Depression and Drugs

[Brian]

Question:

Paul phoned in to ask: What's the Buddhist view on Antidepressants? Is
it looked on the same as alcohol?

Answer:

I hate to put words into Buddha's mouth, but I suspect that his
prohibition against intoxicants wasn't intended to condemn medicinal
treatments.

In a perfect world, antidepressants would not be necessary; you would
have such perfect mental control that they would be redundant. In
reality, that's rarely the case. People battling depression (and it IS
a battle) are not taking the drugs for enjoyment or pleasure; they are
taking them in order to function. The fifth precept (“I undertake the
precept to refrain from taking intoxicants”) was not meant to harm
anyone, but rather the point was to keep monks in line. You cannot
meditate and reach Enlightenment when you are too drunk to sit up
straight. On the other hand, you cannot meditate and reach
enlightenment if your depression keeps you from caring one way or the
other. If it takes antidepressant medication to get you through the
day, then that's just what it takes-- there is no reason to judge it.

There is, however, a fine line between a necessary psychological/
medical treatment and fueling an addiction. An addict needs his “drug”
too, but as with many things dealing with karma, intention and motives
have to be considered. We have occasionally talked about addiction and
recovery here in the past, so if you are not actually taking the
medication under a doctor's supervision, I would look into some kind
of treatment program.

As always, just my opinion. There ARE other viewpoints on this.

Comment at: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1386