[vital]

Antidepressant Caused Six-fold Artery Plaque Build-up in Monkeys - Mad In America

- vital

[sideblinded]

Thanks for sharing this article. My anxious dog is on Prozac another SSRI ...this makes me a little worried if he can't come off of it.

[pinkflower17]

Originally Posted by vital

Antidepressant Caused Six-fold Artery Plaque Build-up in Monkeys - Mad In America

- vital

I really appreciate you sharing that, but I'd have a lot easier time believing it if anywhere close to 1/3 of the "writers" for that magazine had doctorates, the rest have no relevant credentials at all....

[kiwi33]

Vital, thanks for sharing that link.

My inclination is to be very cautious about over-interpreting it. It was a small study (of 42 monkeys), who were apparently assessed on a "depression" scale. I have no idea how an assessment of depression, in the clinical sense, can be applied to non-human primates.

More generally, a PubMed search ("SSRI" and "atherosclerosis") does not show any evidence that SSRIs (in humans) are a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

If anything, the evidence suggests that they may be protective against atherosclerosis - this free-access paper is an example; Serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) against atherosclerosis. - PubMed - NCBI .

[-jimi-]

Scare tactics. I need my antidepressant. What is better, that I get a heart attack in 15 years or that I die this year?

I appreciate it but fortunately I've evolved past the monkey stage. Or at least my ancestors did. I've been taking AD's for a very long time. No sign of plaque in my arteries so far.

[Rose76]

Thanks for this article. It's the first I've heard of this.

I'm beginning to suspect that most drugs have more downsides to them than we even know about. It seems to take years and years for all these negative consequences of using a drug to become known. That doesn't mean that I'm going to stop using any psychotropics. It means a drug has got to make a real good-size noticeable improvement in my quality of life, in order for me to keep swallowing it.

I've had prescribers tell me to keep using drugs that didn't seem to do anything for me. They would say things like, "Well the benefit is subtle." That to me is not a good enough reason, especially when down the road the downside may not be so subtle.

Here's a saying that I totally believe in: "Medicines are poisons that have beneficial side effects." There has never been a drug invented that cannot do harm. There is no risk free substance that you can swallow. It is actually possible to commit suicide by drinking too much water. (It can dilute the salt content in your blood to a level that is too low, resulting in seizures and death.)

[Vonnegutjunky]

Rose - that is the best quote I have ever heard - I am struggling with wanting to come off my ad but not wanting the side effects of coming off of it- which is pretty bad- but after reading on this site- I realize I am one of the lucky ones as Paxil has made me feel normal for the past 8 years -

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lauliza]

There are risks with any medication you take. My own psychiatrist said you have to "pick your poison". I'd be more moved by a study done with humans who've taken SSRIs long term. Surely there are enough middle aged patients who've been on these drugs long term who'd be wiling to take a stress test? Luckily I have and my arteries are clear. Patient do need to be diligent in monitoring their health since there probably are so many possible complications that could come about depending on your family and medical history.

[-jimi-]

Benzos cause brain damage, SSRIs cause heart damage. He says.

I dunno... I feel like I'm being guilt tripped here, like look at that person, they CHOOSE to become sick! Shame on them!

And yea, sometimes you HAVE to choose between two not so good things, and try to choose the best one of them. It's just life. Life isn't perfect.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

Benzos cause brain damage, SSRIs cause heart damage. He says.

I dunno... I feel like I'm being guilt tripped here, like look at that person, they CHOOSE to become sick! Shame on them!

And yea, sometimes you HAVE to choose between two not so good things, and try to choose the best one of them. It's just life. Life isn't perfect.

well and then others are being guilt tripped for not taking these drugs. When we refuse to whack our metabolism and die of it, we choose "vanity over sanity". When we don't wanna take these drugs, we "don't want to get better".

And whatever it is, some people act very self-righteous over their choice. Like choosing to take or not to take meds made them brave. Like they are Ghandi, only instead of fighting for freedom, they take (or don't take) pills.

[Rose76]

Venuss, I know what you mean. I have talked to people on both sides of the drug issue who are all self-righteous about taking or not taking drugs. Some who don't take meds claim that antidepressants made them "numb" and unable to feel anything, which is baloney because antidepressants don't do that.

Another person I knew was doing very well. When I mentioned how well she seemed, she said, "Well, I'm heavily medicated." To me that's baloney too. I wish there was a medication that turns one into a high functioning, capable person, when one would be a mess, otherwise.

I think some like medication because it reinforces the notion that they are physically ill.

We know that drugs can induce sleep. We know some can sedate an overly agitated person. Beyond that, there is a lot we don't know.

It's not like with insulin or antibiotics, where the med gets right to the cause of the problem. Those meds can be essential to make a person well. It's not so clear that psych meds make anyone "well."

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by venusss

well and then others are being guilt tripped for not taking these drugs.

Of course that is not right either. But just because some people get unfairly treated it is not a reason for them to behave bad.

Life would be much nicer if we didn't try to spread the pain to diffuse it in ourselves.

[Rose76]

Originally Posted by pinkflower17

I really appreciate you sharing that, but I'd have a lot easier time believing it if anywhere close to 1/3 of the "writers" for that magazine had doctorates, the rest have no relevant credentials at all....

Magazines and newspapers report on research all the time. The people who do this reporting are called "reporters." Their profession is reporting, not being scientists. At the end of the article is a link to the original publication of the study, giving credentials of researchers.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Journal Reference:

Shively, Carol A. PhD; Register, Thomas C. PhD; Appt, Susan E. DVM; Clarkson, Thomas B. DVM. Effects of Long-Term Sertraline Treatment and Depression on Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis in Premenopausal Female Primates. Psychosomatic Medicine, April 2015 DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000163
Cite This Page:
MLA
APA
Chicago
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. "Common antidepressant increased coronary atherosclerosis in animal model." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 April 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150406165151.htm>.

As you can see, the research was done by people with doctorates - 4 of them.

A news web site, like MadInAmerica.com hires people based on their ability to report and write, not on their ability to do original research. Researchers like to have their work "reported."

[AncientMelody]

Jimi: I disagree with people jumping on personal threads when someone is discussing their personal medication and it's responded with "you shouldn't be on meds, meds are bad"

That said, the topic of psychiatric meds can and should include both sides and I see nothing wrong with these types of studies being posted. It's sharing of information not guilt tripping