The Wall Street Journal is reporting on the overprescribing of psychiatric drugs in America. They would like to hear about your experiences and any stories they should look into. Share your thoughts in the linked article below.
“Only 15% of people with major depression experienced a substantial benefit from taking antidepressants beyond the placebo effect of pills that look like real medication, a 2022 study found. The findings were based on participants in 232 antidepressant randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials submitted by drug developers to the Food and Drug Administration from 1979 to 2016.
“Most people who take antidepressants feel better only because they are taking a pill, said Dr. Marc Stone, a former FDA official and the study’s lead author. Large improvements, however, are much more likely from the drug than a placebo, he said. Scientists don’t yet understand who will benefit from the drug.
The potential benefit of antidepressants has to be weighed against such risks as sexual dysfunction and withdrawal effects, including anxiety and restlessness, Stone said. “My biggest concern is having the discipline to say, ‘Let’s stop the drug if you’re not having a major improvement,’” he said.”
