Don't Believe it!!!

I''ve heard "Black People" still find it extremely taboo to fall prey to anit-depressants and all their adverse affects. Well hallelujah for that!!! As Black people we've been oppressed, suppressed and all of it leads to depression. Momentary failures would lead someone to not feel their optimum self.  We've encountered everything under the sun and so why would this be a time to start popping pills that may lead to
sleep deprivation,constipation, fatigue, decreased appetite, weight loss, irritability, abnormal dreams, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, decreased sex drive, dizziness, diarrhea, increased sweating,impotence (erectile dysfunction), suicidal thoughts or behavior, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, hostility or aggressiveness, engaging in unusual or dangerous activities, restlessness or inability to sit still, extreme elation or feeling of happiness that may switch back and forth with a depressed or sad mood, other unusual changes in behavior, confusion or mental changes, a rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, blood pressure changes, an irregular heart rhythm, overactive reflexes, fever, sweating or shivering, shakiness, seizures, coma, feelings of a rapidly or forcefully d=beating heart (known as heart palpitations), a high fever, easy bruising or bleeding, Low sodium levels in the blood (hyponatremia), signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
unexplained rash- hives - itching - unexplained swelling - wheezing - difficulty breathing or swallowing -
oh but there's more- yawning, hot flashes, delayed ejaculation, lack or orgasm, nose bleeding, increased LDL cholesterol....

So now with seeing all the side effects to this drug, which I might add most drugs of this nature will have you more tripped out than you were before you started them. You can only imagine what a nasty tasteI had in my mouth as I visited one of the most popular sites geared toward people of color when I saw an advertisement for this drug.  Who the hell are they kidding? Do not be fooled, tricked or hoodwinked. And yes I might get flack for this later with haters blogging and such but you'll know it's because I aim to give the truth always. I love my people and never want to see any of you become the victim of a vicious game where when playing with fire all one can do is burn.

Terms like Bipolar, ADD, ADHD all exist for one reason only, and thats to introduce to a drug to a new patient and have them hooked for life.
I found this bit of info I think is vital from Helpguide.org

Is depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain?

You’ve seen it in television ads, read it in newspaper articles, maybe even heard it from your doctor: depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that medication can correct. According to the chemical imbalance theory, low levels of the brain chemical serotonin lead to depression and depression medication works by bringing serotonin levels back to normal. However, the truth is that researchers know very little about how antidepressants work. There is no test that can measure the amount of serotonin in the living brain – no way to even know what a low or normal level of serotonin is, let alone show that depression medication fixes these levels.

While antidepressant drugs such as Prozac increase serotonin levels in the brain, this doesn’t mean that depression is caused by a serotonin shortage. After all, aspirin may cure a headache, but it doesn’t mean that headaches are caused by an aspirin deficiency. Furthermore, many studies contradict the chemical imbalance theory of depression. Experiments have shown that lowering people’s serotonin levels doesn’t always lower mood, nor does it worsen symptoms in people who are already depressed. And while antidepressants raise serotonin levels within hours, it takes weeks before medication kicks in to relieve depression. If depression were due to low serotonin, there wouldn’t be an antidepressant medication lag.

And once you've started....

Antidepressant withdrawal

Once you’ve started taking antidepressants, stopping can be tough; many people have withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult to get off of the medication.

If you decide to stop taking antidepressants, it’s essential to taper off slowly. If you stop abruptly, you may experience a number of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as crying spells, extreme restlessness, dizziness, fatigue, and aches and pains. These withdrawal symptoms are known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome is especially common when you stop taking Paxil or Zoloft. However, all medications for depression can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms

• Anxiety, agitation
• Depression, mood swings
• Flu-like symptoms
• Irritability and aggression
• Insomnia, nightmares
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness, loss of coordination
• Stomach cramping and pain
• Electric shock sensations
• Tremor, muscle spasms

Depression and anxiety are also common symptoms when withdrawing from antidepressants. When depression is a withdrawal symptom, it’s often worse than the original depression that led to drug treatment in the first place. Unfortunately, many people mistake this withdrawal symptom for a return of their depressive illness and resume medication, creating a vicious circle.

In order to avoid antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, never stop your medication “cold turkey.” Instead, gradually taper your dose, allowing for at least 1-2 weeks between each dosage reduction. This tapering process may take up to several months, and should be monitored under a doctor's supervision.

And lastly...

Antidepressants and suicide risk

There is a danger that, in some people, antidepressant treatment will cause an increase, rather than a decrease, in depression. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that all depression medications include a warning label about the increased risk of suicide in children and young adults. The suicide risk is particularly great during the first month to two months of treatment.

Anyone taking antidepressants should be closely watched for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Monitoring is especially important if this is the person’s first time on depression medication or if the dose has recently been changed. Signs that medication is making things worse include anxiety, insomnia, hostility, and extreme agitation—particularly if the symptoms appear suddenly or rapidly deteriorate. If you spot the warning signs in yourself or a loved one, contact your doctor or therapist immediately.