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

by Ann Blaisdell Tracy, Chase Shephard (Illustrator), Peter R. Breggin (Introduction)

Panacea or Pandora?

Genres: Health

424 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

Reviews

[Ben Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book raises some really important questions and awareness about the problems with SSRI's and Antidepressants. The problem with the book is that Ann Tracy uses too much theory and anecdotal information as though it's clear, concise evidence. She approaches the subject with religious zeal and throws objectivity out the window. Some parts of the book are more of her own personal rantings and not an objective look at SSRI's which measures the pro's and cons of these drugs. In-spite of what she writes in this book there are many people who have been helped through some of the most dire and difficult times in their lives with the support of SSRI's. My sister is one person who has been helped by them through one of the biggest crisis' in her life. She received counseling through all of this time and she did go off of the SSRI's in a timely manner instead of staying on them for years like some people unfortunately do.

One of the biggest problems with SSRI's is that they are vastly over-prescribed. Patients are also all too often on these drugs for far too long. I agree with the late Dr. Candice Pert who said that with pharmaceuticals "less is best." In my view children and teenagers should never be on SSRI's. Behavioral issues are something that need to be addressed first in the home, second through consistent and numerous counseling sessions. Also nutrition, exercise, spirituality, being outdoors in nature and learning about connecting with the wonders and beauty of earth is a huge part of being whole and healthy.

I think this book is a good start but there needs to be far more research from across the globe that is not financed by big Pharma.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does raise some valid concerns and has some good information. We should be asking some of the questions raised in this book. However, it weaves science and conjectures together so that it's hard to tell which is which, so some of it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. I'm not dismissing this information and in fact have worked with my doctor to reduce one of my medications by half its original dose. This book explains why we need better solutions and long-term studies into the safety and usefulness of brain-altering drugs. Even so, please, please do not use this book as a reason to quit taking brain medications cold turkey. You can hurt yourself if you do that. And if you're bipolar like me, talking with your doctor about the ideas in this book is especially important because changing your medications abruptly could thrhow you into a manic or depressive state. So do investigate these issues, but don't harm yourself while doing it.

[Mylinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the information contained in this book is a must for anyone taking antidepressants, the book itself reads like a doctoral thesis. The format, typeface, and citations are annoying. Once you can get past these the information is very valuable. I would really love to see the author do a rewrite and put the information contained in this book put into a more readable format for the general populace.

[Janiece · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about the dangers of antidepressants, but explored it only because I was living it. I highly recommend this book for insights into this and then follow up with He Did Deliver Me From Bondage as a means to help escape the cycles of depression and anxiety, along with an indepth study of the Word of Wisdom as found in the Doctrine and Covenants.

[John Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Blake-Tracy is one of the great pioneers of her field:
https://psychiatricsurvivors.wordpres...