Posted by confuzyq on July 6, 2007, at 0:30:52
In reply to Re: Generalizations, posted by Justherself54 on July 5, 2007, at 6:12:45
To balance out the other things I tend to focus on on admin, I'll say that this "reprimand" I can understand, on strictly *procedural* counts, not anything whatsoever about the poster or his intentions. Unless -- as someone said, these long-term effects were shown in several established sources as facts.
Someone new here and not knowing the drill, conventions and relationships of the meds boards could be scared out of their wits at these notions... Which many may feel is fact but I gather consists of anecdotal evidence only. We have to be so careful not to unintentionally discourage others in trying to fight what is killing them.
I am way less experienced about this stuff than most med board posters, but still, I think it is so essential to phrase these things as anecdotal only. (I didn't read any more of the thread than appears here on admin.) And in this kind of case, to me it is clearly no judgment or disparagement of the poster, just a technical violation, such as a speeding ticket would be.
Yes, it may be important for even newbies here to hear about the range of caveats; but not to first encounter them as proven, universally accepted facts. True that the dynamics of this board are such that often opinion presented as fact is balanced out by the opinions and experiences and factual offerings of others; but absolute reliance on that -- especially on threads about subjects that recur often -- can't be counted upon. And would constitute a lot of responsibility and pressure on everyone otherwise.
Lastly, I imagine that the further we get entrenched in our inability to fix what's broke, lasting depression, etc.; the less we can really be sure what part the drugs play in impeding sexuality, and what part is merely due to growing frustration and other ramifications of not being able to "fix it" yet....
> > While I was on Paxil, I experienced anorgasmia. Once I stopped it, the anorgasmia went away.
> >
> > On Effexor, I experienced difficulty reaching orgasm. Cyproheptidine fixed it, and once I stopped the medication, I had no problems. (And it wasn't total anorgasmia, either time. It was possible, just very difficult and mostly unlikely.)
> >
> > I've taken antidepressants for years. I have taken SSRIs and SNRIs for years, and have no problems with my sexuality. None of the difficulties I had one the drugs has lasted after reducing the drugs to taper off, let alone after stopping.
> >
> > I take Prozac now. Trust me -- orgasm is not a problem for me.
> >
> > What's more, I have taken SSRIs and SNRIs for most of the past two decades now. I feel -- honestly, I guess I feel unheard, or unheeded, when I read that something bad happens to "everyone" who takes one of these drugs. They have, several times, saved my life. If you'd like to say that that makes me an outlier, that's fine. You're welcome to say that my experience is totally unrepresentative of the whole. It probably is, since my diagnosis is now chronic depression, rather than garden variety, and I am also officially treatment resistant. But I have known many people who took SSRIs and SNRIs and experienced nothing but the benefits.
> >
> > And I feel worried when I read posts saying that these medications cause permanent damage. I worry that, if I had seen this sort of thing before starting Paxil all those years ago, I wouldn't have taken it -- and my life might have ended at that point. Despite all the pain those years have had, I would have missed out on so much. I'm afraid that someone in a similar condition might read these posts, and refuse to take a medication which could save them so much misery, and possibly keep them alive.
> >
> > So, personally, I am grateful that these drugs exist. I dislike their side effects, and I could certainly have lived without the sexual side effects and the weight gain, but you know what? I'm still grateful that these drugs existed, and that I was given them. I would have ended my life if I had not had the relief that these drugs brought.
> >
> > And when we talk about how rotten some of these drugs are, how about remembering those who have had good results, or whose results were good enough to keep them alive or functional. It may be selfish of me, but I believe that our experiences deserve respect, too.
> >
> > Racer, posting personally.
>
> I agree with everything that you've posted, many of these drugs have kept me alive..sexual side effects, weight gain and the whole shebang and I'm grateful they are available. I can remember being on a chat board while trying to get the nerve up to take my first serequel..I was terrified I would get tartive kinesia or some other horrible side effect..with the support of members who were taking serequel, it helped relieve some of my fears and it turned out to be a very helpful med for me..
>
> All I've tried to say in my previous post, is when someone makes a generalization, usually in my opionion, out of frustration and anger, can we not respond to them as a community to help them, simply by pointing out their statements are generalizations and perhaps ask them to share their experiences? This is where the experienced members can help direct them to resources they may be unaware of..this route, to me, would be more productive than blocking, which just seems to stir the pot even more..
>
> Once again, I'm talking about generalized statements, not rude or uncivil posts, which do need to be nipped in the bud..
>
> The person who feels his sexuality is ruined forever and the person who feels there is no support for withdrawal from meds are stating what they truly believe..and however disturbing they may be to some readers, that's where the experienced posters should step in and draw them into some constructive dialog if possible..
>
>
poster:confuzyq
thread:767665
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20070702/msgs/768004.html