This is my perception of part of what is contributing to mental issues today. I am not a doctor, just expressing what I have researched and observed.
Doctors are prescribing SNRI (examples: Pristique, Cymbalta, Effexor), SSRI (examples: Lexapro, Paxil), and NDRI (Wellbutrin) medications with no understanding of how these medications are going to affect the patient. Every one of these medications has start-up and cessation side effects that make many patients have suicidal and/or aggressive ideations. In addition many go through “waves” and “windows” of mental and physical periods that are so bad they even have a name: Protracted Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). A quick internet search will report these symptoms last for weeks, but in reality they can last for years, totally debilitating the individual both physically and mentally.
There is DNA testing available that are able to predict which antidepressants are absorbed as intended for any given individual (example: GeneSight). The tests are not perfect, but they are better than shooting in the dark – no pun intended. Regardless, antidepressant DNA testing is rarely used to assist in selecting which drug(s) might be beneficial for the patient. Instead the patient is sent on a roller coaster of different ones to see how they might work out. Sometimes they get lucky, sometimes they don’t – here try one of these …
Absorbing as intended is a more complicated concept than it might look on the surface. Let’s use water soluble Vitamin B as an example. If you give your body more Vitamin B than it needs, it just flushes the excess out and all is well. Antidepressants are more like your fat soluble vitamins – give your body too much fat soluble vitamins and they become toxic. Still not such a big deal as side-effects (fat soluble vitamins) are just muscle weakness, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and bleeding. Side effects are a little more serious with antidepressants.
So, lets say you are prescribed 30mg/day of Cymbalta, but your body does not utilize “as intended”. Your body builds up a residual available supply of Cymbalta that is eventually too much for you to handle. This could take months or years to occur. You start having panic or anxiety attacks. The Doctor ups your script to 60mg a day. You see where this is going. I personally think it is a crime for a doctor to prescribe antidepressants without a DNA test to provide guidance. But, what do I know?