Overload
Anti-depressants
Category: Medicines
Type
Involuntary
Introduction and description

Most, if not practically all, anti-depressants pharmaceuticals are SSRIs. SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) are a class of compounds typically used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and some personality disorders.
They also have an extremely impressive record of producing hallucinations, visions, out of body experiences plus a host of other effects.
Reuptake inhibitors are man made or come from plants. There are illegal drugs and legal drugs and by far the most prevalent are the legal ones from pharmaceutical companies – although they actually do the same thing as the illegal ones.

All aim to send whatever small amount of dopamine or serotonin we do have back into our system to stop us feeling glum.
The thinking behind them is exceedingly simplistic - naive in fact.
It is based on the belief that serotonin and dopamine of themselves somehow control happiness. More sophisticated medical analysis, however, recognises that they are only message carriers and a far more sophisticated functional system exists. The thinking is somewhat similar to a person noticing that a valentine card is used to send love letters and assuming that if you send hundreds of them it will produce love.
If you are lucky, then taking them may have a positive result because of the placebo effect. In general, in controlled studies, they appear to do nothing either way...
OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of suicidal behavior (suicide attempts and deaths) associated with antidepressants in participants with bipolar I, bipolar II, and unipolar major depressive disorders.
DESIGN: A 27-year longitudinal (1981-2008) observational study of mood disorders ...was used to evaluate antidepressants and risk for suicidal behavior. ….. there was no evidence of either an increased or decreased risk with antidepressant exposure in unipolar disorder. PMID: 25093469
but if you are unlucky, you will become addicted.
Addiction

Many Reuptake Inhibitors are actually only temporary in action, because like the Release Agents, the body adjusts to their presence if they are there for any length of time, and often sends you back to where you were. This then leads to a need for an increase in dose. Withdrawal of any of the drugs can result in a craving of enormous proportions, thus we can treat all these as addictive.
"Due to their strong rewarding and reinforcing properties, DRIs are notorious for their high abuse potential and liability to cause cravings, addiction, and dependence. "[ Reference ; LINK]
Pea. "Withdrawal Hell: An Experience with Duloxetine (Cymbalta) (ID 58611)". Erowid.org. Jan 6, 2007. erowid.org/exp/58611
I'm on attempt #2 to get off Cymbalta and have had to go to a psychiatrist to help me . Unfortunately his help in getting me off it hasn't worked yet. What happens when I try to stop?
- I couldn't drive because when I turn my head I get a 'brain shock' that could cause dizzyness, distraction, etc. I would have a brain shock literally every 30 seconds to 1 minute apart.
- Obvious nystagmus every few minutes
- Twitchy facial sensations and muscle spasms in face.
- Nightmares, electric shock (brain zaps) constantly
- Terrible judgement and poor short term memory
- Emotional freakouts that wind up from 1- 10 within minutes and then dissappear if i recognize them and intentionally bottle them up.
- Extrememly debilitating nausea and diarrhea
- Drooling, weakness, dizzy coupled with extreme anxiety
The first time I tried to get off it, I tapered over two months. … I almost lost my job (doctor-level position). …I had about two months of hell trying to get off it. I think i might donate some money to some organization this year that lobbies for more disclosure to patients about this shit because my dr who first prescribed it to me said 'Really? It causes vertigo in you? I am on it too and I get that too--I wonder what's up with that.' …. it feels way more … scary than the depression that caused me to go looking for an antidepressant.
If I use the analogy of the Valentine card, initially 100 Valentine cards may be impressive enough to have a short term effect, but in the long term if we don't love the sender, we don't love the sender, and we sink back into gloom. If you don't address the cause, you get nowhere.
An online survey on causal beliefs about depression and experiences with antidepressants was completed by 1829 New Zealand adults prescribed anti-depressants in the preceding five years, 97.4% of whom proceeded to take antidepressants. The most frequently endorsed of 17 causal beliefs were
- family stress,
- relationship problems,
- loss of loved one,
- financial problems,
- isolation, and
- abuse or neglect in childhood.
… The most strongly endorsed explanations for increases in antidepressant prescribing and use were reduced stigma and drug company marketing. The least strongly endorsed was 'Anti-depressants are the best treatment'. PMID: 25064809
The efficacy of SSRIs has been disputed for some time, but the debate has been dogged by bias. A 2010 meta-analysis, for example, stated that:
"The magnitude of benefit of antidepressant medication compared with placebo ... may be minimal or nonexistent, on average, in patients with mild or moderate symptoms. For patients with very severe depression, the benefit of medications over placebo is substantial."
This analysis, however, discarded a great majority of FDA-approved antidepressant studies, including those that used placebo washout periods typically used as controls. As the drugs are addictive, they are potentially big sources of revenue for pharmaceutical companies and a number of studies on PubMed have been financed by the companies.

Equally worrying is the fact that researchers do not, in truth, know what they do when they enter our bodies:
"SSRIs 'are believed to' [sic] increase the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter serotonin by inhibiting its reuptake into the presynaptic cell, increasing the level of serotonin in the synaptic cleft available to bind to the postsynaptic receptor. They are 'believed to' [sic] have varying degrees of selectivity for the other monoamine transporters, with pure SSRIs having only weak affinity for the noradrenaline and dopamine transporter. "

So they don't know. And they don't know, despite the fact that SSRIs were the first class of drugs discovered using the process called 'rational drug design', a process that starts with a specific biological target and then creates a molecule designed to affect it. They are the most widely prescribed antidepressants in many countries.
More details can be found in the science section under SSRIs.
Side-effects
The following chart describes the side-effects in a simple graphic way, the figures come from a patient survey. They are reasonably representative.
Death
The only major side-effect excluded from the list above is death, which presumably is not in the chart, because those who are dead tend not to reply to surveys.
This LINK takes you to the eHealthme website with its impressive list of the pharmaceuticals causing death. You will be able to see [using the names of the drugs] that SSRIs play their part.
In order to provide some idea of the figures for this ultimate spiritual experience, we have provide a CHART in the science section. It provides a snapshot of the number of deaths caused by the main anti-depressants [not all are listed]. The figures come from eHealthme, were compiled from the Adverse Drug reports submitted by doctors to the FDA and SEDA and only apply to the USA, thus the figures for the rest of the world are not known. As at mid August 2015, the number was
7,570
How it works
Why do we get hallucinations, visions, out of body experiences, near death experiences and other effects - including synaesthesia - from these drugs?
It may be helpful to know that serotonin is also found in psilocybin mushrooms and DMT as well as a number of other 'illegal' drugs. Thus to a large extent taking SSRIs is little different from Taking drugs.
In simplistic terms, the spiritual experiences come when the body perceives the intake of the drug to be a threat.
In the end all the effects are being caused by Serotonin imbalance - on a very major scale. I urge you to read this section, as it covers both the problems and effects in total and the implications.
SSRIs at high doses are probably regarded by the body as a major threat and one which compromises its own Serotonin balance. Thus the Will is likely to indeed perform the early stages of a near-death like experience in which Memory and Reason are subjugated and the Will lets the autonomic system fight for its survival. As the Will lets go, the Composer steps in. At high doses there would be ego-death - and death!
References and further reading
- EROWID - A good collection of articles about SSRIs is to be found on the EROWID site
- J Clin Psychiatry. 2014 Jul;75(7):720-7. doi: 10.4088/JCP.13m08744. Risk of suicidal behavior with antidepressants in bipolar and unipolar disorders. Leon AC, Fiedorowicz JG, Solomon DA, Li C, Coryell WH, Endicott J, Fawcett J, Keller MB1.
-
J Affect Disord. 2014 Oct 15;168:236-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.06.010. Epub 2014 Jun 24. Beliefs of people taking antidepressants about causes of depression and reasons for increased prescribing rates. Read J, Cartwright C, Gibson K, Shiels C, Haslam N. - Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool ; School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand; School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Observations
The table below summarises the figures in the observations and provides you with a feeling for just how effective these drugs are at giving you an hallucination or similar. All the figures were correct as at mid 2010, They come from the eHealthme website and a link is provided to this site for each drug so you can get not only up-to-date-figures, but also details of the side-effects of each drug as experienced by patients and reprted to SEDA and the FDA.
Doctors appear to be more successful than illegal drug vendors at being a source of experiences, nearly 7,200 experiences is impressive by any standards.
Observation no |
Drug Name |
No of hallucinations |
005063 |
283 |
|
005063 |
281 |
|
005064 |
75 |
|
005065 |
235 |
|
005065 |
237 |
|
005066 |
381 |
|
005066 |
378 |
|
005066 |
367 |
|
|
Fluvoxamine |
16 |
|
Luvox |
69 |
005068 |
791 |
|
005068 |
1579 |
|
005069 |
766 |
|
005069 |
762 |
|
005070 |
244 |
|
005070 |
153 |
|
005071 |
185 |
|
017327 |
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) |
70 |
005071 |
Effexor [or Efexor] and Effexor Xr |
391 |
017334 |
Viibryd / Vilazodone |
65 |
|
|
7,328 |
- Alaproclate (GEA-654) - was a research chemical that was being developed as an antidepressant in the 1970s. It was a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and along with zimelidine and indalpine, was one of the first of its kind. Development was discontinued due to the observation of liver complications.
- Dapoxetine, - marketed as Priligy and Westoxetin 30 mg , (among and other brands), is being marketed for premature ejaculation (PE) in men 18–64 years old. It is an SSRI and was initially created as an antidepressant. However, due to its ‘fast acting property’ it was decided to market it for PE but not as an antidepressant. Dapoxetine has been sold in several European and Asian countries, and lately in Mexico, but has not been approved in the US. It appears to being used ‘recreationally’ already.
- Femoxetine (Malexil, FG-4963) is a drug related to paroxetine that was being developed as an antidepressant. It functions as an SSRI. Development was halted to focus attention on paroxetine instead.
- Ifoxetine (CGP-15,210-G) was an SSRI which was investigated as an antidepressant in the 1980s but was never marketed.
- Indalpine (Upstène, LM-5008) was an SSRI antidepressant discovered in 1977 and one of the first on the market. After zimelidine had been withdrawn soon after its marketing in 1983 due to its association with Guillain–Barré syndrome, and the reported association between indalpine and hemotological effects, indalpine was “abruptly taken off the market”.
- Omiloxetine was an SSRI anti-depressant that was under development until 2005, when its development was ceased.
- Panuramine (Wy-26,002) was an SSRI antidepressant which was synthesized but was never marketed.
- Pirandamine (AY-23,713) was an SSRI anti-depressant a investigated in the 1970s as a potential antidepressant but clinical development was not commenced.
- Zimelidine (Zimeldine, Normud, Zelmid) was an SSRI and an antihistamine with antidepressant activity. Zimelidine was first sold in 1982. It was removed from the market after it was found to be one cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome
Related observations
Healing observations
- Cannabis and fibromyalgia 007586
- Cannabis and insomnia 007587
- Cannabis, OCD and schizophrenia 007588
- Cannabis, pharmaceuticals and suicidal depression 010371
- Dr Duke's activity in Caffeic acid 017760
- Heavy metal poisoning and learning difficulties in children from Brazil 013085
- RobCast No.1 (My plant medicine journey with Ayahuasca and San Pedro) 017559
- Rosa Damascena has a Small Effect on SSRI-induced Sexual Dysfunction in Female Patients Suffering from MDD 019797
- Rosa damascena oil improves SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction in male patients suffering from major depressive disorders 019796
- Therapeutics Education Collaboration - Choosing Wisely 012488
- Wombats against depression - The story of Matthew Murphy 017639
- You don't believe in God, do you? 021147
Hallucination
- Abilify and Aripiprazole 001491
- Amitriptyline hydrochloride 015646
- Amoxepine 001507
- Amphetamine & Dextroamphetamine [including Dexedrine, Adderall and Vyvanse] 005757
- An accidental trip from EROWID 018233
- Brain injury associated with widely abused amphetamines: neuroinflammation, neurogenesis and blood-brain barrier 023922
- Buspar and Buspirone 005495
- Cannabis and insomnia 007587
- Captagon 005806
- Car accident and hearing voices 005766
- Citalopram and Celexa 005063
- Cymbalta and Duloxetine 005064
- Cytomel 017704
- Dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome: implications for patient care. 013025
- Dr Penny Sartori - Hallucinations are usually caused by pharmaceuticals in hospitals 014533
- Effects and side effects associated with the non-nutritional use of tryptophan by humans 017320
- Effexor and Venlafaxine 005071
- Escitalopram and Lexapro 005065
- Fluvoxamine Maleate 019068
- Fluvoxamine or Luvox 017327
- Fraulein O 006036
- Hallucinations from a faulty van 006798
- Hallucinations from drug withdrawal 014312
- Hallucinations from SSRIs 006853
- Hallucinations in an erratic driver and zolpidem 005067
- Heavy metal poisoning and learning difficulties in children from Brazil 013085
- Higher than a kite taking PRISTIQ 012632
- Higher than a kite, and dumber than one of those saying i can no longer remember 019445
- Hobson, Dr Allan - The effects of a stroke 05 - Imaginary reptiles conjured up by his drug-soaked thalamus 014252
- Justin Kaplan - Besieged by despotic aliens 012142
- Lamotrigine and Lamictral 005717
- Levothyroxine, Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid 006920
- Ludiomil 019483
- Luvox 019485
- Lyrica hallucinations 023920
- Maprotiline Hydrochloride 019493
- Marplan 019496
- Mikey: I Saw Jesus in the Mirror and Levitated 012103
- Minitran 019535
- Mirtazapine [use and abuse] 024094
- Modulation of NMDA and dopaminergic neurotransmissions by sigma ligands: possible implications for the treatment of psychiatric disorders 018247
- Musical Ear Syndrome 005988
- Musical hallucinations in the elderly deaf 006139
- Nardil 019672
- Neupro 019685
- Oliver Sacks - Zyprexa case history 001501
- Parnate 019831
- Paroxetine 015651
- Paxil 005068
- Pharmaceuticals caused her manic depression 005056
- Phenelzine Sulfate 019842
- Pristiq 015673
- Prostatic and Central Nervous System Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Host: Case Report and Review of the Prostatic Histoplasmosis 027569
- Prozac and Fluoxetine 005066
- Remeron 015694
- Requip 001532
- Seeing little green spots 014404
- Seroquel 015708
- Serotonergic or Anticholinergic Toxidrome: Case Report of a 9-Year-Old Girl 020086
- Sertraline 015709
- Sertraline and Zoloft abuse 024025
- Serzone 005494
- Sleep paralysis, hallucinations and terror from Paxil 014954
- Suicide and manic depression 006864
- Tranylcypromine Sulfate 020231
- Trazadone and Desyrel 005070
- Trimeprazine Tartrate 020239
- Twins and manic depression 006162
- Venlafaxine Hydrochloride 020357
- Viibryd 020367
- Viibryd , Vilazodone 017334
- Visionary Antidepressants? Sertraline (Zoloft) by J.C.E., Utah State P 014809
- Zoloft and Sertraline 005069
Wisdom, Inspiration, Divine love & Bliss
- Angell, Dr Marcia - The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why? 012261
- Angell, Dr Marcia - The Illusions of psychiatry 012262
- Car accident and hearing voices 005766
- Cassidy, Joe - Out of body experience 010038
- The Wombats - Anti-D Official Video 017640
- Wombats against depression - The story of Matthew Murphy 017639
- You don't believe in God, do you? 021147
Out of time
- Cassidy, Joe - Out of body experience 010038
- Mikey: I Saw Jesus in the Mirror and Levitated 012103
- Recurrent postictal depression with Cotard delusion 023100
- RobCast No.1 (My plant medicine journey with Ayahuasca and San Pedro) 017559
- You don't believe in God, do you? 021147
Enlightenment
In time
- An accidental trip from EROWID 018233
- Car accident and hearing voices 005766
- Cassidy, Joe - Out of body experience 010038
- Danielou, Alain – On drugs you are possessed by the spirit being of the drug 022582
- Drug Induced nightmares 012143
- Escitalopram and Lexapro 005065
- Hallucinations from a faulty van 006798
- Hallucinations from drug withdrawal 014312
- Higher than a kite taking PRISTIQ 012632
- Hobson, Dr Allan - The effects of a stroke 05 - Imaginary reptiles conjured up by his drug-soaked thalamus 014252
- Pharmaceuticals caused her manic depression 005056
- Pinchbeck, Daniel - Mushrooms 1 017401
- RobCast No.1 (My plant medicine journey with Ayahuasca and San Pedro) 017559
- Seeing grandpa on anti-depressants 005110
- Sleep paralysis, hallucinations and terror from Paxil 014954
- Twins and manic depression 006162
- Visionary Antidepressants? Sertraline (Zoloft) by J.C.E., Utah State P 014809