Angelo: Amazing, isn't it?

Tim, bless you for bringing this to people's attention! I'm sure I sound like a crusader whenever I hear about a friend or relative who has been prescribed these drugs because I am VERY much against them in all but the most dire cases (and only when they are prescribed by a psychiatrist).

I was put on Prozac, then Paxil then Serzone by an MD when I complained of feeling moody after the death of my mothers. I was seeing a social worker at the time for grief counseling, and she never suggested that I was "depressed," but the MD was sure the drugs would help. He assured me they were "perfectly safe."

Prozac made me crazy. I couldn't sleep for days and couldn't concentrate or do my job.

Paxil turned me into a narcoleptic, falling asleep at the wheel, standing up on the subway, at my desk, you name it.

Serzone's side-effects were less pronounced, but I completely lost my sex drive. Every time I complained about the drugs, the doctor insisted I stay on them saying that it was more important for me to be control the moods. At one point, he even compared the pills to blood pressure medicine--something I'd have to take my whole life if I wanted to be "even-keeled."

Just one problem...I wasn't depressed, I was grieving! So when I was done, I was popping pills for no reason. I did some research and discovered how the drugs were probably making me worse (I did feel progressively more depressed by the week, not least of all because I felt dead inside with no sex drive, no appetite, no real DRIVE of any kind). I read about how to take myself off the drugs and did (gradually), and I felt INSTANTLY better!

Just one problem, I've NEVER regained my full sex drive (not to be too personal). I've seen doctors since, and they say that I may have permanently altered my brain chemistry and that there might be nothing I can do to get back to my full "self." I feel like someone cut off my arm in a way, and I'm angry, but there's nothing I can do except warn others. The side effects ARE serious. They don't know how they will affect each person. They don't understand dosages yet, or long-term effects on men vs women, and kids shouldn't take them at all!

But that hasn' stopped doctors, even schools, from prescribing these potent pills for everything from a persistant bad mood to suicidal thoughts. Never do they prescribe exercise. Never do they insist on counseling. In my case, sadly, I was seeing a social worker who deferred to the "medically trained" doctor's opinion, so even though her "gut" told her this was extreme treatement for what was essentially garden variety grief and sadness, she didn' want to question his judgment.

My feeling is, unless you're thinking of killing yourself, try exercise. Try talk therapy. Try chocolate for chrissakes! But stay away from psychoactive drugs as if you're life depends upon it, because it just might!

Just based on my own experience...heart palpitations plus depression could be magnesium deficiency - especially if you live on coffee and don't eat your leafy greens. The chelated version is more cost-effective, and you should also be sure to get calcium (~1200mg calcium to ~400mg magnesium). I've seen an estimate that 50% of women are magnesium deficient, and magnesium is involved (as a cofactor) in prostaglandin metabolism (part of PMS). It's also cheaper than primrose oil. Consider that your other minerals as well as vitamins may also be deficient, and also that an excess of certain ones may be toxic. Do your homework.

Still too pooped to exercise? try a squirt of lime juice and 1/4-1/2 tsp lite salt (for the potassium) in a tall glass (or two) of water. If you need it, it will taste OK.