> there are concerns about the drug’s withdrawal effects after three of the study’s participants committed suicide within 20 days of its end
It doesn't say how many people committed suicide from the control group, but regardless, 3 suicides sounds pretty bad for an anti-depressant. Who would approve a drug like this?
The cynic in me says an addictive drug with severe withdrawal effects is exactly what pharma companies want...
and then having to stop the thing that works and return to a crappy mind state. Only it is worse because I now have withdrawal symptoms on top of my severe depression, which already put me at risk for suicide.
In my opinion, the issue isn't that there is dependency nor that there is withdrawal effects. After all, these are things that happen and despite the risks, might still be the best available choice for relief. The bigger issue is that we didn't do enough to help folks during this time. We should have provided adequate medical care to keep folks safe. Perhaps we should wean folks off in a better manner and/or provided better psychiatric care to this vulnerable group of folks after trials ended.
I was aware that if the blackness returned and going back onto prozac failed to work (which can happen) then my lifespan would be a few months at the most.
People without really bad depression can't understand how bad it can be. Death really is better.
It naturally follows that there is a risk factor with starting on antidepressants — because antidepressants might work for you in a way that helps you with your motivation issues before they do anything about your suicidal thoughts, you are at a heightened suicide risk immediately after starting on antidepressants.
It could very well be the case that this is the exact opposite effect — on discontinuation, you could have the suicidal ideation symptoms come back before demotivation does.
First of all, NOTHING is well understood in psychiatry. We are talking about drugs that get approved on a sliver of evidence (if any) on trails being run by some of the most corrupt organizations on the planet. No one understands how or why any anti-depressant works. And saying any of these drugs creates less "demotivation" isn't documented at all.
That being said, we can clearly say anti-depressants (specifically SSRIs) can and do cause suicidal ideation. Yes, suicidal ideation is symptom of depression, but when you give these drugs for non-depression cause such as OCD it still causes suicidal thinking. There is a reason for black box warning on many anti-depressants (and its not because of changes in demotivation).