Moms and Antidepressants: Are We Over Medicated?

on January 25, 2010 at 11:45 AM

anti-depressants Does it seem like every woman you know is on Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, or some form or another of medications for depression? That seems to be what this anonymous poster was thinking when she posed the following question:

Am I the last woman on earth not taking antidepressants?

Here's the background to her question:

This isn't a slam on anyone who is—I know a lot of people who are helped by them. It seems, though, any time a group of women get together, if the subject comes up, it comes out that every single one of them is on Zoloft or Celexa and has a back-up stash of Xanax for the really bad days. Instead of talking about shoes, they compare side effects. Is there anyone else who isn't terminally medicated?

Many moms, including this anonymous poster, responded that depression, anxiety, and mental illness are very real problems and that medication can be very helpful to people:

I take the the medicine, not because I'm unhappy, but because there is a real chemical problem. I am on Zoloft for anxiety. When I do not take it, I feel like something bad is going to happen. I worry, can't sleep, and sometimes have panic attacks where I think I'm having a heart attack and am going to die. It is an awful way to live.

But there are a lot of moms out there, like this poster, who think we as a society are over medicated:

...I think if more women would focus on themselves, eat a well-rounded diet free of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, etc., exercise on a regular basis, and take the proper vitamin supplements, maybe there'd be less people who need pharmaceutical medications...I know some women really need them, but I also think a lot of women could help themselves without them if they really tried but for one reason or another they just don't; they just take the meds instead.

What do you stand on the issue? Do you think antidepressants and anxiety medications are over-prescribed?

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About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: emotional health, medicine, mental health

Comments (10)

momoflilangel

on Jan 25, 2010 at 3:29 PM

I think all of America is over medicated. Children, Elderly, Middle Aged, etc are all giving medication for anything and everything. I believe in medication when absolutely necessary but sometimes it just isn't necessary.

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JessecaLynn

on Jan 25, 2010 at 4:22 PM

I think if there is something wrong with a person then they think a pill will take care of it. I hate taking medicine and am on medication but want to change my lifestyle so that I can get off of them. I am working on my weight so that I can get off my blood pressure medicine. I am hoping that weight loss will also take care of my gallbladder issues. I am actually on an antidepressent to take care of my gallbladder that causes me to have gallbladder pains and heartburn like symptoms.

AgentBrez

on Jan 25, 2010 at 5:37 PM

it took me a long time to get over the stigma of taking medication [not for depression in my case, other issues]. its not something i advertise, only a few family members and friends know. but i explain it like this - if you were a diabetic and needed medicine to live [control sugars], it is the same for me, its just a chemical inbalance in the brain instead of something more "physical." i did not take going on medication lightly. i refused to do it for yrs b/c i was embarassed but therapy only was not doing the trick. once i started medicine, found the right ones and dosage, things have been much better. i still go to therapy to go along with the mediciation. even my psychiatrist knows that the medication alone will not solved my problems. unless you know the person's personal history/story you can't judge correctly whether or not mediciation is right for them.

earthmama727

on Jan 26, 2010 at 2:35 AM

Yes, I beleive we are over medicated, especially in the feild of anti depressants. I actually had a dr once tell me that I "needed antidepressants like a diabetic needs insulin" He used that exact line. I have been off of them for 11 yrs now, and am doing better than ever. I was just a teen going through regular teen problems. My first dr told me it would be a temporary thing when he put me on Zoloft. But whenever I asked to get off of them, he would have some reason why i shouldn't-- a big test coming up, a recent argument with my mom, school starting again soon. Apparently those were all reasons to drug a teen. The first time I tried to ween myself I acted more OCD than ever. Thats when the 2nd dr told me I "Needed" the drugs. Shortly thereafter, i tried again, and was successful. I made changes in my life. Moved out on my own (my family contributed to my problems, greatly) then I did things that made me happy. I started following my bliss. We all get blues from time to time. Depending on our life situations, it can feel overwhelming. Pills aren't the answer. Making positive changes in our lives is! BTW, Zoloft, which they SWORE was safe, is no longer approved for teens because it has been PROVEN to worsen symptoms.

Diana_B.

on Jan 28, 2010 at 12:31 AM

For every symptom there is a pill to correct it, and when those pills cause side effects there is another pill for that also. I see both sides. Where the line needs to be drawn is the impact the symptoms are having in your life. Can you function, can you not function? Can you still take care of daily needs, can you not take care of daily needs? Is this medication a necessity or a want? Without this medication is it a life or death situation? Many things to take into account. I really couldn't form an opinion unless I knew the specifics of every single case and person and group as a whole. There are prescription addicts, prescription cosmetics which are for those trying to mask symptoms, doctors who over prescribe antibiotics, those who are in immediate need of medication, and those who need the medication in order to survive as life or death. You can make healthy living choices such as diet changes, exercise, etc. but something to also take into account is it may not be available to everyone whether income limits what food you can buy or maybe not having a car and none of the stores near you carry those items or all of the items on your list, no work out facility, don't live in a safe neighborhood to get outside to work out, etc. etc. etc. So like I said, I feel there are way too many gray area's to form an opinion of the public as a whole.

MMcCray

on Feb 14, 2010 at 4:23 PM

I agree with being over medicated. Why? We are looking for a quick fix for all things. In doing so, there is more stress caused on by more prescription. This is a cycle. Can we break loose? Yes, but it takes a strong determination to do and the will of the mind.

Marlene McCray

http://www.fallintoyou.com/

" Get out of Debt, Become a Compass Rep"

Nonmember comment from Methodius

on Feb 25, 2010 at 3:25 PM

Those who feel sad for no good reason are clearly sick. Those who feel happy for no good reason are even sicker. The present article explores the novel hypothesis that patients who feel well are, in fact, patients who need treatment... Asymptomatic Depression: Hidden Epidemic and Huge Untapped Market www.bonkersinstitute.org/asymptomatic.html Methodius Isaac Bonkers, M.D. Institute for Nearly Genuine Research Traverse City, Michigan

Nonmember comment from Barbara

on Mar 23, 2010 at 5:45 PM

Women have to stand up to their over medication. They are targeted for antidepressants by drug companies in the same way that tobacco companies targeted them 70 years ago. Drug companies are so effective at selling unhappiness to women that women take more than twice as many antidepressants as men. http://sadnessaddiction.blogspot.com/

Nonmember comment from Jen

on Nov 14, 2010 at 10:35 AM

This article and many of these comments are incredibly offensive and serve only to further stigmatize mental health issues and their need for effective treatment. You women who are saying people shouldn't be on medication obviously have no idea about the impact you are causing on the individuals who are do need them and are fighting not only with themselves about not being able to help themselves or "just snap out of it" as many people say, but are also grappling with societies stigmatization of depression, bipolar disorder, and other illnesses. If you don't believe medication is the answer DON'T TAKE IT.