One More Reason to Avoid Antidepressants

July 27, 2016

One More Reason to Avoid Antidepressants

Antidepressants are prescribed by mainstream doctors all too often today, and for just about any ailment you can think of. We’ve often warned you about the dangers of these drugs, and just when you thought the side effects of antidepressants couldn’t get any worse, there’s evidence that they can harm your heart. Even worse than that, they are actually given to many patients with heart disease. Take a look at the following research:

Celexa Can Cause Dangerous Abnormalities in the Electrical Activity of the Heart
In August 2011, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Safety Communication (DSC) stating that citalopram (Celexa) should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day because it could cause potentially dangerous abnormalities in the electrical activity of the heart.

Antidepressants Linked to Thicker Arteries
Antidepressant use has been linked to thicker arteries, possibly contributing to the risk of heart disease and stroke, in a study of twin veterans. Antidepressants’ effects on blood vessels may come from changes in serotonin, a chemical that helps some brain cells communicate but also functions outside the brain. Among the 59 pairs of twins where only one brother took antidepressants, the one taking the drugs tended to have higher thickness of the lining of the main arteries in the neck. “One of the strongest and best-studied factors that thickens someone’s arteries is age, and that happens at around 10 microns per year. In our study, users of antidepressants see an average 40 micron increase in IMT (intima-media thickness: measure of thickness of the layers of the artery wall), so their carotid arteries are in effect four years older.”

Cardiovascular Side Effects of New Antidepressants and Antipsychotics
Research shows that these drugs often cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart beat). An increasing number of case reports have demonstrated that the use of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and new antipsychotics (e.g. clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, sertindole, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, quetiapine) are associated with cases of arrhythmias, prolonged QTc interval on electrocardiogram (ECG) and orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure) in patients lacking cardiovascular disorders, raising new concerns about the cardiovascular safety of these compounds. This research also states that cardiovascular mortality in psychiatric patients is high. Reports of sudden unexplained death in those taking psychotropic drugs, including neuroleptics and antidepressants, have raised the concern that part of this excess may be due to drug-induced arrhythmias.

Antidepressant Toxicity: Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome” describes the toxic symptoms of too much serotonin. Serotonin syndrome may occur when central and peripheral serotonin receptors are overstimulated as a result of high levels of serotonin through the action of antidepressant medications or drugs of abuse, and can be life threatening. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include agitation, anxiety, disorientation, restlessness, excitement, tremors, clonus (alternate involuntary muscular contraction and relaxation in rapid succession), muscle rigidity, akisthesia, hypertension, tachycardia, and arrhythmias. To review the entire list of symptoms, click here.

Side Effects of Antidepressants
Here are some of the other side effects of antidepressants that will also make you think twice about taking them:

New or worsening depression              Fast or irregular heartbeat
Homicidal and suicidal tendencies     High or low blood pressure
Feeling restless, angry or irritable       Difficulty breathing or swallowing
New or sudden changes in mood         Abnormal bleeding
Flattened emotions                                    Severe muscle stiffness
Agitation                                                         Swelling of the face, throat, tongue
Anxiety or panic attacks                           Hallucinations
Nervousness                                                  Excessive sweating
Headaches                                                     Manic episodes
Dry mouth                                                      Confusion
Nausea                                                            Jitters
Low sex drive                                                Insomnia

Caution: Do Not Abruptly Stop Taking Antidepressants
If you are currently taking antidepressants, it’s crucial that you don’t suddenly stop taking them. These drugs are addicting and can cause severe, dangerous withdrawal symptoms. You need to work with your doctor to wean off of them slowly and safely. We recommend reading, “The Antidepressant Solution: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safely Overcoming Antidepressant Withdrawal, Dependence, and ‘Addiction,’” by Joseph Glenmullen, M.D. This is a great resource to give to your doctor.

At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, we don’t recommend the use of antidepressants because they are dangerous drugs with many negative side effects and they will not solve the underlying cause of your health problems. The root cause of depression does not lie in an antidepressant deficiency. Treating depression lies in treating the underlying cause, which is often a decline in your hormones. As Dr. Hotze always says, people don’t have these health issues because they have low levels of antidepressants in their system. Find the cause of your symptoms and you can get rid of them, while staying healthy and not jeopardizing your health.

Related articles:
Protect Your Children From Psychiatric Medication Part I
Medication Madness Part II

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

Agreement*
By filling out the above, you agree to receive educational, informative emails on alternative medicine and hormone balancing. You will have the option to unsubscribe at any time.
Hidden
Hidden

Categories

AboutHotze Health & Wellness Center

Since 1989, Hotze Health & Wellness Center has helped over 33,000 patients get their lives back using bioidentical hormones that restore hormones to optimal levels, strengthen immune systems, and increase energy levels. Our treatment regimen addresses the root cause of hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, and candida.

Led by best-selling author, radio host and leading natural health expert, Steven F. Hotze, M.D., our medical team has over 100 years’ combined medical experience backed by a staff of nearly 100 caring professionals who provide an environment of hope and extraordinary hospitality for each of our patients, who we call our guests. It is our deepest desire to help you obtain and maintain health and wellness naturally so that you may enjoy a better quality of life, pure and simple.

 

What I BelieveBY DR. STEVEN HOTZE

Do you want to live a healthy, happy, purpose-driven life? Do you want to restore your health so that your loss of energy, weight gain, joint pain, depression and lack of drive or motivation won’t hold you back from achieving your personal and professional goals?

Dr. Steven Hotze wants that for you, too. In fact, in his powerful and passionate video entitled, “What I Believe”, Dr. Hotze shares how his Christian worldview and pivotal experiences have ignited a deep desire to offer the message of hope and optimal health to all who need to hear it.


Follow Us
#hotzehealth

As seen on:

  • ABC
  • Fow News Channel
  • NBC
  • CNN
  • The Biography Channel
  • Bloomberg Businessweek
  • The Early Show
  • Good Morning Texas
  • Great Day Houston

Our Doctors

At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, our doctors are changing the way women and men are treated through the use of bioidentical hormones. Our natural treatments have helped over 33,000 individuals with hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, candida, detoxification and nutritional deficiencies.

Meet our doctors

Guest Testimonials

Peggy W.

"After just 3 weeks into the program, my joint pain was gone, climbing stairs became easy, my energy level increased from 2 to a 9 (out of 10) and I lost almost 30 pounds! ”

Read More guest testimonials
Pam White
Pam White
2023-03-10
At Hotze Health and Wellness YOU can truly find restoration of your health and vibrant life! You will find the most caring and effective healthcare available! Don't hesitate call them today!!!
Ron Guidry
Ron Guidry
2023-03-08
Doctors are not the final authority in our journey of achieving/maintaining health and wellness but having a good team of doctors in your support and guidance community is not only helpful it is wise and also essential. The team and staff at Hotze Health and Wellness are health professionals that you can trust to help you navigate all the misinformation that may be keeping you separated from your optimal level of health.
Caral Reeves
Caral Reeves
2023-01-17
Hotze Beauty is a first class facility! Extreme level of professionalism , knowledge & genuine care❤️‍🩹
Julie Hryszko
Julie Hryszko
2023-01-12
I’ve been a guest at this facility for 15 years. They are the most efficient, thorough and caring group of individuals I’ve ever experienced. Dr Hotze looks to change the way a typical doctor treats patients and looks for root causes to eliminate medical issues instead of treating “symptoms”. My life has improved 100% since my initial visit. The cost of the treatments are worth it.
Shavon Sisson
Shavon Sisson
2023-01-11
Always a great experience dealing with everyone at Hotze Heath and Wellness! Everyone is kind and helpful.
Kori Misson
Kori Misson
2022-12-21
I cannot accurately describe in words how I feel about this practice and the entire staff. I have had quite a few health issues throughout the years, rheumatoid arthritis, sjogrens, weight gain, hair loss, irritability, and that is just the beginning. I had pretty much given up on feeling good, just decided to "live with it" and hope for the best. Two very close friends love the Hotze Wellness Clinic and they have experienced life changing health. Made my appointment and from the beginning I felt heard. Not a in and out fast food style practice. They are looked and are looking at my entire body for overall health and wellness. Connections from mind and body to clinical blood work, even dental questions....they care and I feel as if I can trust them. I am on a path to complete wellness and my goal is to have my RA back in remission as it once was....make yourself a priority. Having hope is an incredible feeling!