Moral Question

[Lenai Arina]

Okay, this is something that's been bothering me for awhile. Is it ethically sound to drug people's emotions? Antidepressants specifically. I mean, even if it helps a person, it it morally sound to happy pill someone? Especially if it's messing with the chemicals in one's brain. What if you change that person entirely? What if you make it so they're no longer the same person?

Yes, I am weird. Thank you.

[kittymay]

Well, Arina... As someone who has been on Anti-depressants I believe they are bennificial. They correct the chemical imballence people have. Thats their use. They don't change the person fully and despite the nickname 'Happy Pill' They aren't really such a thing. They just make you slightly less depressed. Although... I guess... depending on the dosage then maybe, but more often then not, their affects aren't really noticable. I took them for four years. Although my mood changed slightly. I.E. I was less depressed some days, but most of the time I was the same me.

However, the effects of coming off the 'happy pills' do have the possibility of changing a person. When I came off my medication. I became irretable. More so then usual. I stuttered, I had chills and I couldn't sleep. Though those were all caused by withdrawl. People can go through withdrawl longer then the doctors expect it takes for the drugs to get out of their system. Sometimes, well after the person is over their withdrawl, they take on some of the symptoms. Me for example. I have chills, I stutter alot but not as bad as I did before and I still have temperment issues.

Overall, I believe the drugs are very useful for their perpose. However to have to quit useing them is the real trouble. Not everyone can last through that and it sometimes ends badly.
But, thats just what I think.

[dster]

Well, to start with, I take anti-depressants. Indeed I do. And from my own personal view, yes, they are ethically sound. The drug really doesn't "mess" with one's emotions. The purpose of the anti-depressants is to fix the chemical imbalance in the brain which is causing the depression. o.o Fixing. Not messing. Trust me, I take anti-depressants each night and they really do help! Before I took them, I was pretty emotionally unstable... none of it was fun in the least. After taking the pill, I feel much better, and more comfortable with life again. I don't really see how the pill could "entirely change" somebody, insofar as they become happier. o.o Isn't that the purpose of taking anti-depressants in the first place?