Anyone here challenged with depression or someone in their lives? Personally a 11 yr chunk of life was taken from me from 1991-2002...given A/D's and they were worthless. The article says: short term can help, but not months/years.

What I don't find in this article is addressing the thyroid and this turned out to be my issue...got it "fixed" by a smart doc and depression was gone... Don't dismiss the thyroid, there are 60 some symptoms of sluggish thyroid and Depression is High On the List.

Here is the Link

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2022/10/20/antidepressants-outperform-placebo.aspx?ui=6056f7bff9194ec828d230542d2b5e503d2d32b8da387a245991d33706a1f4cd&sd=20060730&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20221020&cid=DM1269224&bid=1624834485

STORY AT-A-GLANCE
The serotonin hypothesis posits that low serotonin levels in your brain are responsible for symptoms of depression. However, there’s little to no evidence for this. A number of studies have debunked the serotonin hypothesis, which is the basis upon which drug makers market SSRI antidepressants like Prozac, Lexapro and Zoloft

According to recent research, “The main areas of serotonin research provide no consistent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations”

The primary effect of SSRIs is to superimpose an abnormal drug state over your symptoms, much like recreational drugs and alcohol would. The small benefits seen in some drug trials are due to emotional numbing
This numbing effect comes at a steep price, as it also prevents you from experiencing emotional highs and does little to counteract the loss of energy, interest and motivation that are so characteristic of depression

Researchers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently published the most comprehensive analysis of antidepressant clinical trial data submitted to the FDA, including unpublished trials. The evidence showed antidepressants outperformed placebo in only 15% of patients, and almost exclusively in those with the most severe depression


Do your research folks....but if no issue, then ignore this info.

Im so sorry Carole :(

Im so sorry Carole :(

Dude, I'm not looking for sorry, it was a lot of learning and part of life that I had to go thru. Life's lessons can come in many ways.

Ya I suppose they can :)

IMO, the "effective recommended dose" of most of those medications is so small that they might as well just sell people sugar pills. I think the docs keep the dosage small to avoid putting smiles on people's faces.

I can remember reading the "contents per pill" on some of those medications and thinking they must be kidding?

IMO, the "effective recommended dose" of most of those medications is so small that they might as well just sell people sugar pills. I think the docs keep the dosage small to avoid putting smiles on people's faces.

I can remember reading the "contents per pill" on some of those medications and thinking they must be kidding?

Docs have their agendas, many overdose and some fear drugging patients. Foods and supplements and other factors like thyroid are what is needed more than more drugs.

Aren't most drugs poison to the body? Otherwise why the long list of side effect for virtually all of them?

Your body is telling you something.

Aren't most drugs poison to the body? Otherwise why the long list of side effect for virtually all of them?

Your body is telling you something.

And I know the low dose ibuprofen is poison to my body but I take a low dose every 6 hrs which keeps me walking.

Big Pharma started producing high powered drugs in 70-80's and our modern medicine world was born. Big profits and lots of drugs for this that and everything people complain of.

My poor sister was plagued with MS since early in her life and did a busy life in her job, she wore herself out and her MS docs kept bringing on new more expensive MS drugs and she's gone at 68. I believe she would still be here if she didn't take those toxic drugs. Nutrition is a Big Part of managing MS. And keeping stress levels DOWN.

My mom had a 37-year battle with depression, the most severe periods always triggered by a death in the family or direct contact with her closest European relatives (she moved to the US, alone, in 1960). At her worst, she was refusing to eat and her weight slipped by tens of pounds. I was going out of my mind trying to get her acting even moderately normally.

A good doctor makes all the difference. When the dolt who had become our family doctor by default kept fooling with a Zoloft dosage, I realized she needed something different. So I took her to a new doctor who prescribed Lexapro. The improvement was dramatic and practically immediate.

My Mom was a depressed hermit until a doc prescribed her Prozac. Day and night. She actually enjoyed the last 10 years of her life instead of being miserable.

My Mom was a depressed hermit until a doc prescribed her Prozac. Day and night. She actually enjoyed the last 10 years of her life instead of being miserable.

Well early on in 1991, I actually tried Prozac for the nasty depression, and it did nothing, left me flat. I got off it. As I said FOR ME getting my thyroid working after so many yrs of mis attempts by docs and their drugs, a good ole back doc of mine knew it was thyroid and got me on it and depression gone in 4 days. 11 yrs of trying A/D drugs, grrrrrrrrrrr Glad it helped your mom. We are all unique.

My mom had a 37-year battle with depression, the most severe periods always triggered by a death in the family or direct contact with her closest European relatives (she moved to the US, alone, in 1960). At her worst, she was refusing to eat and her weight slipped by tens of pounds. I was going out of my mind trying to get her acting even moderately normally.

A good doctor makes all the difference. When the dolt who had become our family doctor by default kept fooling with a Zoloft dosage, I realized she needed something different. So I took her to a new doctor who prescribed Lexapro. The improvement was dramatic and practically immediate.

So many probably have more issues dealing with death. But death is going to happen and we have to accept that premise. I lost some great friends and a young nephew but I went thru shock and learned to accept the deaths. I think of them often and don't stay in a depression about losing them.

These are situational depressions vs clinical depression. She may have needed some thyroid support too and even some talk therapy and I know a lot of "older" folks said no no to talk therapy.


And be aware that a properly working Thyroid can make a difference like day and night for a person and their lives in so many areas: Sleep, Weight Issues, Depression, Hot/Cold, Fatigue ,Anxiety and 60some issues out there.

Well early on in 1991, I actually tried Prozac for the nasty depression, and it did nothing, left me flat. I got off it. As I said FOR ME getting my thyroid working after so many yrs of mis attempts by docs and their drugs, a good ole back doc of mine knew it was thyroid and got me on it and depression gone in 4 days. 11 yrs of trying A/D drugs, grrrrrrrrrrr Glad it helped your mom. We are all unique.

Truth - everybody is different. It is hard to describe how depressed she was - she would have tried anything, tried lots of stuff and finally found a solution.

Truth - everybody is different. It is hard to describe how depressed she was - she would have tried anything, tried lots of stuff and finally found a solution.

I hear you and I also wonder if they had a thorough thyroid work up over her life? I don't recall my mom/dad ever mentioning thyroid all their years, both were taking BP meds all their lives, but I never heard them mention thyroid and back then I knew so little about it all....

I hear you and I also wonder if they had a thorough thyroid work up over her life? I don't recall my mom/dad ever mentioning thyroid all their years, both were taking BP meds all their lives, but I never heard them mention thyroid and back then I knew so little about it all....

She had her thyroid removed because she had cancer from acne radiation treatments when she was young. No idea if it was related to depression. Before and after it was out, she was depressed until the Prozac. She was always depressed, I don't her thyroid made a difference one way or another. I think it's just brain chemistry.

She had her thyroid removed because she had cancer from acne radiation treatments when she was young. No idea if it was related to depression. Before and after it was out, she was depressed until the Prozac. She was always depressed, I don't her thyroid made a difference one way or another. I think it's just brain chemistry.


People who had thyroid removed NEED to be taking higher doses of thyroid supports and NEED to be monitored by their doctors to get the Best Health possible for their lives. I can't imagine any doc who would NOT give their patients the meds they NEED if they are thyroidless. That would be inhuman. And if given the meds are NOT giving them the right doses -- you said your mom was always depressed....

I don't think you realize the importance of the thyroid P.C. Your poor mom didn't seem to get the help she needed. Ok, I'd better stop but as I can see my life, the depression issues HIT me at about menopause and I was early 50's and didn't get the help I needed for about 20 yrs, very tragic that so many suffer with NOT the right medical help.

I know MOST here are pretty young but maybe some in their 50's or so and again the thyroid could be a huge issue.


And our bodies are NOT drug deficient but deficient in areas of our glands and organs etc that go with the aging process primarily.

i never said she didn't get after-care. My Mom got the best medical care, not an issue. She got plenty of meds to regulate her thyroid and constant testing. That wasn't an issue. The depression and thyroid were two separate issues completely. I think you misunderstood my post or I worded it wrong. Anyway, getting off this thread and board for awhile. Best to you.

i never said she didn't get after-care. My Mom got the best medical care, not an issue. She got plenty of meds to regulate her thyroid and constant testing. That wasn't an issue. The depression and thyroid were two separate issues completely. I think you misunderstood my post or I worded it wrong. Anyway, getting off this thread and board for awhile. Best to you.

Yes, must have been misunderstanding. I know what my issue was and it was clearly sluggish thyroid for years. People I know who take thyroid meds are doing pretty OK but also have their thyroids. But you did say your mom was always depressed, I think it was you, and that is a strange one to me.....ok bye now.