“Regarding SSRIs, there is a growing body of medical literature casting doubt on the serotonin hypothesis, and this body is not reflected in the consumer advertisements. In particular, many SSRI advertisements continue to claim that the mechanism of action of SSRIs is that of correcting a chemical imbalance, such as a paroxetine advertisement, which states, “With continued treatment, Paxil can help restore the balance of serotonin…” Yet, as previously mentioned, there is no such thing as a scientifically established correct “balance” of serotonin. The take-home message for consumers viewing SSRI advertisements is probably that SSRIs work by normalizing neurotransmitters that have gone awry. This was a hopeful notion 30 years ago, but is not an accurate reflection of present-day scientific evidence. The impact of the widespread promotion of the serotonin hypothesis should not be underestimated. What remains unmeasured, though, is how many patients seek help from their doctor because antidepressant advertisements have convinced them that they are suffering from a serotonin deficiency. The incongruence between the scientific literature and the claims made in FDA-regulated SSRI advertisements is remarkable, and possibly unparalleled.” [16]
Taper Safely: A Non-Profit Organization
Taper Safely™, with access to databases of qualified professional practitioners across the United States, was created to provide referrals to those wanting to Taper Safely™ off an SSRI. It is also a resource to educate the public and provide research on the dangers of antidepressants, having archived over 8000 articles, documents, medical abstracts and legal testimony on this subject. Antidepressants intended to save lives, regularly induce suicidal ideation [10].
Please do not attempt to taper an SSRI without the supervision and guidance of a qualified and experienced health care provider.
Footnotes
[1] Diedtra Henderson, The Boston Globe, “Risperdal Use OK’d in treating Children”, August 23, 2007
[2] FDA Proposes New Warnings About Suicidal Thinking, Behavior in Young Adults Who Take Antidepressant Medications”, May 2, 2007, http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01624.html
[3] Evie Pringle, "SSRI Makers Use Media to Reel in Pregnant Women as Customers", OpEdNews, July 30, 2007, http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_evelyn_p_070730_ssri_makers_use_medi.htm
[4] August 13, 2007, David Kupelian, WorldNetDaily, "Why so many Americans today are 'mentally ill'", http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57143
[5] JOHN ABRAMSON (family doctor, Harvard Medical School, and author of Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine, 2004), "Information Is the Best Medicine" New York Times, 18 September 2004, http://www.thestreetspirit.org/August2005/leonards.htm
[6] Sunday Herald quoting Dr. David Healy, "The Chill Pill Kids", November 21, 2004, http://www.prisonplanet.com/Pages/Nov_04/211104_pillkids.html
[7] Moncrieff, "Efficacy of antidepressants in adults", British Med. J., July 16, 2005 (7509):155-7, http://www.paxilbirthdefect.com/news.shtml
[8] Authors: Kirsch, Irving; Scoboria, Alan; Moore, Thomas J., Title: Antidepressants and placebos: Secrets, revelations, and unanswered questions Prevention & Treatment. 2002 Jul Vol 5(1)
[9] Joanna Moncrieff and David Cohen, "Do Antidepressants Cure or Create Abnormal Brain States?", PLoS Medical Journal, June 6, 2006, http://tinyurl.com/mhsuw
[10] Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience, Elliot Valenstein, "Blaming the Brain", 1998
[11] Dr. Joseph Glenmullen MD, Psychiatrist, Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, “Prozac Backlash”, 2000
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