Originally Posted by CrazyFlamingos

I think that probably what needs to be done is not to ban them but for doctor's to be better educated about their use and possible side effects.

Your primary physician should not be giving out prescriptions for psychotropics unless he has also had specialized training in psychiatry. Too many times they just give out a prescription for depression without any sort of screening beyond a short conversation with the patient.

And then they don't monitor the patient for possible problems. "Call me if you have any problems" just doesn't cut it when dealing with individuals with psychological issues.

I have a close friend who was given Zoloft for mild depression. About a week later I ended up having to take a knife away from her because she was threatening to kill herself. She had never been suicidal before despite years of being clinically depressed but unmedicated.

I had heard about the possibility of just this effect with Zoloft and I convinced her to quit taking them and call her doctor for an immediate appointment.

Did he take the hint and send her to a specialist?

No, he just switched her to Wellbutrin.

It happens that the Wellbutrin works for her and she is a happier, more emotionally balanced person so long as she takes them. But her doctor only sees her once a year. Actually he doesn't usually see her at all, the nurse practitioner does.

From what I have read and heard, her situation is all too common.

I believe that the prescription of these drugs should not be in the hands of physicians who are practising amateur psychiatry.