Depressed? It is a commonly overused and underestimated word. Most people don't fully understand the severity of depression. It isn't just being sad for a few days in a row, then suddenly you're feeling better again.
Depression isn't something that people can easily snap out of in just a blink of an eye. It's an actual medical condition that needs to be treated before it worsens. The brain is not only in an imbalance, but going untreated will make life utterly miserable and distraught as a whole.
"Abilify (aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain." It has been marketed to the public as one of the number one ways to treat depression. The commercials seem so convincing. However, what they failed to mention was that this medicine also treats for other severe conditions.
This product is used to treat the "symptoms of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression)." These are serious conditions that the average, everyday person does not have nor do they actually understand how serious these psychological cases actually are. Abilify is also used together with other medications to treat major depressive disorder in adults, as well as irritability and symptoms of aggression, mood swings, temper tantrums, and self-injury related to autistic disorder in children who are at least 6 years old.
(Read more: http://www.drugs.com/abilify.html#ixzz0lw1qlqsD)
The way this company goes by advertising to consumers is that this is a simple solution to a very common, but dangerous disorder. However, there are so many side effects and unknown circumstances that aren't addressed or elaborated in their minute-long commercials. For example, it may be harmful to unborn babies... but they don't actually know what exactly might happen to your baby? That's reassuring. All it says is to tell your doctor first. So, you're back at square one again if you can't take this drug for that reason or any other reason in their ginormous list of possible side effects.
This is why consumers need to do research on their own. Doctors are also paid by pharmaceutical companies, so people have to realize that they can of course take their doctor's advice... but with a grain of salt.
- Paulina
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People need to realize that with certain drugs like Abilify that with the benefits and the treatment, comes the symptoms and the consequences. Until I read your blog about this product, I was absolutely clueless that it can be harmful to unborn babies. Also, I agree with the statement that you can take your doctor's advice, but with a grain of salt. Many people don't realize that doctors are paid by pharmaceutical companies to sell their products. It will make me a little more cautious next time I go to the doctors and they want to prescribe me a certain medication.
ReplyDeleteI as well was unaware of the other possible side effects of Abilify besides helping with depression. But as for the possible harm to unborn babies, isn't that the case with more medicines besides Abilify? People want to hear the positive side effects (healing their sickness), rather than the down sides of the medication they need to take without knowing how it will effect their bodies in the long run.
ReplyDelete-Keri H.
Do you think that the chemicals and the side affects of most of these anti-deppressants are potentially more dangerous then not taking the medicine? I think that for many of them, right on the bottle it says they may increase feelings of depression or anxiety. Do you think this makes some anti-deppressants more harmful then good?
ReplyDeleteKevin F.
There are definitely other types of medicine that have the similar side effects to Abilify. For example, Accutane is commonly used to treat severe cases of acne. One side affect is that it could cause birth defects... but only if a woman becomes pregnant during the medication. But just because this side affect is common in other drugs doesn't reduce its severity or importance. Of course people want to hear the positive side affects, but that doesn't mean that the negative ones should be completely disregarded. People have to face the facts, good and bad.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Kevin's questions... the first question is something that depends case by case. If the patient is in severe depression, then perhaps the risk is worth it... but that choice is up to the patient and his/her doctor. I know in many cases anti-deppressants inspire self-medication. People take the medication and feel the good effects, but begin to think that they don't need the medication anymore because they don't feel depressed... so they stop taking it. Then with out the medication, they become depressed again and begin to take the medicine again. It's a constant roller-coaster of emotions and scary. But, I'm not an expert and these decisions are best made with a doctor.
-Maryam G
Alycia Mendell - We should all be a little skeptical and always seek a second opinion. We're all human and even doctors tend to be a little biased.
ReplyDeleteMaryam's addressed the other two comments and quesitons, but I'd like to add that people are all different with varying body types. It's hard to say which pill will work better for a particular person. It's all really just trial and error if you think about it.
- Paulina N.