I was just watching TV when a commercial for some depression medication came on. Towards the end of the commercial they voice over guy lists the possible side effects someone taking this pill could have. To list just a few you have, nausea, tremors, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, weight gain, constipation, and decreased sex drive. Makes no sense to me. You are taking this medication to feel better and yet all the possible side effects would make you feel horrible. Before I get a ton of comments telling me the chances of experiencing some of these side effects are slight, I already know this. I am not arguing or even saying that if you take medications you will suffer through some horrible side effects. All I am talking about here is the irony that so many of the medications we take to “get better” could do more than just cure you.
I am not promoting natural or herbal healing with this post. I honestly don’t know much about it to promote it. Until now I have never even given much thought into the issues that arise from taking different medications. Now don’t get me wrong if I’m dying and the doctor gives me something that could save or at least prolong my life I will swallow those pills faster than he could write the prescription on his pad.
Hell I don’t even know what I am writing about anymore… First I am talking about how the meds we take have crazy side effects and then I am talking about how I will take anything the doctor gives me. Maybe the anti inflammatory I take for my knee is messing with my brain. Maybe my next post will be all about how I can think clearly, but now I walk with a bad limp.
Talkin' Shit 
Personally, I think the biggest problem with the pharmaceuticals is that we are so quick to take a pill to cure what ails us. And the companies that make all of these are more than happy to shove them down our throats because it makes their wallets fatter. I’m not a person who practices homeopathic remedies or anything like that, but I think that as a society we are totally over-medicated. I think it’s wrong that the pharmaceutical companies are even allowed to market to consumers, since consumers can’t obtain these medications without a doctor’s prescription.
Well said! I try to stay away from prescription drugs. The only thing I ever take is some over the counter anti inflammatory and melatonin to help sleep sometimes.
I agree with Machinamy. And the problem not only lies with the pharmaceuticals, but the PATIENTS who want a quick fix and don’t have the desire to try different things that can help them in the long run WITHOUT side effects. FYI, I went off anti-depressants when I discovered juicing back in the 1990s and haven’t looked back. One time I did a proofreading assignment for a pharmaceutical company and one of the side effects of a prescription was DEATH! Scary. For your inflammation, try cherry juice. It works 🙂
Okay, I’ll shut up now 🙂
Cherry juice? I am so intrigued. Looking this up as soon as I post this reply.
Let me know how it works. It helped my young friend get rid of arthritis!
Sometimes the side effects are worth it to eliminate the feelings of overwhelming sadness and melancholy. Depression is not a fun illness to be stuck with… it takes medication to function at a normal level that people who don’t have it can do on a daily basis.
I love that there is something that can help people cope with certain illnesses. I just wish there wasn’t so many possible side effects for them to have to deal with on top of what they are already going through. Thank you so much for the comment!
I am bipolar and, when they thought I was only depressed, I resisted medication for a long, long time. Finally started taking an anti-depressant. That worked for a while, but I wasn’t only depressed, so got the new diagnosis and new meds. I don’t read the “these are the horrible things that might happen” sheets ’cause, like you, it makes me wonder what the hell is up with that. So, I take my meds, I feel good, everyone likes me.
Thanks for the drop by on my blog, Snide Reply, for my post on helicopter parents.
My wife was the first person to get to start looking at side effects. She had a bad reaction to something she took and ever since then I am wary about any weird side effects. The only problem with this is that everything has tons of possible side effects.
Hey there, interesting site. Always awesome to see guys who are mad for their wives. Me too! And thanks for liking my blog 🙂
I’ve often wondered the same thing. I take a medication for diabetes. Side effect? Weight gain. What could weight gain lead to? Diabetes. “Vicious cycle.”
bravo on this post, and I say that as someone who does take medication. I wish I had done my research. Yes, I do need medication for my condition, but that doctor chose a highly touted “wonder drug” – no doubt because he got a great deal from the pharmaceutical rep. Now if I ever want to change or discontinue it I will have to suffer through withdrawals that have been documented over the last couple of years or so as some of the worst on record. Yippee. I say be cautious about meds and read read read. Don’t just nod and drop it off at Walgreen’s.
Mom has diabetes and asthma and the amount of meds she has to take does a number on liver and kidneys. Medicine she needs to live and function are literally killing her slowly. Its ashamed how ‘Medicine’ is so risky even though its helping.
I understand how you feel, my mother had diabetes and had to deal with a lot of medication. Which she didn’t feel was making her better. Medicine is difficult thing, because no two individuals are alike and what works for one, might not work as good for the other. It is a practice of careful calculations and decisions.
I’ve had depression before but I always find other ways to cope. I think these meds are great for people who have serious mental disorders simply because the benefits outweigh the side effects. However, I think the majority of people want a quick fix as a previous poster said. I thought about taking meds at one point and then thought “what for?” There are other ways I can make myself happy. Herbs, exercise, eating better, listening to music…..etc…all these things are therapeutic as well with great side effects!
I do holistic healing, all natural as much as I can. I think I do this because of all the crap in drugs. Either that or I want to make my life more difficult. It’s def worth an in depth look into other ways of making stuff go away or finding cure-alls. 🙂
speaking from experience, the side-effects are terrible beyond description at times. modern “medicine” creates conditions and offers assistance… if the price is right. i gave up on these meds/poisons and while still facing the challenges, at least i’m facing them and not drugging myself legally into a zombie. many of these poisons should be banned. a mix of “modern” medicine and traditional/natural remedies makes more sense and causes less damage… just my opinion…
Those commercials, I swear on all of them the side effects are so horrible, I cant imagine. I don’t know what you’re talking about either, but I’ve had the same random thoughts. Thanks for sharing them, because I always forget to go off on a rant about it! ha ha ha.. Have an awesome weekend!
Sometimes I think peeps take peeps hoping for that silver bullet, but it doesn’t exist. I was close to death many times and walked away from Western Medicine. My path isn’t for the faint heated, but I am alive after two cancer scares. The first one I did as they told me, but it was all bullshit. The second on I did my way, the unconventional way. According to “conventional” medicine if you are still alive after 5 years you are a survivor. So …..here I am nearly ten years later …….fuck all the bullshit…our bodies we designed to heal. I was told so many things that were proved to be untrue….so many things I would never be able to do again, like, use a computer. But as the sone goes, “I’m still standing after all these years…..” Almost 60 to be exact. I haven’t done cherry juice but that’s only b/c I haven’t opened the gallon container! If you want to live a rich, full life stay away from Western Medicine! It’s great for some things, but for cancer [in my case] it goes way over board……….I am strong and healthy 10 years after my lumpectomy [that was stupid b/c they took out a CYST which are NEVER cancerous] and 9 years after they insisted I needed to have a complete hysterectomy. I refused the hysterectomy. and am getting stronger every day. I do a once a year juice feast [not a fast, a feast] and drink a green smoothie everyday. Each day, in every day I grow stronger and stronger.
The most important lesson I have learned is “do not give a pill for every ill”. I have experienced the wonder of anti-depressant drugs, and I was lucky to experience only a single (minor) side-effect. But because my doctor was good enough to consider that medicine is not the sole solution, I could get off the drugs in time. It’s not use supplying medicine if you do not address the disease’s root cause; and pills really should only be a last-resort.
water, rest enough and free up your mind is the best medication for most of disease… 😉