I was respected by my bosses and admired by my peers. I was on my way up the company ladder. I had the enormous desk in the corner. Everything appeared to be going my way. So why did I feel so empty inside? Why did I never feel a bit like I was adequate? Why did I find myself sitting at my desk one morning crying?

Because I have type II bipolar disorder.

Only I couldn’t know it at the time. I only knew that for some reason life just didn’t seem worth the effort. My administrator saw me crying and knew something was wrong. He also knew I had been working diligently and richly deserved some time off anyhow. He me to take some vacation time and relax, dropping the hint that maybe I should talk with a mental health counselor. I did, and that’s when I was diagnosed.

I had never considered it before. Are not bipolar folk insane and perilous? I might be a tiny eccentric, but I’m not “nuts”. I’d never even been THINKING about injuring somebody. Of course I can’t be bipolar! I knew that SOMETHING was wrong, though, and since I did not know what it was, I couldn`t see that I had anything to lose by listening to a psychoanalyst. After all, he’s the professional.

I started medication—antidepressant and a mood stabilizer—and did a little reading about bipolar disorder. Lots of what I read sounded a lot like me, but not all of it. I learned that it influenced less than 2% of the population; it was indicated by swapping times of depression and either mania of hypomania, often with periods of normal mood between; that it was one of the number one factors behind homelessness; and that around 20% of those who have it commit suicide.

Of course, learning this statistical data didn’t help my depression in any way at all. In reality it sent my hysteria levels rocketing. To make things worse, while this was happening to me, Rigoberto Alpizar was gunned down in Miami Global Airfield for running around, acting crazy and claiming he had a bomb. He didn’t, of course. He was just bipolar.

Was that going to happen to me? Would I be one of those people that freaked out and either got themselves finished or rubbed out myself? I had to grasp, so I read more. What I learned next was more alarming than any of that.

Bipolar disorder, AKA manic depression, is one of the simplest psychological diseases to treat.

This decreased my tension level significantly, nevertheless it upset me a bit. If bipolar disorder is so easy to treat, then why do so many folk who’ve it wind up homeless? Why do so many commit suicides?

I did not have too much time to contemplate this. Initially, I was simply too depressed to do anything but lie around like a pile and worry my family. Then,the meds started working. I got to feeling better, and by the time I had swept up on all of the family requirements I had been ignoring, it was time to go back to work.

When I returned, everyone was happy to have me back. Well, pretty much everyone. Though management hadn’t said anything about why I was gone, I wasn’t ashamed. It’s just an illness and it’s easily treatable, right? I told a few folks, who told a few more folks, for example. Pretty shortly everybody knew. Most were supportive, but some were not.

To people who knew nothing about my disorder, I was not the funny bloke who everyone liked, the bright guy with the computer skills, and the guy who was always pleased to lend a hand. To them, I became the scary guy who cried at his desk, the threatening wacko who could blow at any moment. To them, I was the freak in the corner, and no debate could persuade them otherwise. Of course, all of them saw what that one guy did at that airport.

In the seven years I worked for that bank, I never hurt anybody. But that is enough about me for now. In my next article, I’ll address some of the common misconceptions about bipolar disorder that will have caused my coworkers to think of me that way.

Until next time, keep fighting.

The Nutcase in the Corner? Oh, that’s the Author; Bryce Albertson. “I have type II bipolar disorder.” – “I’d never considered it before.” – “Are not bipolar folks insane and perilous?”

“Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower depression risk,” says study author Michel Lucas of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Theoretically, people could be replacing time spent engaging in physical activity in front of television.

“Previous studies have suggested that physical activity is associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. The finding adds to the growing body of evidence that physical activity is important to maintain brain health,” Gillian Mead, a geriatric medicine specialist at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in Scotland, says in her comments on the study.

People battling depression are advised by medical researchers to consult a mental health professional to know whether physical activity can alleviate symptoms of depression in place of medication, like the antidepressant Zoloft.

Patients Should Consider Safer Alternative Treatments for Depression

Taking antidepressant and talk therapy are the known treatments for depression. In general, antidepressant drugs are supposed to reduce extreme sadness, hopelessness and lack of enthusiasm in life that are classic in people suffering from depression.

Yet antidepressants like Zoloft, which is supposed to cure depression, instead increases the risk of suicide attempts according to clinical findings. Zoloft has been indicated to cause hazardous side effects and withdrawal symptoms. This is according to the clinical test procedures plus reports from Zoloft users. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already released various advisories on Zoloft intake warnings.

Court Charges Against Zoloft Manufacturer

Pfizer is the manufacturer of the antidepressant Zoloft, brand name for setraline. Media reports have it that when Zoloft was out on the market, it quickly became one of the largest-selling, globally available antidepressant drugs.

At present, several Zoloft lawsuit have been filed by the affected patients against Pfizer. Birth defects to newborns, physical pain, sexual dysfunction, psychosis, delusion, hallucination, memory loss, sleeping problems, eating disorders, abnormal personality changes, unusual mood shifts, irritability, hostility, self-harm and other acts of violence are among the harmful side effects reported by the complainants.  For those taking  antidepressants, it is safe for them to consider that numerous the lawsuits filed against its manufacturer implies that antidepressants may not be the best way to deal with their problems. Medical professionals may offer safer alternatives instead of antidepressant drugs.

References:

• depression.about.com/od/sertraline/a/Zoloft-Side-Effects.htm
• drugs.com/zoloft.html

In December 1992, the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, introduced Zoloft to the market.  Zoloft is an anti-depressant drug that is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It means that it works by creating a balance with serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that has an effect on people’s certain moods Zoloft is for the treatment of depression, panic and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and premenstrual disorders.

Conversely, there are extensive controversies if SSRIs, including Zoloft, can cause people to become more violent or suicidal.

Varying Levels of Severity of Zoloft Side Effects

Zoloft has been indicated to cause hazardous side effects and withdrawal symptoms. This is according to the clinical test procedures done by the FDA plus reports from Zoloft users. 

Weakness, drowsiness, constipation and diarrhea are reported to be the most commonly experienced Zoloft side effects. Other side effects are agitation, impulsiveness, nervousness, nausea, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory delay. 

Some of these side effects are generally minor that medical attention is rarely needed. However, it also has severe side effects that need to be addressed on the soonest possible time. Zoloft users should consult their doctors if they encounter these side effects:

• Breathing difficulties
• Eating difficulties
• Fainting
• Memory problems
• Tremors
• Allergic reaction
• Seizures
• Balance or coordination problems
• Abnormal heart rate
• Confusions
• Hallucinations
• Personality changes
• Suicidal thoughts

Medical and Health Notices from Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

With this, in March 2004, the FDA has mandated numerous label changes for Zoloft due to the general outcome of various research studies showing the aforementioned side effects.  

FDA also sent a Public Health Advisory that provided further cautions to physicians and patients that Zoloft tends to increase the occurrence of suicidal tendencies and risks of birth defects.

The warnings and clinical findings were considered too late especially for the victims of Zoloft. 

Hence, if you have any doubts, concerns or inquiries about your Zoloft intake, immediately report to your doctor or healthcare expert. There is actually a number of Zoloft Lawsuit filed against its manufacturer Pfizer. The lawsuits contains allegations that the company has been aware of the drug’s dangerous side effects but they still continue marketing it. Thus, aside from medical consultation, you should also seek legal advice to find out if you qualify for a medical compensation from Zoloft manufacturer.

References:

• depression.emedtv.com/zoloft/zoloft-side-effects.html
• depression.about.com/od/sertraline/a/Zoloft-Side-Effects.htm
• drugs.com/zoloft.html

Zoloft is for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), premenstrual dyphoric disorder (PMDD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),  social anxiety disorder and major depression (MDD). Despite the warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), medical researchers and medical institutions, a 400 percent increase in usage over the past 15 years was noted by CDC. That means 11 percent of the American population is currently taking one or more antidepressants.

The FDA, in 2006, released a warning about potential Zoloft-associated birth defects such as withdrawal symptoms, miscarriage, cleft lip or palate, clubbed foot, persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), delayed development, enlarged heart, gastrochisis, left outflow tract heart defects, septal heart defects, macroephaly, neural tube defects, spina bifida and craniosyntosis.

The public health advisory says “FDA is advising health care professionals to discuss the potential risk of birth defects with patients who are taking Paxil and who plan to become pregnant or are in their first three months of pregnancy. Health care professionals should consider discontinuing Paxil (and switching to another antidepressant if indicated) in these patients. In some patients, the benefits of continuing Zoloft may be greater than the potential risk to the fetus. FDA is advising health care professionals to avoid prescribing Paxil in women who are in the first three months of pregnancy or who are planning pregnancy, unless other treatment options are not appropriate.”

Evaluating results from 372 studies about antidepressant drugs, the FDA discovered that they may cause children and teenagers to be suicidal, violent, hostile and irrational.

In 2007, the FDA further issued Zoloft warnings on the drug’s risk of increased suicidal attempts and behaviors. The FDA directed antidepressant manufacturing companies to place a “balck box” warning to the drug. Black box warnings are placed if the drug carries risk of a permanently-disabling, life threatening, or fatal side effect.

In 2008, the New England Journal of Medicine published a research study reflecting that antidepressant effectiveness has been misrepresented in US publications. It presented that studies reflecting antidepressant ineffectiveness were not normally published or were published with ambiguous results.

The July 2011 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry reflected the link between the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to newborns with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This was featured on the website PRWeb on Novemeber 9, 2011.*

Apart from these reviews and warnings, medical reports from user also contain several complaints about the unpleasant side effects of the drug. This provoked them to pursue Zoloft lawsuit against is manufacturing company, Pfizer.

References:

• depression.emedtv.com/zoloft/zoloft-warnings-and-precautions.html
• zoloftwarnings.org/
• zoloftbirthdefectslawyers.com/zoloft-and-pregnancy/zoloft-warnings/
• prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8817963.htm

The signs of withdrawal can range from very mild to very severe. A few lucky individuals don’t have any signs at all, but for most of us a time of adjustment is necessary. Some of the common symptoms include nausea, sickness, dizziness, irritability, severe headaches, general unpleasant sensations and nightmares.

If you find any of these symptoms any time stopping your regimen of Cymbalta, it is important that you continue track of the frequency as well as severity of each indicator. This way, you and your doctor can work together to make informed decisions about your care.

In the event that the symptoms you are enduring are extreme, it may be impossible to stop using Cymbalta all at once. Your doctor might need to reintroduce the medicine and then wean you from it gradually. Keep in your mind that several of the signs and symptoms you experience may possibly be your depression, anxiety, or fibromyalgia resurfacing. In this situation, you may have to keep getting Cymbalta or another drug to control your symptoms.

Ultimately, the most important thing when you quit taking any drug would be to work with a medical expert. Never quit taking Cymbalta or any other antidepressant without the assistance of your health care provider. They can help you better handle the withdrawal signs from Cymbalta and maintain you in top health. Remember, there was reasons you started taking Cymbalta and it’s really up to you and your physician to determine the best time and method for stopping.

Najette Adams is from Chicago, IL. Having suffered with depression and addiction recovery at a young age she has understanding of the withdrawal symptoms of Suboxone and Cymbalta firsthand.

According to a Reuters news report, the US government has been spending a lot on depression treatments.

Legal observers says “the increase in spending is believed to be caused mainly by the prolific increase in prescriptions written for antidepressants like Zoloft.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “mental health spending per patient rose from $2,802 t0 $3,610 during the time period studied, with antidepressant use rising from 81 to 87 percent and antipsychotic drug prescriptions skyrocketing from 26 percent to 42 percent of patients.”

In connection to this, a new study released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows an incredibly high escalation of antidepressant use over the past 15 years. It also reflected a 400 percent increase in usage among adults 18-44 years of age, according to the website Psychiatric Times.

The author of the article, Dr. Allen Frances, says “the wrong people are on antidepressants and the right people aren’t taking them.”

He adds, “just one-third of severely depressed people are taking them and more than two-thirds have no symptoms of depression.”

Aggressive marketing and advertising are blamed by Dr. Frances for being partly responsible for the increasing use of antidepressants.

Generally, antidepressants are meant to reduce the extreme sadness, hopelessness, and lack of interest in life that are typical in people battling depression. They are also for obsessive compulsive disorder, premenstrual syndrome, chronic pain, and eating disorders treatment. Depression is a brain illness. Its causes could be from psychological, genetic, environmental and biochemical factors like drug and alcohol intake.

Analyzing results from 372 studies regarding antidepressants, the FDA found that these drugs could make children and teenagers irrational, hostile, violent and suicidal.

Moreover, the FDA in 2007 issued Zoloft warnings on the drug’s risk of increasing suicidal thoughts and behavior. The FDA directed antidepressant manufacturing companies to place a “balck box” warning to the drug. Black box warnings are placed if the drug carries risk of a permanently-disabling, life threatening, or fatal side effect.

The New England Journal of Medicine, in 2008, published a research about antidepressant effectiveness being misrepresented in US publications. It featured thatstudies showing the ineffectiveness of antidepressants were usually published with misleading results or were not published at all.

On Novemeber 9, 2011, the website PRWeb also featured the July 2011 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry which suggested linkage between the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among infants.

In addition to these warnings and reviews, medical reports from patients also include complaints about the negative side effects of the drug. This incited them to file Zoloft lawsuit against its manufacter, Pfizer.

References:

· depression.emedtv.com/zoloft/zoloft-warnings-and-precautions.html

· prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8817963.htm

According to a study done by Ivar Aursnes and other Norwegian researchers and published in BMC Medicine on Aug. 22, 2005 Paxil, whose generic name is paroxetine, was seven times more likely to cause suicidal tendencies in adults than the placebo in the study. The report reads “Summarizing the suicide attempts, there are seven among the patients on paroxetine and one among the patients on placebo,” the report also states that 16 trails were done with 916 patients were placed on Paxil and 550 on the placebo.

Upon receiving news of the results report Paxil manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), responded by saying the information given are “misleading”. GSk goes on further by claiming that the data that was collected was “outdated” and incorrectly selected. The official view of GSK regarding the study states: “The company disagrees with the conclusion from the sub-analysis conducted by scientists based in Oslo.” “It serves only to cause confusion and unnecessary concern for patients using an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor,) such as paroxetine, for treatment of depression.”

After the results of the study were released the FDA has begun its own investigation on the study and will take all available data from the study and see if Paxil will really cause these side effects. It was also advised by the FDA that it may take sometime for the analysis of the information to be completed as it would be cross referenced with current FDA data.

Paxil is widely known by many as one of the worlds leading prescription antidepressants, since its introduction to the markets in 1992 total sales of Paxil is in the billions. However the side effects of Paxil have led many to file Paxil Lawsuits against the drugs manufacturer GSK. If you think your signs and symptoms of depressions are treatable by Zoloft, consult with your doctor as soon as possible.

URL Refrences:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/22/news/international/paxil/index.htm

http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/12/news/companies/paxil/index.htm

Communicate with a person while you are depressed. Sometimes depression can be caused because you keep your feelings in. Should you speak to a good friend and tell them how you are feeling this will release those feelings. Your friend may also be able to give you useful information.

In case you are depressed you may want to call your doctor. A doctor may be able to provide you suggestions on how to handle your depression or will be able to refer you to a psychologist. Maybe they also be able to provide you with medication which can help along with your depression. Consider telling your close family and friends which you have depression. This may make it simpler for them to discover why you are doing, or perhaps not doing since the case can be, certain activities in daily life like using stog for comfort. This may take the burden off you for quite a while, because you will not have to keep justifying or explaining your behavior.

Make sure that you visit a doctor should your depression is upsetting your daily routine. You local physician will be able to refer you to specialist therapist or give you a prescription with an antidepressant, which could make your life much easy to deal with, depending on which treatment option you would prefer.

Challenging part about curing depression starts to work on it. Depression will make you not want to do something about your condition, however it is very important when you fight through this. Shift to using electronic cigarettes NOW, to start on the path toward a happier life without depression.

In dealing with depression, medical professionals frequently prescribe oral medications like antidepressants and also psychotherapy.Results of medical researches, reports from users and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings, however, imply that antidepressants like Effexor, Zoloft and Paxil may not be the best way to treat depression and anxiety problems.These include sexual dysfunction, increased suicide risk, abnormal personality changes, unusual mood shifts, sleeping problems and eating disorders. Birth defects to newborns had been also reported, especially if the mother took the drug during the first trimester of pregnancy. An article published on October 17, 2010 in BCLocalNews.com tackles the story about a British Columbia couple aiming to raise awareness about infant exposure to antidepressants. The couple claims that their son died evidently from the wife’s exposure to antidepressants while pregnant.

On February 21, 2009, Christiane Schultz, the mother, was prescribed Effexor while pregnant and bore a baby boy named Matthew. Sadly, he died immediately two hours after he was born. She and her husband Amery supposed that her Effexor use contributed to Matthew’s death. From then on, they have been trying to raise awareness on the hazards of antidepressant drugs to pregnant women and their children.

According to the studies, there is a wide range of birth defects linked to Paxil such as cardiovascular malformations in the form of atrial septal defects and ventricular septal defects. These typically occur when the mother has taken Paxil within the first trimester of pregnancy, during which the baby’s heart is still forming in the womb. Another severe side effect is persistent pulmonary hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), which is equivalent to high blood pressure in babies’ lungs. PPHN can be extremely severe and may lead to death in some cases. Craniosynostosis (skull deformation) and limb abnormalities are also other birth injuries that are attributed to Paxil. These birth defects can be very critical. While some after-effects can mend on their own, others cannot and can even lead to further operations and complications. It was also known that newborns may also have low blood sugar and experience difficulty in breathing, vomiting, seizures, tremor and irritability.

The FDA advised health care professionals to avoid prescribing Paxil in women who are pregnant or are planning pregnancy, “unless other treatment options are not appropriate.” The public should also be informed about the numerous Paxil Lawsuit being filed presently by victimized patients against GlaxoSmithKline, the drug manufacturer.

References:

• · adrugrecall.com/paxil/birth-defect.html
• · medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=57323
• · webmd.com/news/20051208/paxil-stronger-birth-defects-warning
• · paxil.lawsuitinformation.org/

During an interview with the Montreal Gazette before his lecture at the Montreal Concordia University, Robert Whitaker, author of the book Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness, saidthat “improved detection and various cultural factors are contributing to the increased numbers of mentally ill individuals in society.”  He further raised questions about the use of antidepressant medicines, quoting studies that presenting antidepressants induce changes in brain chemistry that can trigger suicidal thoughts, manic and psychotic behavior, among other illnesses.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released various cautions on taking Paxil and other antidepressants.

In 2004, the FDA mandated pharmaceutical companies to add a “black box” caution to all antidepressant drugs because they cause suicidal thoughts and attempts in children and teenagers. In 2005, the FDA cautioned that Paxil may cause birth defects like heart diseases, especially when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. This FDA public health advisory was based on early results from studies which found out that women who took Paxil on their first trimester were up to two times more likely to bear a child with cardiovascular deformities compared to pregnant women who did not take Paxil. Moreover, in March 2006, the FDA mandated GlaxoSmithKline to explicitly warn doctors and patients that antidepressants like Paxil increases the risks of suicide.

Also in 2006, Paxil manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline sent letters to doctors warning that its antidepressant increases the risk of suicide in adults. It was the initial caution of its kind released by a manufacturer, pharmaceutical industry observers say.

Numerous researches and testing from different institutions and universities also warn the public about the worsened outcome of taking antidepressants such as panic attacks, agitation, hallucinations, insomnia, hostility, violence and self-harm.

With these reviews and cautions, people suffering from depression including pregnant women should consider a different way of treatment other than taking Paxil which has been constantly accused of causing unpleasant side effects. Aside from the clinical tests and researches, reports from users show that Paxil has brought harm on their health and lives as well.

To evade complications, the public should give attention and importance to these medical warnings and reviews, medical specialists advise. These reports are manifested through the several Paxil lawsuit filed against GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturing company of Paxil.

References:

• scientologyagainstdrugs.wordpress.com/category/side-effects-of-antidepressants-ssris/
• injury-law.freeadvice.com/injury-law/drug-toxic_chemicals/paxil-warning.htm
• injury-law.freeadvice.com/injury-law/drug-toxic_chemicals/paxil-information.htm