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Summary: Up-to-date look at antidepressants
Review: Appleton offers a cutting-edge look at the current crop of antidepressants. However, this isn't just a recitation of facts, but also Appleton offering his own views about the state of medication in our society. I only share some of his views. It's worth checking out to see if you agree with him. Also worth checking out if you're considering taking an antidepressant and want to get a feel for what's available. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".
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Summary: In-depth reading for the curious minded
Review: The book is not very long but offers just the right amount of information and makes for easy reading without all the technical jargon. It gives a very informative background on the various new antidepressants and is a must read for those already on antidepressants who are curious or have concerns about what they are currently taking. What I liked most were the comparisons of the various kinds of new antidepressants as well as the side effects known to each.
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Summary: Especially valuable.
Review: This "little" book (it can be read in a few hours yet consulted as a comprehensive reference tool) is the one own if you must limit yourself to one (and given the abundance of material in print and on-line, it may be wise to have just one reliable resource). It provides user-friendly yet responsible information about all of the SSRI's (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil) as well as the drugs that preceded them (tricyclics, benzodiazapines) and the more recent antidepressants (Effexor, Remeron, Celexa). Appleton looks at many promising drugs awaiting approval as well as the vast number of touted herbal remedies. The author has no agenda. He provides balanced information about the percentage of consumers who are likely to be helped and to what degree. He also suggests 2 and 3-step drug programs for individuals who are "treatment-resistant." Best of all, the author combines appreciation for the medical efficacy of certain drugs with healthy skepticism and an experienced professional's common-sense.
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Summary: Objectively speaking,...
Review: This "little" book (it can be read in a few hours yet consulted as a comprehensive reference tool) is the one own if you must limit yourself to one (and given the abundance of material in print and on-line, it may be wise to have just one reliable resource). It provides user-friendly yet responsible information about all of the SSRI's (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil) as well as the drugs that preceded them (tricyclics, benzodiazapines) and the more recent antidepressants (Effexor, Remeron, Celexa). Appleton looks at many promising drugs awaiting approval as well as the vast number of touted herbal remedies. The author has no agenda. He provides balanced information about the percentage of consumers who are likely to be helped and to what degree. He also suggests 2 and 3-step drug programs for individuals who are "treatment-resistant." Best of all, the author combines appreciation for the medical efficacy of certain drugs with healthy skepticism and an experienced professional's common-sense.
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Summary: Objectively speaking,...
Review: This book is rich with updated information on antidepressants. In this sense, perhaps it is a helpful tool for those who are looking for technical information to help treat the debilitating disease of depression. However, it is interesting that when you carefully read between the lines and especially towards the end of the book, the author seems to strongly have his own point of view about drug treatment. He's not too "fond" of it. Which is fine with me... everybody has their own views and even theories regarding depression. So much is yet unknown about the human brain so this is only natural. As one who greatly suffers from this disease, my only concern is if this book is truly objective. (Excuse the repeated words. It occurs through Amazon, and cannot be edited.)
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Summary: A very concise book that...almost...helps greatly
Review: This book is the second best I've read for the description of the Antidepressants, the side effects, and who should be taking them (the best is the Antidepressant Survival Program). If you have depression and / or anxiety, this is a must-read book. ......... Unfortunately, unlike Dr. Hedaya, author of The Antidepressant Survival Program, they hardly ever recommend a diet that includes plenty of protein and also the proper vitamin and mineral supplements. Protein is absolutely critical for production of neurotransmitters, which tend to be low in major depression. Magnesium stabilizes heart rate and relaxes muscles. B-complex helps restore normal metabolism, including production of serotonin. Vitamin C does all kinds of things in the brain, including having antipsychotic activity (inhibition of activated dopamine adenylate cyclase), antihistamine activity (histamine is much more involved in mental illness than most doctor's currently realize), and prevention of neurotransmitter oxidation. Vitamin E has a mild antidepressant effect, possibly because of increasing blood flow inside the brain. These items listed above are detailed in another book, the Failures of American Medicine, available here at Amazon.
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Summary: Honesty and Anti-Depressants
Review: This book was informative at best. As one who has been intimately familiar with depression all my life and especially the recent fashionable anti-depressant drug craze, I will tell anyone to please ignore the reviewer from 10-19-00 (an excellent example of what I was like while "high" on various shrink-prescribed antidepressant drugs). I finally weaned myself off all antidepressants (3 years and counting). I feel sober. I'd recommend a close look at one of Joseph Glenmullin's books or Undoing Depression by Richard O'Connor. Will someone please direct me to the gene where depression is passed on to one's progeny? Please don't buy into pop-science idiocies and junk theories. For "chronic depression", try everything else that is healthy (diet, exercise, new attitudes and mental habits) and do them for YEARS before you resort to long-term or "maintenance" use of antidepressant drugs. Read everything you can get your hands on, talk to everyone you can who has taken them, and make your own informed decision about what you will and will not risk permanent brain damage for.
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Summary: Thank You
Review: This is an excellant place to start if you want to know more about antidepressant drugs. It is easy to read and understand but this is not just some guy's opinion. The information contained here is current to the date of publication. As a bonus the author includes a review of various medications not available in America but commonly used overseas (Europe mostly) and some herbal medicines. This section is also helpful and easy to read and look up specific herbs or medicines. The section on drugs in the "pipeline" is not of the same quality and interest as the rest of the book. Skim it if you must but don't start with the last chapter and think it is reflect of the rest of the book. This would be helpful for those with depression or for family members trying to understand depression and options for treatment. It is also a useful tool for non-medical service providers who need an easy reference tool for common antidepressant medications.
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