One of the most famous direct-to-consumer television adverts for a drug begins with a vibrant woman dancing late into the night. A background voice says, “Your doctor probably never sees you when you feel like this.” The advert cuts to a shrunken and glum figure, and the voiceover now says, “This is who your doctor usually sees.” Cutting again to the woman, in active shopping mode, clutching bags with the latest brand names, we hear: “That's why so many people with bipolar disorder are being treated for depression and not getting any better—because depression is only half the story.” We see the woman again depressed, looking at bills that have arrived in the post before switching to seeing her again energetically painting her apartment. “That fast- talking, energetic, quick tempered, overdoing it, up-all-night you,” says the voiceover, “probably never shows up at the doctor's office, right?”
Indeed, the antidepressant Wellbutrin (bupropion) is derived from the amphetamine precursor cathinone, which is itself originally derived from the African plant, khat.
Yet when people wrongly prescribed this strong psychostimulant as antidepressant become hypersexual, develop insomnia, and other hypomanic symptoms, their doctor blames the behavior disorder bipolar disorder.
What is usually not told to bipolar disorder patients is that Wellbutrin is usually prescribed off-label to counteract sexual dysfunction by antidepressants.
That is one of the side effects of amphetamines, to which Wellbutrin belongs.
And for people who may have had a substance abuse disorder, Wellbutrin is usually not prescribed, unless of course, they have neglected to tell their psychiatrist.
For bupropion is known to increase agitation, anxiety, hostility, nervousness, and other symptoms of depression.
Furthermore, it is unknown if depression is actually harmful to a patient, since it is the cyclothymic symptoms which indicate an underlying emotional disturbance which can result in suicidal ideation, sometimes with paranoia and possibly psychotic symptoms.
It is during these times that a person may commit suicide, not when they are so depessed that they can't even get out of bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment