Prescription Medication
Have you ever taken antidepressants controlled by your doctor? If you do will there be a need to take them for life? Are you already taking antidepressants? Will you need to take them for many years to come in order to be free from high levels of anxiety or depression, and to continue living as normal a life as possible?
The Unknowns: Long-Term Antidepressant Use and Future Generations
I’m thinking about controlled drugs a doctor prescribes for depression, anxiety, etc. People often miss the fact that even doctor-prescribed drugs can have a horrendous impact on people’s lives because of their side effects.
While doctor-prescribed drugs for depression, and anxiety, and other types can be effective, it’s essential to acknowledge that they can also have devastating side effects on people’s lives. I’m not talking about modern controlled medication, (maybe I should be) but rather the supposed “wonder medications” of the 1960’s.
The use of these drugs has had a lasting impact on many individuals.
For example, years ago I was mates with a young man- we were both in our late teens he was prescribed Valium to cope with his personal relationship problems. We bumped into each other Years later, despite being happily re-married, he still struggled with addiction.
Please be aware I am not trained in medicine I am an individual with concerns. I have over my life taken medication for many ailments as I am sure other people have, sadly I have always suffered side-effects such as constipation sickness dizziness general feeling of being unwell while these generally cleared after a couple of weeks (for me). I believe the body gets used to the medicine by compensating for the side-effects.
A Cause For Concern
His personal story highlights for me the potential for hereditary addiction from long term prescription drugs. By sharing his experience, I hope to raise awareness about the importance of responsible drug prescription and the need for ongoing support and care for individuals struggling with addiction from long term drug, use of any-kind.
The medication his doctor prescribed all those years ago was administered to him as a repeat prescription with no information about side effects- The present day with the help of his doctor he had tried many times over the years to stop taking the medication it left him with more side effects than it had fist given him.
While he had quickly went downhill he was advised to take another medicine that hopefully would counter-balance the effects of the old medication allowing him to continue with his life.
However, I was shocked when my friend revealed that he worries about his children’s behavior patterns, which may be linked to his own dependency on prescription drugs for many years. He fears that he may have unknowingly passed down a weakness to his children, potentially causing problems in their future lives.
Are Prescription Drugs Any Different?
His concerns are valid, as prescription drugs can cause long-term damage to the mind and body. It’s terrifying to think about the potential consequences for his children. I hope his concerns are unfounded. If there’re not, his story could impact on many families here in the United Kingdom (UK) and many families across other countries.
I now wonder if there have been any studies or surveys conducted on patients who were prescribed medication in the late 60’s through 90’s and still rely on it today. If such a survey was possible, I think it would yield surprising and alarming results (Shahd 2024).
In post image by Lisa Marie Art