I’ve always wondered whether certain side effects (e.g. suicidal ideation, depression, lethargy, etc.) manifested simply due to the fact that the people taking them were ostensibly suffering from depression. Has there been any substantial research disentangling these variables and demonstrating that these symptoms were directly related to the medication itself?
As an aside, I’ll never forget being involved in a pharmaceutical study involving a medication that had yet to secure FDA approval. I mentioned some innocuous dizziness that was more than likely caused by getting up too fast. It was as if I declared that my eyes were bleeding! Reams of diagnostic forms were sent my way. Every conversation seemed to begin and end with me quantifying my “dizziness” on some sort of numerical scale. If the medication were to finally come to market, I have no doubt that one of the listed side effects would have been dizziness, even if I were the only one to report a single occasion of it. I guess it would be easier just to list any possible side effect than to open themselves up for future litigation. Regardless, it caused me to take the plethora of side effects (many that often contradict each other, like diarrhea and constipation) listed at the end of those commercials with the proverbial grain of salt.
Also, while I get the gist of what you’re driving at, I think it would obviously depend upon the magnitude of the condition. Someone in the throes of a severe episode of depression would likely find warnings of potential side effects laughable (or, at least, as laugh-inducing as a clinically depressed person could muster). Gary Gulman’s bit about this really hits the mark (link below):
As someone who takes these supplements and quit taking antidepressants, i feel much better with proper supplementation (taking most of the aforementioned as well as 5-htp before bed and Ashwaganda during the day) and frequent rigorous exercise.
Great article. Im grateful to The Bongino Report for posting your articles and turning me onto this site.