I dont really believe in oil pulling so I cant say.

i've stopped anyway just incase.

Hello everyone,

I want to share some information I recently read about Paxil and other antidepressants. Following the ariticle is a letter from RCM, a doctor doing research on KPRF who earlier posted on this thread. The intention of sharing this information with all of you who either use Paxil or are considering using it is not to dissuede you from using Paxil. Rather, this is to help you be fully informed when you make your decision to take Paxil or continue taking it. Ultimately, we are each responsible for our own health and the consequences of any meds we take.

Study doubts effectiveness of antidepressant drugs

Last Updated: 2008-02-26 9:18:10 -0400 (Reuters Health)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Antidepressant medications appear to help only very severely depressed people and work no better than placebos in many patients, British researchers said.

Researchers led by Irving Kirsch of the University of Hull reviewed a series of studies, both published and unpublished, on four antidepressants, examining whether a patient's response to these drugs hinged on how depressed they were before getting treatment.

They were Eli Lilly and Co's Prozac, also known as fluoxetine, Wyeth's Effexor, also called venlafaxine; GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil, also called Seroxat or paroxetine, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co's drug Serzone, also called nefazodone, which it no longer markets in the United States.

They are all so-called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

The researchers found that compared with placebo, these new-generation antidepressant medications did not yield clinically significant improvements in depression in patients who initially had moderate or even very severe depression. The study found that significant benefits occurred only in the most severely depressed patients.

"Drug-placebo differences in antidepressant efficacy increase as a function of baseline severity, but are relatively small even for severely depressed patients. The relationship between initial severity and antidepressant efficacy is attributable to decreased responsiveness to placebo among very severely depressed patients, rather than to increased responsiveness to medication," the researchers wrote.

The researchers obtained data on all the clinical trials submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the licensing of the four drugs.

"Although patients get better when they take antidepressants, they also get better when they take a placebo, and the difference in improvement is not very great. This means that depressed people can improve without chemical treatments," Kirsch said in a statement.

But Mary Ann Rhyne, a spokeswoman for Paxil maker GSK, said the study only looked at data submitted prior to the drug's U.S. approval.

"The authors have failed to acknowledge the very positive benefit these treatments have provided to patients and their families who are dealing with depression and they are at odds with what has been seen in actual clinical practice," Rhyne said.

"This analysis has only examined a small subset of the total data available, while regulatory bodies around the world have conducted extensive reviews and evaluations of all of the data available," she said.

Doug Petkus, a spokesman for Wyeth, maker of Effexor, said he had not seen the study and could not comment.

Dr. Sears comments:

One of the great marketing jobs by the drug industry has been for antidepressants. On the other hand, increased intake of EPA* and DHA* has been demonstrated to improve depression, and the only side effect is to make you smarter.

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*EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two principal fatty acids found in fish. They belong to a family of essential nutrients known as omega-3 fatty acids.
(note from kebod -- I find this interesting, as omega 3 oils have been found to help skin health, so is there a link between mental health and the health of our skin?)

And a letter from RCM:

Dear Kebod

As a medical Doctor I was worried about people taking Paxil, or any other SSRI for the wrong reasons. We live in an age where almost any drug is available online, and Paxil is
not a drug anyone should take lightly.
As to its MOA, no-one is really sure. The drug companies THINK that it reduces the brains ability to reabsorb serotonin, by blocking the brains innate defense mechanism of preventing an "overload" of serotonin. Here you may see the medical professions concerns with the drug, as too much serotonin can be very bad news, and if there is one thing the medical world has learned over the last 100 years, it is to NEVER block or impair
ANY "overload" mechanism.
I read the article of yours, and certainly I can believe the study did seem to be somewhat biased. From clinical experience, SSRI's do work on most people, when and only when perscribed for the right reasons.
To answer your final question, it is a bit of both. Flushing and blushing is simply dilation of the blood vessels in your cheeks. Like all other blood vessels, this is controled by neurological interactions and physiological responses. Many things can cause dilation, but for people with KPRF, is is much more visible because of a high vascularised face.
Paxil, and some other drugs, reduce extremeties of moods. Theorectically, by modulating the serotonin levels in your brain, it puts you into a better position to control stress, which often precipitates a SNS (sympathetic Nervous system) response, which causes dilation and blushing.
Some people call it the anti shyness drug, which it certainly true. I have no doubt that there is a psychological component to this too, as the body conditions itself to react in certain ways, such as blushing when one sees something that makes you nervous.
So in not so many words, yes, paxil will reduce flushing and blushing. But at what cost?
Weight gain, suicidal tendancies, very bad withdrawal symptoms, and mood/personality changes (men tend to get aggressive), amonst many others.
I hope this has not been too technical, and has answered your questions. I am not saying DONT take paxil, but I am saying please be aware of what its doing to you. If you see a medical doctor and he/she prescribes you paxil after a complete history and exam, then I am sure it will be beneficial.
If needed feel free to post this on the forums, it may be of help to those reading.
My department is doing some interesting research on KPRF, if you want you can here about some of our results.

Kind Regards,
RCM

I wouldnt be surprised if paxil is part of a cure for KPRF, as he said it stops flushing/blushing but at what cost. I have no problems with it and going on
4 months now, I was presribed by a doctor and phyiscal, so I ve taken all the rights steps even my doctor takes it, my friends brother in law takes it becuase he has a bad temper and it keeps him balanced. so it has many uses. Like everyone on this forum says Doctors dont know everything, and know even less about KPRF. my goal is to use paxil to stop the flush/blush which I accomplished after being on it for 4 days, and PDL laser treatments as a topical treatment for redness left over which Im 70% there, and have 2 more treatments left! I think if u have KPRF and it bothers u, then u have some form of anxiety. always checking urself in the mirror, upset when ur face gets warm, feeling like people stair at ur red cheeks, etc...
my thoughts..


to all...

I'm glad you are sharing your thoughts on this, Jason. My intention is only for everyone to be as educated as they can, to know the pros and cons, the good and the bad, before they make the decision to take Paxil or not take it.

You are right --doctors don't know everything. It is hopeful to me that at least one doctor, RCM, the writer of the post above, is part of KPRF medical research. Perhaps in the not too distant future, we may all learn more about what causes KPRF, therefore, what the cure is. I have already emailed RCM, asking for results of the research. If I receive anything, I will be sure to share it here.

kebod

Im gonna have another bash at my doctor next friday when i go back to tell her how this clonidine is doing.

day 5 and no improvement.

im getting really upset about my redness. when i drive i go bright red especiallly when it is sunny and the flush doesnt go away !

hang in their Ash. i reckon she'll prescribe it this time since your having no luck with clonodine.

hope so i flushing like a mad man.

problem is my work is outdoor, so the minute i go into the office im red rore becuase of the indoor heat.

i was the same. i mean it's the rapid change of temperature that got me the worst.

well i've been taking Seroxat (Paxil) for nine days now, after the 3rd day i started to feel it's effect...felt alot more confident and in those social situations i felt i had full control, i was completely calm. blushing stopped completely, flushing i get but no where near as much as i did...it's getting better though each day, all thats left is the redness caused by the condition and not by my mind. I'm happy with the results, but i still have far to travel...been for one consultation, going for another on saturday...the place i'm going to actually have the VBeam, so i guess my mind is already made up about where i'm getting it done. With the price of each laser i can afford the equivalent of 8 sessions.
I recommend everyone to at least give Seroxat (Paxil) a go for one month, i've had no side effects at all.

Im going to ask my doctor for this on Friday.

Could you please post some pictures of your face ?

Just so we can see what your condition is like, and how the anti depressants are working.

Cheers

my face is no different to this picture. it's just like this all the time. no flushing or blushing. the tablet will not improve the condition only PDL will do that. It's good to take the tablet before you go for laser treatment, it will give the specialist a better look at the actual damage.

Wheres the picture ?

oh yeah soz. forgot to post it.

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