Antidepressants * Anti-Anxiety Medications *
Antipsychotics *
Mood and Behavior Pharmaceuticals

Did you know that the theory of "chemical imbalance" and its relationship to emotions and behavior is just that, a theory?  No proof exists that a person feeling depressed, angry or anxious has any chemical imbalance.  No blood test or urine test can be used to detect this supposed imbalance.  An MRI, CT Scan or x-ray cannot measure  anxiety or depression. 

These emotions do obviously exist.  They are normal human emotions.  So when we see advertising that suggests we may have "Major Depressive Disorder",  "General Anxiety Disorder", or "Attention Deficit Disorder" we may wonder whether this is so.  These commercials show normal-looking people, even famous people who have these "disorders".  The ads also tell us how "millions of Americans" suffer from these diseases.  So why not you or I?  On one hand the drug companies will tell us how millions of us need their mood and behavior altering drugs.  On the other hand their labeling will explain how these drugs are for use with conditions like "major depressive disorder". 

Most people prescribed antidepressants have what would be termed as mild to moderate depression.  This is a normal human emotion that can often be "treated" by far less dangerous solutions than drugs, all of which have extensive side effects.  Most antidepressants have been given a "Black Box Warning", the highest level warning issued by the FDA.

Looking at antidepressants from the medical point of view of risk to benefit ratio it is important to ask yourself, "How depressed am I?", or "Is my child manifesting a 'disorder' or simply being a child?"  For a clear look at this take a look at these Fox News interviews with of Dr. Peter Breggin, a medical doctor and expert in the area of antidepressants and other psycho-active drugs.

Fox News Interview with Dr. Breggin, Part 1
Fox News Interview with Dr. Breggin, Part 2
Fox News Interview with Dr. Breggin, Part 3
 

List of antidepressants and other mood and behavior drugs

Below is a small list of places where you can get more information about antidepressants and other mood and behavior altering drugs. 

Websites

Medical doctor and psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin has written numerous books explaining the actual effects of antidepressants other other psychiatric medications.  He has also recently testified before a congressional hearing about the effects of antidepressants on our military and the possible relationship between these drugs and the escalating rate of suicide among members of the armed forces.

http://www.breggin.com/

http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/antidepressants.aspx

Books

Depression, Anxiety mood and Behavior Drugs

REPORT A BAD DRUG REACTION TO THE FDA

INFORMATION ON
NEW iPHONE APP
"DRUG ALERT"