Recently my partner was prescribed fluoxetine and had a horrible experience on it. From the very first tablet, he felt 'stoned' and this only got worse as he took more. He was shocked, as his GP and friends who take SSRIs had led him to expect a subtle therapeutic effect, not a powerful mind-altering drug! I started to do some independent research, and quickly came across the Panorama series of investigations into GlaxoSmithKline's fraudulent marketing of paroxetine. Some of the experts speaking in those documentaries offered extremely thought-provoking information. Next, I discovered a talk with Dr Grace Jackson, who claims the consistent trend from multiple studies indicates that SSRIs lead to shrinkage of the hippocampus, damage to the brain's serotonin network, impaired blood flow to the brain leading to white matter hyperintensities. By this stage, I was alarmed! Has anyone else looked into these matters? It seems fairly certain, as I understand it, that SSRIs are addictive for many people and now it seems they are also implicated in neural damage! Then why in God's name are GPs continuing to prescribe them on such a huge scale? To my immense relief, my partner has now decided against trying other antidepressants, and we're going to look at alternative treatments. Am feeling very shaken up by all the information I've discovered from scientists who appear to be credible, ethical and fair-minded in their assessment of SSRIs. I'd be grateful for suggestions of effective natural remedies for depression. And interested to hear other perspectives on this.