@sears

While there are possible negative side effects of antidepressants, they only affect a limited number of people. I've been taking Wellbutrin for more than 14 years , and though it started to lose its effectiveness a few years ago and my psychiatrist added Mirtazapine, I've never felt addicted. Certainly, my body and brain need medication, but that doesn't mean I'm addicted or I've built up tolerance. Even if I AM addicted, if it's achieving the desired effect, being labeled is irrelevant. It just means that I'll probably take a particular medication for the rest of my life in order to maintain mental stability or keep my chronic pain at a bearable level. Though the meds I take might be dangerous for some people, they haven't been for me.

If antidepressants rarely work, I'm just glad that I don't fall into that group. As far as benzodiazepines go, they have potential risks that are at least as dangerous as antidepressants. I've been taking clonazepam for nearly 15 years at 1mg daily with the option of taking a second if needed. I can't take Ativan because it pushes my heart rate up to 180bpm, which is very uncomfortable. I don't know if it's lessening my anxiety, but my wife wants me to keep taking it because it has stopped my acting out my dreams - kicking, punching, bicycle riding, etc. She sleeps better because of that.

When I was doing the 6 week trial of antidepressants, I experienced a few negative side effects from a few of them, but none of them affected my depression, until I found Wellbutrin. Only one made me suicidal at 5 weeks for one week, exactly as the warnings said. That's the only thing that could have been labeled as dangerous. To say that ALL antidepressants are dangerous isn't true. And Wellbutrin is a good antidepressant for me.

Withdrawal can be very rough, especially from benzodiazepines, which is why tapering very, very slowly is so important. And withdrawal is another thing that can be unique to every person.

Doing the 6 week trial in search of an effective antidepressant could carry more risk for seniors than for younger people, something that can be said about most medications. It's something that can be frustrating because it means that doctors are hesitant about prescribing medications that we seniors have a legitimate need for to control pain, depression, and a long list of other ailments.

This is my own personal experience, not the protocols of Mayo. (My disclaimer)

Jim