DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANYBODY CURRENTLY BEING TREATED FOR A MENTAL ILLNESS STOP TAKING THEIR MEDICATION. UNFORTUNATELY, DRUGS PRESCRIBED FOR SUCH DISORDERS HAVE TERRIBLE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. I'VE BEEN THERE (BEFORE MY ONLY SUICIDE ATTEMPT). HOW'S THAT FOR ADDICTIVE?
DON'T STOP TAKING YOUR MEDS!
Alright, I was going to write a book on this topic, but after discovering what I discovered, I cannot ethically make money on this.
I started to think critically about the pharmaceutical industry when I saw my boyfriend shell out $600/month for his anti-depressants/tranquilizers/anti-psychotics. His income during the winter is Employment Insurance, and that $600 is quite a large fraction of this income. He did get approved for Ontario's Trillium Drug Benefit Program, but his most expensive drug, ironically called Abilify, is not covered.
WTF, I thought to myself.
My drugs cost ~$300/month, $20 for fluoxetine (Prozac) and the rest is for a newer drug called Seroquel XR. I am currently a welfare recipient, so thank you, Ontario taxpayers for paying for my meds (I can only assume that this is where the money is coming from - correct me if I'm wrong, please).
I consider myself to be very fortunate to have been prescribed a generic anti-depressant such as Prozac - I attribute this to the fact that I was diagnosed by a doctor at the University of Guelph - there may be some ethical code in place there.
I started investigating how exactly these drugs work and I came to the realization that a lot of mental illnesses are not entirely understood.
I have not been able to afford my own copy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), but I did find a random site written by a Dr. James Morrison which outlines criteria for the diagnoses of mental disorders. I am not sure how up-to-date this information is, so if you are involved in this field, please let me know of my accuracy.
I also found this article from 2006... again, I hope things have changed since then. It's a study looking at how many panelists for the DSM, involved in the setting of its criteria, are involved with the pharmaceutical industry. Also, I cannot afford to purchase the full text of this article due to the modern inaccessibility of scientific research. So, if you do have access, send a copy of the paper my way.
Here is an article about the "disease" I have (it is accessible). I'm not going to speak much about it - read it yourself. The Mental Health Commission of Canada stated that the stigma surrounding mental illness is worse than the diseases themselves. I disagree - my diagnosis is the worst thing that happened to me. Now all of my "abnormal" behaviour can be attributed to a medical condition and pills are supposed to shut me up.
Here's the biggy. Clinical trials. Check it out. I am disturbed by the double blind studies listed. I know this is done for accuracy, but I can't help but think about the mid-20th century thalidomide disaster.
If you read these, let's get a discussion going on this topic. I will not tolerate ignorant disagreements to my opinions, but I welcome sound evidence for the contrary because I am thoroughly disturbed.
Mary Jane Richardson
I got an email asking if I'm opposed to clinical trials in general or just for neuro/psycho-related drugs.
ReplyDeleteThis was my response:
I'm more opposed to clinical trials for neuro/psycho-related drugs, only because I feel that not enough is known about the causes of mental illness and that the mentally ill are a marginalized population. I think in general, they do more good than harm - I can't knock cancer research. As for obesity-related illnesses, save the money and time and encourage people to be healthy.
Thanks for the post, MJ. I can certainly see the validity behind what you are saying, particularly in relation to the ridiculous cost of these meds. As I have been taking citalopram for about 4 years, I do understand the issue around cost.
ReplyDeleteI differ in opinion from you on the point of diagnosis, though it is purely personal and not at all an attempt to "contradict" or oppose what you have said -- rather to contribute my viewpoint. For me, the process of diagnosis was the most liberating thing that happened to me. It validated my experience and helped me to feel less alone, and it gave me a name for what I had been struggling with for most of my life.
Up until the point of my diagnosis, I had been very aware of my emotional instability and anxious behaviour -- I just couldn't control it. Being on an SSRI gave me back the ability to deal with life, rather than wishing I could crawl into a hole and hide for the rest of my life.
I appreciate your views, and am glad that you've posted them for consideration. :)
Yay for diplomacy, Candice, thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteBeing diagnosed with depression/anxiety and being medicated for it definitely helped me finish my Masters in conjunction with cognitive behavioural therapy.
I'm more concerned about my diagnosis as bi-polar. As suggested by one of the articles I posted, the term seems to be thrown around a lot. I may not even be bipolar, it could be an effect of the antidepressant I'm on.
I agree with you completely about anxiety being a debilitating and terrible condition to deal with.
I'm all for diplomatic discussions :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that you found success and support to finish your Masters. It was the diagnosis, meds and CBT that helped me finish my BA and to then do my CYW as well.
I was a bit surprised to read that you had been diagnosed with bi-polar, actually. Which type of bi-polar did they say you have?
Bipolar II, possibly induced by my anti-depressant.
ReplyDelete