Anti-depressants useless for the majority?

[AB Asks]

A new study states that the new generation of anti-depressants have little benefit for most patients, and only really help those who are severely depressed. The makers of the most common anti-depressants � Prozac and Seroxat challenged the findings, saying that extensive research has proved that these drugs are effective. The chief researcher of this new study found that those who suffered from mild depressions and took a placebo still showed some improvement, proving that anti-depressants are not always necessary in milder cases. What do you think? Do you know of people who have conquered depression without drugs or do you think they are a helpful necessity for some people?

[Le Chat]

Speaking from personal experience of having post natal depression after the birth of both of my sons, I find the above statement partially true.
I found the anti depressant Seroxat to be fantastic. I was singing all day long and nothing could get me down. I felt the happiest I had ever felt. It was amazing for me. However, after reasearching it thoroughly, I was not happy about the withdrawal symptoms that so many people had suffered after having taken it for long periods of time, so I swapped about onto different ones....and not one of them worked!
Eventually, I just stopped taking anything and waited (in misery, whilst trying other self-help remedies) for it to pass...which it eventually did.
So it really depends on the body chemistry of one individual being responsive to the chemical arrangement of a particular anti depressant.

[lil123]

I found when I was on Prozac they just 'numbed' my feelings and although I was able to get on with things I often felt they just took the edge of
I was put on them when I was in refuge fleeing domestic violence and had to sell my lovely home go through divorce and lost my job all in one and all my belongings
They do work when they are needed but I think the trouble is people stay on them for 2 long and they lose there effect
I am now not on any medication but I still have down days that I often will get myself out of by doing things I enjoy or simply by giving myself some timeout space as I call it where I may just stay in and watch dvd's and chill
depression is HORRIBLE but it can be made easier by thinking positive
Even when I had all that going on I knew one day my life would be good again and slowly it is getting better
Self belief is the key I think

[cuddleMe]

two of my mates were on prozac, they advised me dearly not to go to gp for them, they also told me they have never felt so worse than ever before, one of them started to get panick attacts and suffered from anxiety, it took her 2yrs to recover after stop taking prozac,she now feels better?? so prozac good or bad? did it work or not? i really dont know.