# best LEGAL medication

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-legal-medication/683908>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 17, 2014, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-legal-medication/683908 "2014-03-17T07:11:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-legal-medication/683908/21 "2014-03-19T03:37:13Z")

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> [@buddha\_david](#):
>
> The FDA’s dirty little secret: [Black Box Warning.](http://drugs.about.com/od/medicationabcs/a/BlackBoxWarning.htm)

I just picked up my script for Xanax and did not see any black box warning. Does this med not qualify?

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**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-legal-medication/683908/22 "2014-03-19T05:46:18Z")

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> [@MLS](#):
>
> **Whitney Harper** , I agree with your statements about Valium and Xanax. It’s also true that alcohol is a depressant.
> 
> However, I take issue with your last two statements. Depression is NOT about needing to “be happy all of the time.” Depression is being unable to be happy about anything, ever. It’s an entirely different thing, altogether. \<Airplane!\> (All: It’s an entirely different thing.) \</\>
> 
> Seriously, real depression is not just being sad sometimes. It’s looking at a beautiful sunny day with babies and kittens playing in the grass and thinking, “I guess that’s nice. I think I should enjoy that,” and not being able to.

good point, it seems today many people (even doctors) think if someone is sad sometimes they must be depressed

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**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-legal-medication/683908/23 "2014-03-19T18:27:42Z")

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Right. If a loved one just died and you’re NOT sad, there’s probably something wrong with you. But if you just cannot physically manage to get out of bed, or you cry for an hour or two for no reason at all, and this goes on month after month, you need help. It might start with a medication of some sort, it might involve talking with a professional, it might involve long-term medication.

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**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-legal-medication/683908/24 "2014-03-20T04:30:38Z")

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> [@PeacePlease](#):
>
> I just picked up my script for Xanax and did not see any black box warning. Does this med not qualify?

Xanax (generic: alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine. It’s in a different class of medications than the antidepressants which I’m assuming the above poster was referencing. I’m not sure if it’s a sarcastic comment or not, but it’s not exactly a secret; I tell all my patiens that starting them on an SSRI can oftentimes make them feel more depressed initially, and to be on the lookout for that.

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