Customer Reviews

Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? the Rest of the Story on the New Class of Ssri Antidepressants Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lovan, Luvox & More.

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I was stunned at the amount of research Dr. Tracy has done on this subject. Few researchers go to as much trouble agressively gathering information on the adverse reactions of Prozac, Zoloft and other SSRIs. I had reactions to this class of drugs and I did exhaustive research, coming up with only bits and pieces of information trying to find out exactly what happened to me. All the doctors that I visited were ignorant to what was happening to me, but after reading the book and understanding exactly what happened, why it happened and knowing that I wasn't alone with these "new" symptoms (She has personally interviewed hundereds, if not thousands of patients) I came to a realization that it was the drugs that caused those problems. She truly knows more about the subject of the effects of SSRIs on the human mind and body than any other doctor or researcher that I know of. I am looking forward to reading her next book. I know she is boldly continuing her research and has a book in the works.

I was slightly disappointed because the publisher did little or no proofreading and the typeset was difficult on the eyes, but I can overlook that.

I was very impressed with the amount of research that went into this book. It has given me the courage to do something about the condition the SSRI's have put me in. Yes, most every one who takes an SSRI at first thinks they are great. Then over the years as the dosages have to be increased (proves the addictive nature of these drugs) and the side affects mount, one slowly changes their mind (If they are still capable of having a coherent thought anymore!) about the so called miracle drug. Once a savior, then turns into a demon.

I personally have lost my sense of self. I have short term memory problems where once my memory was phenomenal. I talk contstantly and can not seem to stop due to the muddled state the SSRI has put my mind in. Maybe I don't cry as much anymore but I don't laugh much either. I used to have many friends and now, I am so different and have not clue 1 how to make a friend. Maybe I just don't care. Drugged up I guess! People who know me now since the SSRI hell started really have no clue who I really am, this includes my own daughter. This saddens me. My entire personality has changed, some alternate being has take me over. I am easily confused and have trouble following a conversation.

As far as no lethal side effects how is sucide and murder and the lost of one's own mind (death of self) for lethal side effects! And the loss of my ability to really love anyone or care about anything, I find to be lethal as well. I might be easier to live with becauce I get angry less and am less irritable and I don't cry as much but at what cost? Just drug the patient and put them on a shelf and say they are cured cause they have lost the will and courage to stand up and shout, let me out of here, Zoloft has taken over. I am still under here, HELP!

I do find the book hard to digest due to the way it is written. It was written more for the professional than the patient. The average MD has to have cold hard facts and of cource kickbacks from the drug companies to believe anything.

It would have been nice to included a resource list of "real" doctors willing to help people get the heck off this poison. I felt this book did as superb job of identifing the problem, even though in my drugged state is was confusing to read, but no real concrete advice on what to do about it.

There is no such thing as a Zoloft/paxil/prozac deficiency, except in the mind of the almighty drug companies. (drug pushers would be a better name for them)

If you are depressed there are other answers out there other than SSRI's. The liver being full of toxins is said to be a cause of depression. That is where I plan to focus my healing. It took me two years to slowing come off Valium and am currently withdrawing from Neuronin which is even a more addictive drug and is harder to come of. It will probably take at least 3 years to totally be free of it and then years to come off the Zoloft. Then I will be Free, except for the damage these drugs have done to my system. If I had it to do again I would have taken a diffent path.

Thanks for writing this valuable book, without it I may never have connected my dwindling health to the SSRI's.

Dr. Tracy's book is an objective presentation backed up by scientific studies that have been published in mainstream medical journals. "Prozac: Panacea or Pandora?" demonstrates the extreme dangers and ultimate ineffectiveness of SSRI's and other antidepressants as well as the utter failure of the psychiatric/medical community to recognize these dangers. Also addressed is the unethical marketing practices that the pharmaceutical companies use to promote these drugs, how the drugs work and cause damage to the body, and what the side effects are and how they are caused by these drugs. Lastly, the book details how one can come off of these very addictive drugs. On a personal note, I've taken antidepressants for most of the last 18 years. I could relate to at least 90% of the information that was related in Dr. Tracy's book. Now as I follow Dr. Tracy's advice on how to slowly come off of these drugs, I'm finding that my physical, spiritual and psychological health is slowly improving. I am so grateful for this information.

My sister was on Prozac for 5 years and it helped her tremendously. But then she found that it wasn't working quite as well as it did. She went to her general practioner (not a therapist or a psychiatrist) and he recommended that she increase the dosage. She did and it made her really edgy. She felt like she wanted to literally crawl out of her skin. Her doctor switched her to Paxil. Less than 30 days later, she shot and killed her husband. These drugs may start out helping people, but in some the results are dangerous. Make sure that you are receiving regular treatment from a therapist or psychiatrist while you are taking these drugs. You should not just take them without being monitored.

Do not listen to the review posted just under mine. This book has saved my life, as long as people who have no experience being on any of these drugs, keep talking about how "safe" and "helpful" they are, the more people with think it is ok to take them. This book is well written, and deserves much praise. As someone trying to get off paxil, I can tell you it is the most hellish experience of my entire life. This book has given me hope, I no longer feel alone.

We were looking for a book we could recommend to people [and patients] that had questions about what they were encountering with antidepressants. Ann Blake Tracy has compiled the research and named the dangers in such a way that anyone with questions about anti-depressant drugs could find the answers -- without taking weeks in the process.

With the FDA reviewing the information that's been WITHHELD by the pharmaceutical companies over the safety of these drugs, Tracy's research is INVALUABLE in determining what happened -- when -- and why. This book is a must have for any one researching this issue whether for the purpose of writing about it or helping others -- whether a patient or someone who has to deal with the patient. Finally the truth is out there. Finally the subject is getting the attention it deserves. Finally, the author of the book is testifying before the FDA on what 'they' knew and when 'they' knew it.

Wonderful book -- Fantastic information.

I would recommend this book as REQUIRED reading for every person who has ever struggled with depression or any other symptomology for which an antidepressant might be prescribed. I would also highly advocate this book as REQUIRED reading for every physician before being given license to dispense antidepressants.

Dr Tracy has boldly gone where few dare to tread...

Depression and other mental health ailments can be difficult to manage - nobody who has ever experienced chronic depression would deny this... There are a lot of theories as to the causes and cures of mental health problems, but too often a theory is presented as fact, and the public is being deceived. There is absolutely no biological basis to present depression, bi-polar disorder, or a host of other mental health problems as real diseases. One reader who rated the book claims he has a 'serotonin deficiency', and that the SSRIs correct this deficiency. I would be most interested in seeing the evidence, as there are no tests during life or even at autopsy that can measure any individual's serotonin level. The first person who can present such evidence will be up for a Nobel prize in Biochemistry! This poor soul with a master's degree has been sadly mislead as has most of the public. I invite all to do your own research. Dr Tracy's comprehensive list of source references which are indexed in her book make this task quite simple. I applaud Dr Tracy for her courage and wisdom! If you've ever considered taking an antidepressant, please read this book! I'm sure you will think twice before taking your friendly Dr's advice... and this book may well save your life!

This well documented book covers such diverse reactions to the SSRIs as: hypogylcemia, diabetes, REM sleep, sleep disorders, etc. Her bibliogrpahy and index are outstanding. A must read for those willing to reasearch what our "serotonin nightmare" is doing to our country. Never in history have so many people "adjusted" their serotonin without understanding the consequences of this action. I highly recommend this book.

I have many problems with this book.

1. Good information is difficult to find in here, as you have to sort through Ann Tracy's poorly organized, prolix indigant outcries, of which there are many.

2. Most of the information is anecdotal and poorly referenced. We are supposed to take the word of someone who is vehemently against the use of anti-depressants on anecdotal stories which paint SSRIs in an extremely negative light? Give me a break.

3. While Ann Tracy repeatedly accuses the pharmaceutical companies of being dishonest in not acknowledging the risks of using their drugs, she is often guilty of the fear-mongering in the same breath.

While I actually agree with Tracy that SSRIs are more likely to do harm than good, I cannot recommend this book. It suffers from a dearth of factual information as well as the vacuous, tiresome rantings of the author. A much better book on the subject would be Let Them Eat Prozac by Dr. David Healy, who assumes a similarly critical position but in a much more objective and tactful manner.

Not very good organized book but with all the information available you need to know about these terrible drugs. She gets the point already over ten years ago which many still don't see today. This book should be translated and promoted in all the other common languages to make information also available to non-english speakers. Sadly this is not in the interest of Big Pharma and all involved. It surely helps everyone who went through Ssri/ Snri hell and back!