The science of prescriptions

[karrie]

I know, it's a bit redundant, we've talked before on here about prescription drugs, and the pharma biz, but I just wanted to share this little blurb from a pharmaceutical's website, since it caught my attention when it played on the tv just now....


"How does PRISTIQ work?

As an SNRI, PRISTIQ is thought to work by affecting the levels of two neurotransmitters believed to play a key role in depression, serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin and norepinephrine are chemicals that occur naturally in the brain. While no one knows for sure what causes depression, many experts believe that it may occur when neurotransmitters are out of balance."




Did you catch the bit in there that jumped out at me? "Pristiq is THOUGHT to work by...." Wow. We think this is what happens. How crazy is that. lol.

 

[TenPenny]

American tv station?

 

[karrie]

American tv station?

Obviously

 

[Sparrow]

We would be surprised at how many drugs out there that they don't really know what they will do.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

No, we know what they'll do, we just don't know how they do it.

 

[JLM]

I know, it's a bit redundant, we've talked before on here about prescription drugs, and the pharma biz, but I just wanted to share this little blurb from a pharmaceutical's website, since it caught my attention when it played on the tv just now....


"How does PRISTIQ work?

As an SNRI, PRISTIQ is thought to work by affecting the levels of two neurotransmitters believed to play a key role in depression, serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin and norepinephrine are chemicals that occur naturally in the brain. While no one knows for sure what causes depression, many experts believe that it may occur when neurotransmitters are out of balance."




Did you catch the bit in there that jumped out at me? "Pristiq is THOUGHT to work by...." Wow. We think this is what happens. How crazy is that. lol.

I know very little about depression except what my doc explained a few years back about the serotonin levels being low. However I'm 99.9% sure my episodes were caused by situations and not by my body chemicals. Mind you I doubt if I've suffered from the "black dog" depression, that some people describe. It sounds like there is "depression" where fear, worry and despair are not present.

 

[Goober]

I know very little about depression except what my doc explained a few years back about the serotonin levels being low. However I'm 99.9% sure my episodes were caused by situations and not by my body chemicals. Mind you I doubt if I've suffered from the "black dog" depression, that some people describe. It sounds like there is "depression" where fear, worry and despair are not present.

Many other drugs have been found to treat persons with depression - PTSD - mostly prescribed as off label - Surprisingly a number of drugs designated for a certain treatment have performed well for treating other diseases.

 

[Sаbine]

I know, it's a bit redundant, we've talked before on here about prescription drugs, and the pharma biz, but I just wanted to share this little blurb from a pharmaceutical's website, since it caught my attention when it played on the tv just now....


"How does PRISTIQ work?

As an SNRI, PRISTIQ is thought to work by affecting the levels of two neurotransmitters believed to play a key role in depression, serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin and norepinephrine are chemicals that occur naturally in the brain. While no one knows for sure what causes depression, many experts believe that it may occur when neurotransmitters are out of balance."


Did you catch the bit in there that jumped out at me? "Pristiq is THOUGHT to work by...." Wow. We think this is what happens. How crazy is that. lol.

All it says is that the drug works, but it is unclear how it works. There are several types of depression, and there are even more proposed models that explain possible mechanisms of depression. To date, there's no solid theory that can clarify and wrap up everything about depression and put it into one universal model. Hence the "Pristiq is thought to work by..". The researchers simply suggested that this particular drug's activity fits the neurotransmitters'-based aspect of depression. Whether or not it affects other systems as well is still unknown. Nothing unusual. And, of course, as any other drug out there, it has its share of side effects.
​

 

[petros]

The Mrs says if you've ever been on an SSRI and had a bad experience or had witdrawl stay away from SNRIs because they are just as nasty and are basically a re-release of now patent expired SSRIs modified by one or two molecules or simply a binder to renew patents and charge hig prices claiming research costs.

 

[Niflmir]

Sadly, most antidepressants "work" in that they show a strong enough correlation with reducing symptoms to convince agencies to allow them to be prescribed.

It is hard to gauge whether they are better than placebo, since a placebo is not psychoactive and the minute someone notices their perception change, they realize they did not get the sugar pill.

I wonder how effective most of these pills would be against a marijuana pill, or something similarly psychoactive but believed by no one to be a solution.

 

[Kreskin]

Sadly, most antidepressants "work" in that they show a strong enough correlation with reducing symptoms to convince agencies to allow them to be prescribed.

It is hard to gauge whether they are better than placebo, since a placebo is not psychoactive and the minute someone notices their perception change, they realize they did not get the sugar pill.

I wonder how effective most of these pills would be against a marijuana pill, or something similarly psychoactive but believed by no one to be a solution.

Not of it is any match to the rum I'm drinking.

 

[YukonJack]

For years I suffered from arthritis in my shoulders. I took all the cortozone shots I could. I had orthroscopic surgery. I lived on Dilaudid (morphine). All in Ontario.

Then, when I moved to Manitoba, I found family doctor who referred me to a rheamutologist. His prescription gradually made made me virtally pain-free and allowed me to enjoy my life again.

 

[VanIsle]

Not of it is any match to the rum I'm drinking.

I believe you!!!;-)

 

[Kreskin]

I believe you!!!;-)

Oops lol

 

[Niflmir]

Not of it is any match to the rum I'm drinking.

Well I'm sure my beer's in the running. Makes me happy.

 

[Kreskin]

Well I'm sure my beer's in the running. Makes me happy.

Wassuuuuup! Nice to see you around Niflmir. The two of us are presently the least depressed on the forum.

 

[Liberalman]

The drugs are based on a hit or miss method which means if you live long enough you might be cured

 

[eanassir]

I know, it's a bit redundant, we've talked before on here about prescription drugs, and the pharma biz, but I just wanted to share this little blurb from a pharmaceutical's website, since it caught my attention when it played on the tv just now....


"How does PRISTIQ work?

As an SNRI, PRISTIQ is thought to work by affecting the levels of two neurotransmitters believed to play a key role in depression, serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin and norepinephrine are chemicals that occur naturally in the brain. While no one knows for sure what causes depression, many experts believe that it may occur when neurotransmitters are out of balance."




Did you catch the bit in there that jumped out at me? "Pristiq is THOUGHT to work by...." Wow. We think this is what happens. How crazy is that. lol.

I think, as many others do, that the:
Depression X Euphoria

is because of mental thinking&emotions --> which causes the release of some neurological substances in the brain.

On the other hand: the release of such substances in the brain --> to the feeling of the Depression or Euphoria.

Many drugs act by causing the release or inhibition of such substances in the brain
--> the feeling of Depression or Euphoria depending on whether such substances released or inhibited.

So there is some form of a circle: the emotion causes the release (or inhibition) of such substances;
And the release of such substances --> emotional manifestations: depression:-( or euphoria :lol:.

 

[ansutherland]

I'm not really sure I understand what the bid deal is? Is it that they are not sure what causes it or that they "think" they know why the drug works? Either way, I don't know what the problem is with either of these.

 

[JLM]

We would be surprised at how many drugs out there that they don't really know what they will do.

That's the biggest worry, not to mention they do different things to different people. I successfully used one B.P. drug for about 15 years until the doc decided it would be prudent to double the dose, then all Hell broke loose. If there is any way at all of substituting a lifestyle or diet remedy, that is the way to go. Prescription drugs should only be used as a last resort. Granted, there are cases where that is necessary and even mandatory.