Can antidepressants induce suicidal thoughts?

Do Antidepressants trigger suicide?

Over the past 30 years, there have been many isolated reports that certain anti depressants may induce suicidal thoughts and self-destructive behaviors. Almost all manufacturers who make anti depressants even add warnings to the packages about worsening of depression and triggering of suicides. The question that has always been difficult to answer is whether antidepressants actually induce suicidal thoughts or these thoughts are just a part of under treated depression.

One recent large study from Europe suggests that antidepressants infrequently trigger suicidal thoughts or destructive behaviors. This large study covering more than 300,000 patients treated in psychiatric hospitals in several European countries.

The researchers only discovered 33 patients who had thoughts of wanting to commit suicide that doctors thought were "possibly" or "probably" related to the anti depressant medication.

Moreover, many experts caution against reading too much into this study. The majority of European drug surveillance programs are funded by pharmaceutical companies and there is always a question about reliability of such studies. In fact, many researchers often tend to minimize harmful effects of drugs, especially when the study is paid by the drug company. 

Said Dr Healy, “Whether antidepressant drugs trigger any suicidal behavior is not in question. This is a problem that is caused by the drugs and the study confirms that the link exists. The only argument is about how frequently it's happening.”

Something natural for depression-SAMe

Finally, something natural for Depression: Part 2

SAMe is well tolerated and the labels in health food stores do carry a warning that it may induce mania in bipolar patients. Even though SAMe is readily available as a dietary supplement, its synthesis is not easy. The majority of formulations of SAMe tested in the last decade have shown that many products contain less than the stated amount of the supplement.

Additionally SAMe is also prohibitively expensive. A month's supply can cost anywhere from $140-$200 and there is no guarantee that it contains the right dosage. Moreover, SAMe is not covered by Medicare or medical insurance.
Long-term data on safety of SAMe are not available but from what is known over the past 30 years, the supplement appears to be safe. SAMe has also been shown to have moderate pain relieving activities. There are countless reports from arthritic patients that the supplement does work well for pain relief. For depression, the dose of SAMe is between 800-1600 mg per day. Optimal dosage or the safe upper limits have not yet been determined.

The era of making novel pharmaceutical drugs based on amine uptake inhibition appears to have come to an end. The focus now is to search for natural supplements that may help boost the effects of the available drugs. Even though this study showed that SAMe may help reverse resistant depression, more studies are required to confirm these findings. Individuals who are thinking of buying SAMe from health stores need to make sure that they buy from a reputable store because fakes and counterfeit supplies continue to infiltrate the health supplement market. In fact, many supplements are often spiked with real drugs- so buyer beware.

Something natural for depression

Is there something natural for treatment of depression. i am fed up with the side effects of the medications? Part 1

Depression is a common mental health disorder and even though medications are available for treatment, the majority of patients develop either disturbing side effects or resistance. So far, treatment of resistant depression has been a challenge. Many drugs and supplements have been tried out in the past but the results have been abysmal. 

Now finally there is a study that shows that use of S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) with an SSRI can help improve outcome in chronically depressed patients. SAMe has been around for more than 30 years and is well known for its long term anti depressant effects. However, its short-term benefits were known until recently.

A recent trial with SAMe showed significant improvements in depression compared to previous therapies. SAMe was also found to be well tolerated. Of the side effects, a few patients did develop slightly elevated blood pressure that researchers felt was of medical significance.

Prevention of nail biting

I am always biting my nails. Is there any way to stop this?

There is no specific therapy to stop nail biting. First the facts. Nail biting is both unsanitary and can cause severe damage to the nail and surround skin. More important, it can lead to infections and be quite painful. If the activity is prolonged, the nail and skin can become unappealing and look deformed.

Some patients bite their nails because of anxiety, stress or an underlying mental health problem. To stop nail biting, some patients may benefit from the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. There are some who advocate behavior therapy to stop nail biting- I am not sure how simply taking bullshit for an hour for many weeks can do that-in any case, behavior therapy is also expensive. 

I would suggest keep your hands occupied all the time. Applying stinking foul smelling solutions and creams on the fingers does not work.

Elastin3 for stretch marks

Recently I heard that a product called elastin3 can help remove my stretch marks. Is this true?

Elastin3 is a bogus product. The company claims that if you apply it to you skin, the stretch marks will disappear. If you believe this crap, then you deserve to be scammed. Please, this expensive product does jackshit. It is worthless and won’t do a thing.  Please read the online reviews and you will see that is does absolutely nothing. There is no pill, lotion, potion, cream, ointment, paste or drug that can get rid of stretch marks. Most disappear spontaneously.

Selecting a good surgeon

I am thinking of having a breast augmentation. How do I know who is a good surgeon?

This is a real tough question. There are some great plastic surgeons but there are also many bad surgeons. I would not ask other doctors as to who is good-they always lie. Ask other patients and go online to search for reviews about the doctors. Mind you, many reviews about doctors are also fake. Speaking to another patient is the best way to select a good surgeon. Do not speak to just one person, speak to several. If a surgeon says he/she has never had a complication.-it just means that they are liars. Anyone who demands money upfront is another scammer and should be avoided. Because medical malpractice data are not available to the public, it is very hard for the layperson to know the surgeon’s background. In the end, use your judgment. If there is any doubt, get a second opinion.

Belly button surgery

I do not like my belly button. Is there a surgery procedure to revise it?

Yes, plastic surgeons will do anything for a buck. First, belly button surgery is usually done when a person undergoes an umbilical hernia repair, tummy tuck or abdominoplasty or for a protruding belly button after pregnancy.  Surgery on the umbilicus does not always produce great results. In addition, if the surgeon messes, up, you will at risk for an incision hernia-which can trap your bowel in future. The final thing you should know is that surgery on the belly button is not only expensive but also very painful. The surgery is not long. Surgery for cosmetic reasons is all a matter of personal choice and affordability.