Antidepressants, Take 2

[G.R.]

Hi again, Dr. Nagler,

I was a bit confused by your reply. Are you equating the decision to begin taking a long-term psychotropic drug with deciding to do everyday life things like drink coffee, see a concert, or eat salty food? I was NOT implying we should avoid all things in life that could possibly increase the tinnitus temporarily; I was asking about making a decision to take a powerful drug that many people (on this forum and in many other places) say has PERMANENTLY worsened their tinnitus and/or added new sounds to it. By equating this decision with minor, everyday decisions like food choices, are you saying we should disregard the experiences of these posters?

Thanks,
G.R.

 

[Dr. Nagler]

By equating this decision with minor, everyday decisions like food choices, are you saying we should disregard the experiences of these posters?

I am saying that if you conduct your life in a manner such that you will not accept "even a tiny risk of worsening the tinnitus permanently" (which is how you phrased your original question), then you might as well put yourself in a permanent cocoon - because there are countless things encountered every day that present that potential. For instance, are you never going to enter a building with a fire alarm? Numerous people have posted about their permanent tinnitus resulting from a fire alarm.

More to the point of your question, medical decisions are personal decisions. If you will not accept "even a tiny risk," then if even one person posted about having developed permanent tinnitus as the result of taking an antidepressant, I guess I would never ever under any circumstances take an antidepressant!

Me? I think taking antidepressants when indicated is a totally acceptable risk. But the decision is yours, not mine!

stephen nagler