Hi, MM.  Hope you and your son get some relief soon!

I honestly don't know the answer to your question.  From what I hear, it does sound like antidepressants might be the first course of treatment for most people who say they're depressed, but I have to wonder how much digging a doctor does, particularly one who isn't a psychiatrist, before writing out that scrip.  Hopefully, they check out possible medical conditions to rule out things like hormonal imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies.  But then, do they ask about the person's life, their stressors and challenges?  A pill can only do so much.  If medication was so successful, we wouldn't have people who are still depressed, myself included.  I keep taking them because I'm afraid that maybe I'll feel worse if I don't.  And I have tried decreasing the dosage, unsuccessfully.

But the medication isn't the only thing I'm doing.  I've had to make changes in my life, my beliefs about myself and the way I see the world to get out of that depression quick-sand and that's required the help of a therapist and I was lucky enough to find a good one.

I suspect that antidepressants might be overprescribed because it's the easiest thing to do, at first glance.  But most of us know, who have taken or are taking them, that it can be a long road to finding the right one and even then, they may stop working or just not do the job.  I think a good number of people are depressed because things aren't working in their lives for a variety of reasons, so the question becomes, "Why aren't they working?"  A pill won't answer that one.

Thank you for sharing your personal struggles with us.  I know Prednisone can have unwanted side effects -- I hope that's not so for you.  And you must be hurting for your son.  Seizures are so scary.  How old is he now?

To me, antidepressants and antipsychotics-for-depression are definitely over-prescribed.  Yet, as Paul stated, I would not want anyone to come between me and my doctor over such decisions.  Because for me. the meds WERE VERY necessary.  Unfortunately, now I can't get off of them, even tapering off slowly, because my brain chemistry has adapted to them and I'm "locked in."  I am certainly careful to read all the prescribing info before I will submit to taking anything else.  I didn't know to do that when I started.