The Downfalls of Serotonin & SSRIs - Treating Depression Wrong? 

As a 55 year old woman I can state categorically that 99% (and I’m being generous) of MDs immediately go to “here’s a prescription for antidepressants and birth control pills” for literally every complaint/question I’ve been in their office for. It’s a broken system.

I totally agree with the overuse of SSRI’s. I am a NICU nurse who has been living with serotonin toxicity for about 4 years. These drugs are over used and not understood. 24 visits to the ER and a stroke and finally on the 28 th ER visit I was blessed to have a doctor who realized what these crazy symptoms were. This is a topic that needs to be at all medical conventions.

Give us something that kills STRESS. In my experience, constant stress is what brings me down, and the absence of it gives me back my will to do stuff.

I was "causually" prescribed an SSRI while in college, after telling my primary care doctor that I was burned out and having sleep issues. Big mistake. It triggered new phobias, worse insomnia and anxiety. I've had hypervigilance issues ever since.

Hi, I was an ICU clinical nurse specialist and then educator for many years in London. So I understand what your saying about medication and anaesthesia. It’s so refreshing to hear your views on all of the above. Excellent - thank you - so many people will benefit from your talks on you tube.

Adding medications on top of medications sounds like breaking something that's broken.

I was put on Elavil years ago for migraines. I don’t think it’s an SSRI (not sure the difference exactly) but I know it increases serotonin levels and I also know that as someone who had never suffered genuine depression before (or since), I’ve never lost the will to live more than I did in the time I was taking that medication. It was to the point where I didn’t care about anything at all and thank God for my friends who recognized the signs and helped me realize it was the medicine. I will never ever take anything like that again.

Dr. Kaveh, my best friend was rushed to the ED a little over a month ago and was suffering from Serotonin Syndrome (SS). If it weren’t for her husband asking the doctors if this might be SS, she would be dead. The doctor in the ED was trying to fix the individual symptoms rather than treating all the symptoms as a whole. We both feel like SS is not discussed enough in the medical field or the pharmaceutical field. There needs to be more education regarding SS on all levels; patients, medical and pharmaceutical. She is home now, but is still experiencing many symptoms of SS and as a result is still struggling. Please do a video on Serotonin Syndrome to educate patients so others will not suffer because of the lack of knowledge on the seriousness of this condition. Thank you.

I am a ptsd sufferer. At one point it was quite difficult for me to leave my home Therapy has helped, but it was an ssri tat allowed me to actually live. I have no doubt it affects my health in some negative ways, but not nearly as negative as the anxiety and depression of ptsd. I never want to go back to tdark days days.

Prozac stopped my anxiety incredibly well. However my dear friend is dying and I feel nothing. This is alarming. Stopped taking it cold Turkey. Day 5, wobbly but would rather feel my emotions good or bad.

I took SSRIs (Sertraline) for 3.5 years. I've suffered with general anxiety for my whole life so initially after the SSRI started working I felt great; I was sleeping better, I felt less socially anxious but slowly the anxiety would come back and I'd ask the doctor to up the dosage. Recently the pharmacy price jumped up to $30 for a month's supply and I couldn't afford it anymore and I had to do the risky cold turkey approach. I wouldn't recommend it, the withdrawals are horrible. Nausea, vertigo, mood swings, horrible panic attacks. But now about 2 months later I feel back to my pre SSRI self. The anxiety is still there but it is what it is. Thanks for this Livestream; it was really informative on SSRIs and how we need to look at the whole picture of health instead of just the symptoms!

SSRIs saved my life. After living with anxiety and post partum depression for 2 years and not sleeping more than 2 hours a night, I was a mess and had convinced myself my family would be better off without me. My doctor prescribed me an SSRI and it took about 3 months for it to really start to work but after about 9 months I finally started sleeping 7 hours regularly every night and I wasn’t a jittery mess. I did have some side effects that went away after a few weeks and I’ve been great ever since. I’m not on a high dose and am thinking of trying to go off them to see if I still need them after using them for 10 years. I do think our brain chemistry can get/be screwed up and these and other meds can be helpful, but like all other types of meds they don’t work for everyone, unfortunately. We still know so little of how are bodies work, but I thank god I live in an era where there can be real help for all these conditions.

2018-2019: I lost a lot of weight, weighted like in my early adulthood again, and started to feel better and more confident. Then in 2020, I was prescribed SSRI due to depression and anxiety issues, and then began the downfall with rapid weight gain. My entire dieting, new motivation and workout results years before went straight to the toilet.

I am 71 and this is what I have learned. 1. Psychiatrists are not practicing science. 2. If you fell better on antidepressants you have 6 months to a year to get to the cause of the depression, because if you don't, they will add a second pill. And if you feel better on that for a while, it won't be long until that isn't working and they will add a third pill. One of these pills will be almost free. One of them will carry the risk of permanent severe side effects. One of them will cost $10 a pill. 3. If you have experienced ONE -mTBI (mild brain injury or concussion) your chance of developing depression/anxiety goes up by up to 30%. I saw psychiatrists for years and not once was I asked if I had a history of concussion. (see what I mean, psychiatrist don't even address this known fact.) Psychiatry is not your friend. Culture is not your friend. Downsize. Some women just don't have the energy to work full-time and raise a family. Stay home and raise your children and make oatmeal for breakfast for a few cents a serving vs. McDonalds. Simplify. Organize, if you don't know who you are, find out. Pray. Start walking every day. Every day you are granted $100 worth of life energy. Go into debt, it is taken out on your physical body. Your attention is your most valuable possession. What you give your attention to determines the future. So pay attention to what you are spending this $100 on. If you start the day with distress, now you have $50 to run your life with. It is all about your energy, so forgive it all and move forward.

It’s encouraging that there are doctors whom believe that we have authority over our own body and mind. I was diagnosed with depression 3 years ago and the doctor prescribed adderall. It was awful, my mind was going a hundred miles an hour and my body seemed to be paralyzed. I stopped taking the drug and when I told the doctor he was very upset. Thank you for helping me realize that I done the right thing. By the way I’m depression free by eating the proper diet.

I so love that you reaffirm in every video that each of us have so much more power over both our health and our outcomes when undergoing surgeries with anesthesia than most of us realize. I am so grateful for the education that you are providing and the gifts you are sharing with all of us that we already have the means to unlock! God Bless, and Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year!

I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 in my mid thirties. Prior to that I had long recognized my depressive symptoms but not my hypomanic ones. So I was constantly needing treatment for depression (it turned out there's a lot more going on too). I was prescribed a lot of SSRIs and SNRIs over the years and never stuck with them because they made me feel really wired, like I was on speed, even on small starter doses. In hindsight I realize that every one of those medications I tried had triggered a hypomanic episode (except for one, Mirtazapine, which makes me feel drowsy and need a lot of sleep). I've also since been diagnosed with ADHD and what I find interesting is that while I'm taking actual amphetamine for that, it doesn't trigger me like those SSRI and SNRIs did. My point is SSRIs and SNRIs can have some very weird and unexpected side effects when you have certain other conditions, and can make them much worse. They (Psychiatrists/Neurologists) really don't know what they're doing poking around in people's brains with these chemicals. It all seems very experimental, even after decades of being prescribed to patients.

I have fibromyalgia. Years ago, I was put on paxil cr for my insomnia and pain. It didn't help. I took it for 3 yrs.and decided I wasn't gonna waste my time or money on this medicine. I was weaned off with the help of another Dr. It took me 18 months to get back to feeling somewhat normal. I was dizzy, had brain zaps, arm zaps and and tremors. I was put on klonopin for the tremors. Another monster I want to get off my back, but I hear that's not gonna be easy. Lucky me! Thanks for all your wonderful videos. I wish there were more doctors like you. You seem very passionate about your patients and what you do.

SSRIs and SNRIs combined can drag me out of near-suicidal despair, to mere ongoing anguish. So, Yay!?

I probably wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for antidepressants. I've had severe depression with suicidal tendencies from an early age (about 6 years old). I could never fight it, as though a dark cloud hung over my head, causing a very negative outlook on life. I had multiple serious attempts at suicide over time. When I was in my 40's, I was put on antidepressants, and after a month, felt such gratitude for finally feeling NORMAL. The person hidden inside of massive depression came out of hiding, and I felt like I was finally able to be myself. My genuine self, unaffected by the dark cloud. I am a completely different person now, with hope and a positive outlook on life. I know for certain that I suffered from some form of chemical imbalance and can tell the difference between the chermical depression and any natural depression that occurs from difficult periods of life, such as the loss of a loved one, or painful trauma. And yes, I do experience real emotions, tears, sadness, and depressed thoughts during those times. I have also never had any side effects from the medications. I was on celexa 20 mg for about 15 years, then increased to 40 mg. About 2 years ago, I was switched to venlafaxine and wellbutron. Again, very effective, and no side effects. Although antidepressants may be overly prescribed to the general public, there are those like myself with true severe depression that never goes away without treatment. I believe in counseling therapy as well, which is helpful during traumatic periods. I'm 69 years old and my one and only regret is that I was not given antidepressants many years sooner, which could have saved me from so much misery and many suicidal attempts.

One way to treat the out of control depression in the US should start with affordable housing, fair pay and worker protections & a real work/life balance like Europe has, social safety nets, universal healthcare, free education paid by our taxes etc. It’s cheaper for most people in the US to pop some generic anti-depressant when you constantly work and make just enough to survive

Happy new year man, I learned so much about SSRI’s that was awesome and amazing, I never lied to my anesthesiologist about my health! I really enjoy donating to the anesthesiologist Foundation, since it was hard for me to go to college to be a anesthesiologist because of my cerebral palsy! You rock man

My opinion (as a depressed person) is that taking anything chronically to treat a mental condition is no different than addiction because instead of treating the problem, you are treating the symptom. It seems like doctors don't first ask the patient whether the depression is situational or inherent. If it's situational, then anti-depressants should never be given because that means there is nothing wrong with the patients brain and instead they need therapy to get through the situation.

I watched a TED Talk years ago from a doctor who was concerned about so many teenagers being on SSRIs, due to the sexual side-effects. Namely, the lack of libido, and how that would affect romantic relationships on a large scale. As the years have gone on, I've seen so many young people come out as asexual/aromantic, and I wonder if SSRIs have had any effect on that. Please know, if you're asexual/aromantic, you're asexual/aromantic. That doesn't have to be justified in any way, shape or form. It's finally a time in history where people can openly talk about their sexuality, and for the majority of asexual/aromantics, they have no experience with psych meds. But for me personally, I identify as asexual/aromantic now, but there was a time when I was hetero, before SSRIs. I've been on them so long now though (25 yrs), that being asexual is just...me. So as someone who did have a before & after, I wonder if you start out on SSRIs young, would you know how you identified sexually before you started SSRIs versus after? Would it be as simple as "No, I never had a crush on anyone growing up or felt sexual feelings", so there was no after, or would it be confusing that you did feel some of those things, but since you stopped experiencing them, your identity grew around that? What happens to those that come off SSRIs and begin to feel sexual or romantic feelings - that seems like it would be really upending? I feel like this is also something that needs to be talked about, in ways that don't invalidate anyone's experiences or identities.

Helpful hint I used to wean myself from ssri: break or divide the pill, start using a nail file and each day for a few days, do the same number of swipes. Following week, add some more swipes. You get the picture. Very grateful for Simple advice I learned from a fellow commenter. Not medical advice, just what worked for me. You could talk to your Dr, but they wouldn’t recommend becoming untethered from the system. Just my knowledge guided by experience

What you are saying is not borne out by my clinical experience as a psychiatrist. Most people respond well to antidepressants. I would say 70% of my patients have a good response. And it definitely does not take months to see an effect. There is usually a improvement within the first week or 2. Some people take a bit longer. I would not continue prescribing a medication for months without seeing an effect. Psychiatrists do know that the serotonin hypothesis is oversimplified and that we don’t really know how SSRI’s work. That doesn’t alter the fact they work….without us fully understanding why. We certainly don’t regard our patients as bags of chemicals and reduce them to a diagnosis. I don’t know if that how they average American psychiatrist thinks. I don’t live there. Nor do we think that popping a pill is the answer to all of life’s problems. Why do you assume that the average psychiatrist has such a coarse approach to patients? I find it disappointing, because I enjoy your videos. I agree with you about the side effects. Sexual side effects are a problem with SSRI’s and SNRI’s. When the alternative is feeling suicidally depressed and not being able to function and enjoy life, people often choose an SSRI. I discuss the different medications with patients and make a plan with them in a collaborative way. When other alternatives aren’t effective people will sometimes choose not being depressed and not coping with life over libido and orgasms. Not everyone can afford the cost of ketamine treatment or psychotherapy. And there are a lot of people who would rather take medication than have psychotherapy. That is a valid choice which should be respected. I had to learn this because I have always advocated for healing emotional wounds. Finally, sometimes no amount of therapy will be enough to permanently abolish depression and anxiety. I take antidepressants myself. I spent many years doing therapy and trying non pharmacological treatments. I did lots of personal growth courses and tried different kinds of therapy. One day it struck me that the patient I was seeing was well after a month on medication, while I was struggling to get through the consultation because of my own depression! I have found out over the years what works best for me, with negligible side effects. I still see a clinical psychologist for myself and one to help with parenting my autistic child. Without the medication I would not be able to work enough to support us or have the emotional resources necessary for solo parenting my child.

How refreshing to listen to a Dr who’s main focus is on treating each patient individually, as a human being, who’s needs differ and that each individuals requirements for well-being differ hugely. As a nurse of over 20 years, thank you, I wish more Drs had similar concerns. As a human being who has suffered from many major depressive episodes, (treatment resistant but still on SSRIs 😮) , thank you for your open mindedness, your compassion and for your insight and thoughts on this topic. I totally hear what you are saying. Continue being you, we need more medical professionals out there like you. Bless x

I had bad results with SSRIs, including addictive/impulsive behavior and seizurelike activity. Dopamine boosting medications have been the only help for me, and they've helped immensely. Cabergoline especially.

Thank you for constructive criticism. I agree as a 42 year old male medicated since 16. I agree fully with your insights. Thank you!! So much more to learn.❤

Keep the important info coming, please. This particular video confirmed what I've been I've been considering and praying about. You are so helpful. Thank you.

Wow! People need to tell the anesthesiologist everything! They are our world in there and our lives are in their hands. 🫶🏼

All I know is I've been on SSRIs... It made me feel like a happy zombie. Like I could see someone I loved be shot in front of me and there'd be no feelings of sadness, hate, urgency, just nothing... just ok this is what we do. Passion was gone, hate was gone, no love no nothing.... Just a zombie that was happy. I struggle woth depression everyday. Takes me every ounce of my being to not end it, to find reasons life still has a point.... But ill never go back on that shit. Numbing the pain doesn't heal the pain. You can't walk on a broken leg, even if they inject nerve killers so you don't feel it, legs still broken, even if you don't feel the pain

The thing about mental health issues is that they are so complex and nuanced, can be caused by numerous environmental factors. I dont know what it is about Western countries and this is me being non- scientific but merely observation and reading of studies, there is such a big % of population being depressed and anxious. I am from Viet Nam and ai never really have depression there, once I move to America, I started having terrible anxiety and then depression in my second year living here. Humans need community and companions and individualistic society robs us a lot of that core human experience...

I wish I lived near your practice. My quality of life is just so sorry. No matter how good things get my brain is still sick. My loved ones all just think depression is a “me” thing and a laziness thing and can be changed by “thinking positively”. Every therapist and professional wants to funnel SSRIs into me. I feel so trapped and misunderstood. I eat well, take vitamins, exercise, but none of it is enough to combat how traumatized and tired my poor brain is. I wish I could just tell it to act right. I wish my family could understand me.

I don't understand WHY anyone would want to have a psychedelic experience? Will someone please help me out with that? It sounds terrifying. Is it supposed to help with depression? I'm so lost.

I developed Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction at 20 years old, 3 years later off the medication I only took for 22 days, I still have symptoms such as genital numbness/reduced sensation, anorgasmia, difficulty climaxing/delayed ejeculation which all contribute to me low libido, mentally I crave intimacy… Very hard for me to do that my symptoms are very prominent during the act and make me feel like it’s a chore before lexapro this was not prevalent in my life prior to medication anda gust of wind was enough to get me in the mood, this condition is becoming more known as more people are contracting it, it’s an iatrogenic condition and should be addressed like any naturally occurring condition.

One of the best books I read years ago was ... relief without drugs by ainsley mears. He was one of the first doctors to advocate meditation instead of medication.

SSRIs were terrible for me. SSNRIs kept me alive long enough for my autism and ADHD to be diagnosed -- because norepinephrine reuptake inhibition IS effective for treating my ADHD, and I was less anxious and depressed when I was able to do the things. Serotonin leaves me feeling okay with not doing things that aren't urgent, so it actually makes things worse. Within 3 months of diagnosing my neurodivergence and stepping from the SSNRIs to atomoxetine, I no longer met diagnostic criteria for GAD and I haven't had a depressive episode that lasted more than a day or two (so also not meeting diagnostic criteria) in the three years since then. I did have to go back to using an SSNRI (Fetzima, which has the lowest relative action on serotonin to norepinephrine), because I have fairly debilitating symptoms when norepinephrine levels plunge and taking the extended release Fetzima in the lowest possible dose prevents such sudden plunges early in the morning following stressful days. I REALLY look forward to the day that atomoxetine is available in an extended-release form. My body produces dopamine and serotonin just fine when I can do the things, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition works very well for helping me do the thing (well, there are also trauma response patterns and resulting rigidity, learned helplessness, delays in skills normally learned implicitly, etc. which can interfere with doing the thing, but I am working on all of those.)

Thank you so much for clarifying for wider audiences with such amazing and first hand knowledge. Have so much respect for you🙏 My sister was dependent on Zoloft since has epilepsy since six and was on it over 15 years and was horrible time, esp as she was already prescribed segraline and the aforementioned Ssri was only for “comfort” thank you so much for bringing so much incredible knowledge. Wishing all the best

From all of my experience in my personal life and working in the medical field myself, I appreciate whenever conditions like depression and anxiety are not portrayed in the reduced chemical imbalance argument. In my view and experience, I honestly believe that a majority of depression and anxiety cases are result of living in today's horrible predatory society. Work a job, pay your bills, or be homeless. Obviously there is more to it than that, but that seems to not be something that is brought up nearly enough is the influence of environment and society on the development of these conditions.

I love your content, but I just wanted to add that it's important to put a caveat on psychedelic promotion: please be VERY CAREFUL with psychedelics if you have a history of psychosis in your family. It can harm you long term, so it's best to dose safely and, ideally, with a professional.

WAY oversimplified explanation of depression. People can be depressed about the future or calm thinking about the past. So, I would stop using that analogy, from personal experience.

Lexepro SSRI seems to of worked quite well for helping me with my social anxiety.. I suffered with this from a early teen and wasn’t till around 26 and a few years of therapy that I started talking the medication. it seems to make a significant improvement for making certain social situations much more bearable and I’m much less likely to get overly anxious and blush in the face which was a major problem for me. I still suffer from high general anxiety at times and when it comes to depression I still go in and out. I basically spend close to half of my adult life in periods of mild or slightly sever depression which last anywhere from a few months to close to a full year. Iv been on them now almost 15 years. The obvious side effect seems to be lower sex drive which after turning 40 is extremely low.

Thank you for this video. Many years ago I was treated in hospital for depression. I found the antidepressants did nothing for me and argued constantly with the nurses over my medication. Finally it was agreed to give me an antipsychotic instead. I was on that for 4 months; once it was stopped, I never had the need for psychiatric medication again.

I love the nurse practitioner I have. her goal was to get me off of all the SSRI’s that she could and use talk and relaxation practices to help with the mental illness that I’ve been disabled with for 40 years. I was 22 when I had a breakdown and I’m almost 63. If I had her helping me in the beginning or anywhere along this long illness, I believe I would have gotten better enough to be able to be a functioning and working happy woman. In stead my life was wasted being put on meds and getting no good therapists to help me. In the past 18 months with the psych NP and a new younger therapist, I have improved so much and have come a long way more than the 39 years before

I taught my son (20yrs old) your breathing technique to calm himself. I have a pulse/ox to prove its real.He thought it was pretty cool like kung fu stuff.😊 Any anxiety mostly it works great. I have my son with autism do it when i can get him to, and use it myself. Thank you❤

Not true. The serotonin hypothesis is NOT "wrong" but is often misunderstood. While a lack of serotonin is not necessarily the cause of depression, it can still play a significant role. And there is a ton of scientific studies that show that an increase in serotonin has very positive effects on depression. Therefore, SSRIs can be very helpful, but should always be combined with psychotherapy.

Lexapro saved my life, panic attacks stopped, derealization stopped, anxiety attacks stopped. It did not help my depression.

What a brilliant doctor. I wish more doctors understood (or acknowledged) this.

I am 65 and have had depression all my life. I'm currently on two antidepressants. I'm very interested in psychedelics the more I hear about them. My son has done this and feels on a more even balance. I'm tired of switching meds, nightmares, interrupted sleep and still feeling not good.

I am honest with my doctor about my weed use and all of the prescribed SSRI's and tricyclic meds I'm on. I have had to have several brain surgery . I have been told in the past to stop taking benzo and weed a couple of days before the surgery. I personally feel that it's safer to be honest with your use to avoid possible life threatening drug interactions. I think people generally worry that the doctor is going to rat then out to law enforcement. Legally HIPPA avoids that.

Jesus. You are amazing. You are so empowering on any topic you tackle. I love that you have so much openness to questions about human experience and physiology.

FYI I've been on effexor for 25 years and thanks to it I'm here to tell the story of being on the medication for 25 years 🎉

Opiates to treat my pain completely ended my depression. I still get sad, but that’s okay because it passes. It’s natural. SSRIs have always screwed me up

My Experience Is That SSRI's In A Persons' Brain (mine, actually)- Especially When That Person Is Extremely Tired Or Even Sleep Deprived...Can Help To Cause These "Twitches" Or "Tremors" Once That Person Is Finally Quiet, Calm & Lying Down To Finally Sleep...These Movements Aren't Painful Or Violent In Any Way But Can Be Jarring If You Aren't Used To Them Occuring, Which Doesn't Happen All The Time Or Even The Same Way Twice. I Think If It As A Kind Of Power Surge In The Brain - "Clearing The Board & Restarting Fresh"... These "Tremors" Or "Twitches" Can Be Strong & Involve Many Muscles In The Upper Body - Mostly Arms & Hands - But They Seem Harmless Enough. Still - I Notify ALL My Doctors & Anesthesiologist About Any Meds I Take Of This Kind, As Well As Dosage & Frequency, Just As With Any Other Meds for Blood Pressure, Etc...A Well Informed Anesthesiologist Is A Better Anesthesiologist! If I Were Ever Going To Lie To Or Withhold Information From Any Doctor (I Wouldn't!) - It Certainly Wouldn't Be This One!😬

I knew it!! I never felt that SSRIs were helping me. Paxil the first few times I took it chilled me out and lifted me-- into a numb zone. I hated being in that zone. Not too low - and not too high. Just numb.

I have huge panic attacks for 11 years right now, and im on SSRI since my 1st panic attacks. At first when i started SSRI my panic attacks stopped, hadnt any untill i stopped taking SSRI. Now after i stopped and my panic attacks came back its much harder to stop them. I changed SSRI, it worked for 2 years and my panic attacks came back. Now im taking higher dose+ alprazolam and wishing it will work and i could stop taking alprazolam. It seemd like a miracle in first years, i wish it will start working again. During these 11 years i finished collegue in mechanical engineering faculty, was process engineer in supplier company, now i am process enginner at OEM. I believe SSRIs are working.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION, AND CONTENT. IT WILL HELP INFORM THE DOCTORS I INTERACT WITH, PARTICULARLY ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHEN AND IF THE TIME COMES. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS SURGERIES IN MY EARLY TEENS AND TWENTIES.IVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. HOPING TO NEVER " GO UNDER THE KNIFE" AGAIN.✌🏾

I'm someone who used to have anxiety and panic attacks. I started to use LSD recreationally but also with an awareness that there was research into treatment for anxiety and depression. Well, it induced panic attacks in me and I used that opportunity to learn overcome them. There's more to the story but the gist is that I tamed the overactive parts of my brain (default mode network) and learned to live in the moment. I haven't had a panic attack since 2016

I’ve been taking benzodiazepines for years now for social anxiety, I can’t stop them cold turkey because I tried and had a seizure. I told my doctor the the benzos don’t seem to me working like before and he immediately put me on an SSRI and now I have a lot of intrusive thoughts while feeling like I’m being plotted against like paranoia and this makes me feel like I’m either going to have another seizure or a panic attack. I’m still taking both benzos and the SSRI. My mind is all over the place and I don’t know what to do…

I WISH doctors would warn people about the movement disorders that can be caused by these meds.

Ssris and SNRIs induce insomnia. A chronic insomnia. Never healed from this damage

I love that as soon as he says that he doesn't do ads some ads pop up. Also his whole discussion is an ad for his ketamine clinic. SSRIs make me ill. I don't react in expected ways to meds. Anesthesia has always worked super-fast for me though.

OMG! You aknowledge the issues with EDS and local anesthesia! I'm so tired of doctors not believing me until its too late. Or maybe believing me but refusing to deviate from what they usually use. I wish more anesthesiologists knew about that.

Haven’t seen a doctor for years. Do I have problems, sure do, in a matter of two years I lost a family (ex and children), my dream job, my dog. I was depressed as hell. Took a while to get over it. I use good food, exercise and a healthy dose of perspective to overcome everything. Do I get pissed off and sad about all the things and people I have lost? Sure. It is about perspective. I lost a lot because I had the fortune to experience a lot. I’ve lost love because I’ve truly loved and was truly loved. No drugs for my brain. My thoughts are precious to me. Good or bad, they are mine! No chemical is gonna mess with them.

Thank you, Dr. Kaveh. You are a real good Doctor and a honest one. Hugs from Italy.

As long as I live I'll never forget when I was going in for surgery requiring anesthesia and the anesthesiologist walks in and hollers "Oh Nooooo. Not a redhead. I hate working with redheads." And to top it all off....it's the only time I've been put under that the experience for me was horrible. Nightmares like I've never encountered that required professional counseling to adjust to this side of life after that horrendous experience. Needless to say I complained to the doc who chose this anesthesiologist in hopes he'd not use them anymore. Never encountered any type of issue the other couple times I've been put under.

I got much worse from taking an SSRI. I was starting to get serotonin syndrome soon after starting to take a slightly higher dose. I warned my doctor in advance but they never listen to me until after the drugs have bad reactions.

This video really bothered me as a person who is on medication for depression. I am going to therapy weekly, but I have seen the difference when I'm on medication and not. Your expertise is anesthesia, and you're brilliant at that. You also seem to be a very kind and compassionate doctor. My problem is no matter how many times you say that sometimes anti-depressants are good, you come across overall as they should not be used. This is not your area of expertise. You're not a psychiatrist. I don't mean to be coming off like a jerk. I've actually been binge-watching your videos because I find them fascinating and informative! I just worry because a lot of people still think mental illness isn't real, etc. I don't want them to get the impression that we are just faking it. Or even worse, I'd hate for someone to stop taking their medications and end up with tragic results.

Sir, akastisia is absolutely horrifying. Ty for this video

Sure there is a lot more to know. We are just using what we have available. And SSRIs might be best utilized by persons, say, 40 and over, who are actually losing some of these feel good chemicals in our brains. When you are young is the right time to really dig deep to find out what is causing your depression and work on your whole being, possibly without all these medications.

Found your channel a few days ago and have been binging. Love all the info and insight. Thank you for all you do. And thank you on for calling your patients the night before. Ive never had that and I know it would relieve so much pre-procedure anxiety for me. I wish I could afford ketamine therapy as ive been on a bouquet of ssri and other meds that work at first, but after 15 years, nothing helps. Much respect for all you do. Thank you ❤

"I can't find a vein! I can't find a vein!" That's what I heard during my 2nd brain surgery. I wasn't awake very long, thankfully, and I woke up with blood all over my arms. They apparently searched everywhere. 😅

I felt absolutely amazing after waking up from my surgery. The best my brain worked after a decade of depression. It felt incredible having ny brain running at 100% again. I really hope therapies like ketamine become more mainstream. I have several friends who describe their ketamine therapy very similarly to the experience I had from anesthesia, and it's been the only treatment for two of my friends that's worked at all. I'm not interested in SSRIs... Very hopeful in a few years there will be anesthetic or psychedelic alrernatives available without having to go through years of SSRIs or electrically frying my brain first.

I cannot cope without my SSRI.

Most people do not need SSRIs. They need a better life

I wish I’d never started SSRIs for sleep of all things.

If such good results with anesthesia have been found for depression, why have this treatment not be used by mental health officials as a first treatment? Seems to me, the one that keeps the patient on meds the longer is chosen first.

That's the only answer is that they prescribe SSRI . Made me more depressed 😞

Very helpful and honest . I suffered from seretonin syndrome. Its an awful thing. Your brain and body are never right after it.

I like how you say we are more than a bunch of chemicals. So precious.

Good man, keep the message going. Too many good people have blindly trusted their GP right up to realizing that their life has come to a standstill revolving around the doctors & the chemist, with no real positive progress to report.

Has anyone ever had a HORRIFIC adverse reaction to SSRIs? I have, and it's left me with PTSD. Took me a long time to figure that out (that the reason I was still having side effects to the drug months, and now "years" after taking the drug, is that it left me with PTSD). Things are always worse when you don't understand them, and now it's still bad but at least I understand what it is. But I don't usually hear about anyone having a severe reaction like I did to SSRIs that is not only the worst experience of their life but also leaves them with PTSD, and I'm like "I know I can't be the only one".

Hi , im a 56 year old woman and was an addict for 3 decades and been clean for q5 years now, i have a lot of illnesses, lije COPD and emphysema and diagnosed with Cptsd , my dr for years tried to get me to take amatryptaline and due to pain i gave in at the time i would have took anything , but for years he kept trying to give me the amatryptaline and the side effects , i have dry mouth and posterior blepharitis and the amatryptaline side effects had me going to the eye dr , and I spoke with my dr and he thought i was shouting at him, i wasnt i was frustrated and irate at the side effects and him going on making sure i took the amatryptaline, because he wasnt giving anything else and i was in pain , any ways he agreed not to try give me them anymore or even talk of them , as an ex junkie , amatryptaline is a drug even junkies don't want , so after so many years he has given me Trazodone , and reasured me they would not effect my eyes or dry mouth 🤷‍♀️ i stupidly took them and next day was a raging monster , 1 minute wanting to kill the next wanting to slit my throat or someones throat, anxiety was through the roof , i listened to your video on why they dont want to give eopioid , and understood and never asked for pain relief again as i didnt want something to happen that would cost him his job if i was to overdose . Now ive read comments on thus new drug and tge effects , why would he give me them , now I'm really pissed at him , as my heart wss beating out my chest, and more . This weekend is a hokiday , so now i have to wsit till Tuesday and boy is he getting it tight from me , I dont want a habbit just something to take tge efge of the pain on a drug i know which is dyhdrocodien , i know that drug and its side effects, i am so angry with him , he told me those trazodone would not hurt my eyes or my mouth and never said about being anxious , 2 nights i took them , i had told him slso i 2ss having mad drams , those tablets take those dreams to a new level , wtaf was he thinking or not thinking , im am so angry right now , i want to punch some sense into him . I want to thank you for atleast taking the time to explain how what and why , I can't believe he would cause me more grief like this . He already knows i have been acting like a mobster for over a year now and then goes and blows my mind with trazodone . 😢 hurt and very angry patient Thank you for being honest . Blessings to You and Yours

I highly recommend reading Lost Connections by Johann Hari, a very informative book about depression and treatments written by someone who has experienced it. Another thing people don't seem to know is that SSRI's double your chance of getting dementia.

It absolutely saved my life after a major depressive episode and PMDD, it should only be used for certain people and for me it was my last resort. I will be forever grateful for Lexapro.

I disagree with this! I can tell you that SSRI’s saved my life! I have OCD and Prozac was the first SSRI I was put on. And I remember thinking. There’s no way this is going to help. But sure enough just like my psychiatrist said within a month it was amazing! I got a good 10 years out of Prozac, but then my body got used to it, so I noticed OCD acting up again and then I was on Paxil. I mean everybody’s different. I don’t know what you mean by psychedelics or what I should’ve treated much earlier in my life was my ADHD. I just started guanfacine for it. I would’ve benefited probably from something to help my ADHD decades ago. I know a lot of people that do well on the SSRI and I know some people that don’t.

Dr. Kaveh, I had general anesthesia on Friday of this past week and it was so easy. I was really nervous as this was my first time to ever have any kind of anesthesia/sedation. The CRNA gave me my “margarita” (versed) in my IV. I just laid my head back to try to relax as they rolled the bed down the hallway. We went through these double doors at the end of the hall and stopped for what seemed like a few seconds. I remember the circulating nurse just looking at me. I don’t know what they did or what happened after that point. I woke up in PACU 4 hours later. Did the versed make me go to sleep? Or did it just wipe out any memories? Did they possibly give me propofol at that point? They never had me breath through the mask that I know of. The PACU nurse was really nice and helped me get pain under control afterwards. The more I woke up, the more pain I was in. She maxed me out on pain meds and made me really nauseous. Luckily I had some zig ran back at my hotel to help. For some reason, hydrocodone make me really hyper. My doctor and nurses told me I would probably sleep the rest of the afternoon, but once they gave me the Loritab, I was bouncing off the walls. Why does it have this effect on me?

People with Parkisons that receive dopamin agonists has showed lessened symptoms of depression, leading to a hypothetis that depressed people are actually so due to a lack of dopamin. Several trials have been done in people with SSRI resistent depressions and data is looking good so far. Particularly in people with anhedonic symptoms that feel distanced and not being able to feel happiness or enjoyment on just SSRI.

I am psychology student, it is surprising how much I find myself in agreement with this doctor. Usually doctors tend to be very molecule pilled (nothing against molecules, they are fantastic things). Studying molecular interactions is of course quite useful and powerful, but it seems to be pushed a little bit too far to the verge of reduction-ism and oversimplification.

I've been on Zoloft for 30 years. Times flies I guess, felt a world of difference when first taking it. Have stopped cold turkey many times and found myself very angry, irritated, and zero interest in life. Went back on zoloft after trying many other SSRI's and didn't like side affects. I would very much like to not take this drug but I feel stuck. I would like to try Ketamine but I don't know where to start to find a doctor.

I just had bunionette surgery last week and I was petrified because I had a procedure once that they didn't give me enough anesthesia and too much muscle relaxer. Couldn't breathe and couldn't move a muscle to tell them. But with a predose of midazolam I didn't care what happened 😂. It went well though

Thank you for the education and talking about the undesired side effects of ssri's. I wish they would pull this non sense off the market and go with more natural psychotropic/active remedies that actually work. Psilocybin, Ketamine mdma, lsd, etc. when psychological therapy is not quite enough.

How about invent better medication? Our poor psychiatrists are left with crap they literally have to throw at the wall to see what sticks. And it’s a horrible experience for the patient

Thank you, Dr. Johnson I appreciate you

Gotta tell you, I went on a tricyclic antidepressant after years of resisting any medication and it changed my life. I was wary of Serotonin Syndrome but otherwise gave it a chance. I think there are a thousand concerns for all medications, and eventually, you need to break it down to worth it (or not?) with your doctor. I also hold a medical marijuana card, given you mention psychadelics, though I never used it. I'm very open minded about solutions psychological, medicinal, etc when it gets to treating chronic pain and anxiety/depression. Of course, one should absolutely be open with an anesthesiologist before surgery. I don't think I'd see you running off to call the cops once knowing someone smoked a joint, doctor.

I take zoloft. Now social anxiety fears me and I last forever life is good

I was on Venlafaxine for 5 years. At no point my gp thought i needed a review, i was just on taking my monthly prescription and poisoning my brain and body. Then when i suggested decreasing the dose with the aim of coming off the meds, the gp said maybe i wasn't strong enough yet. I insisted and started the gradual weaning off which all in all took more than 6 months. While on venlafaxine i never felt right, it certainly didn't help with my pms symptoms which are quite bad, mood related, i didn't feel myself, i had night sweats and very vivid dreams and i would wake up acreaming, i would bruise very easily. The weaning off was brutal, coming off them was the hardest thing, i lived a month of hell, i could not eat, i was nauseous, my face was numb, my brain was buzzing, i was dizzy and had proprioception issues. Now I've been off them for more than a year, i feel great, even my friends have noticed I'm a different person. Yes, i have ups and downs but that is nornal, i'm a cancer nurse, an immigrant and i have my struggles. A pill would not sort that out. I would never encourage anyone to get anywhere near antidepressants. A strong support system, people that matter and can listen to you, finding meaning in your life is what would make it worth living and enjoying.

You are true healer. In the truest sense of the word. Lots of love for you

Yet the other alternatives , such as psychodelics , are outlowed. So even though the existing anti depressants are flowed, there not many other treatments available to an average patient.