just isn't that serious. I eat healthy, take vitamins,
exercise, spend plenty of time in nature, and still cannot get suicide off my mind.. So it's a quality of life thing for me. The lesser of two evils.
I'll take a risk on happiness any day, that's part of what life is about .

all I can say is I know what my personal experience was before I took any meds (hint: it was that s word we aren't supposed to mention), and I also know how I crashed when I tried stopping them....so my conclusion is, for ME, my brain works better when I take them...I think it was damaged before...I also think this is a highly individual thang

...stephanie

Two years ago today I was in the beginning of a very severe depression that ended up lasting nine months. Scary scary suicidal the whole dam time. Extreme anxiety with paranoia. I was taking meds that were not working. Nothing for the anxiety. I snapped out of it for no known reason for about 4 months. Then I went into another one that lasted six months. Same thing. Very deep, couldn't get out of bed, suicidal, didn't check my phone or computer for four months straight. I had absolutely no hope. Then me and my doc changed my meds around. He had finally given me something that actually worked for the anxiety. I started a new antidepressant called Fetzima. I literally felt it lift me out of that severe depression and I have been pretty darn good the last nine months since. I would have eventually snapped out of it because that is how it works with me but this med lifted me out of it and has prevented me from going back into one. Normally I would have for sure dove back into one by now.

Thanks for the resources. A friend of mine signed up for a study to customize his therapy for severe depression. They are able to look at his genotype for genes known to be connected with depression and antidepressants. they hope to tailor his medication for best effect and least toxicity. The field of study is called pharmacogenomics. I think there is hope there. i hope there is, anyway! I wish I lived closer to the study. I'd try to be a participant. i would love some relief.
check out these recent articles:
http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjourn.../abstract?cc=y

http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/pgs.14.40

BTW, I am open to ALL medicine. Safety is first. So I try meditation, acupuncture, tai chi, yoga, walking, CBT, good nutrition, music, art, pets, friends, writing (like here)... And yes, an antidepressant, and rhodiola herbal.

Very interesting. That is where it is headed.

I really wish I could get the test for the L Methyfolate genetic polymorphism. You can pay for it privately for $200. It might be worth it.

MTHFR Genotyping Laboratory Genetic Test | Seeking Health

Maybe someday, the genetic testing will be routine. While we are still alive? Might be worth the private cost, if that is even possible. money might really buy happiness?

The more I look at this site the more I think it is not the test I am looking for.
MTHFR Genotyping Laboratory Genetic Test | Seeking Health

There are genetic polymorphisms (defects) that are quite common that cause difficulty in turning folate into L Methyfolate. Also one for producing folate itself. L Methyfolate is needed for neurotransmitter synthesis. You can take Deplin (L Methylfolate) to correct this. It is prescription only. But why pay $124 bucks a month if you don't have the polymorphism.

CNS Spectrums: Novel Therapeutics for Depression: L-methylfolate as a Trimonoamine Modulator and Antidepressant-Augmenting Agent

L-Methylfolate: A Promising Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression? | Psych Congress Network

Some tests that could currently be done in practice-

Genetic Testing in Clinical Practice: What Psychiatrists Need to Know | Psych Congress Network

GeneSight®

That last link my clinic is thinking about adopting currently. I need to ask my pdoc about this stuff. It is always a matter of costs and what insurance will cover as it is all new.

From what understand, this is an emerging field, with more unknown than known. Some genes correlated with antidepressants are those involved with the metabolism of the medications. With that info, the Dr can try meds for best potential effect and least toxicity/ side effects. Some genes are correlated with depression itself. Gosh I have a lot to learn. Thanks for inspiring the search to learn. I searched genes and antidepressant medications. here are a few:
Influence of 5-HTR2A genetic polymorphisms on the efficacy of antid... - PubMed - NCBI
Genetics and personalized medicine in antidepressant treatment. - PubMed - NCBI
Tracking genes that up suicide risk with antidepressant use | Genetic Literacy Project

I wonder if, as more is known about the genetic link to depression, it will silence those insisting depression is simply a stress response of some kind. I get a little tired of hearing that.

I think what will happen is new drugs will emerge and then they will test you genetically to see what sub type you are and match the most effective drug to you.

This is much different than the current test that tells you how you will metabolize the drugs that exist and which one have less side effects. It doesn't tell you how effective.

Personalized medicine based on genetic sub types is already happening in other areas such as cancer.

Also ways of delivering drugs to exactly where you want them so they don't affect the whole body. This is already happening with delivering drugs straight to the tumor and only the tumor. No chemo side effects like losing your hair.

I'll check out your links. I have a whole list of them on genetics and mental illness.

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