Jim Carrey: Longtime Prozac Users "Never Get to the Problem"

Us Magazine - December 16, 2008 7:23 PM PST
Story photo: Jim Carrey: Longtime Prozac Users Jim Carrey attends a photocall for 'Yes Man' on December 9, 2008 in London, England.Us Magazine
Tom Cruise isn't the only actor who frowns upon the use of anti-depressant drugs.

On Monday's Larry King Live, Jim Carrey -- who has battled depression since he was a child -- warned people about using Prozac for a long period of time.

"At the risk of like opening up the whole Tom Cruise Prozac argument, you know, I don't disagree in many ways," Carrey said. "I think Prozac and things like that are very valuable to people for short periods of time. But I believe if you're on them for an extended period of time, you never get to the problem.

"You never get to see what the problem is, because everything is just kind of OK," he said. "And so, you don't deal. And people deal when they get desperate."

Carrey's solution: "Supplements," he said.

"It is vitamins. But it's also certain elements of the brain like Tyrosine and hydroxytryptophan that they're treating depression with now," he said. "It is a natural substance that's in your brain. Instead of being a Serotonin inhibitor, which just uses the serotonin you have and Prozac and things like that it just uses the Serotonin you have and it doesn't allow it go back into the receptor.

"It metabolizes your serotonin after a while and you have to keep taking more and more to feel good.

"This actually creates dopamine and creates serotonin," Carrey continued. "It's a wonderful thing. It's amazing. I'm going to talk a lot about it in the near future."

Carrey said his girlfriend Jenny McCarthy also helps him.

He recalled meeting her years ago at David Spade's birthday party.

"She looked at me, and she said, 'You just looked so peaceful that I had to come and talk to you,'' he told King. "I mean, I'd seen her a bunch of times, never in person. But I just thought -- well, she's nothing like the persona, like the Singled Out person that I met -- or that I knew, that I had seen."

He said they have no plans to wed.

See photos of more stars who won't wed.

"I love Jenny very much, and we have a great relationship. And we've both been married a couple times," the Yes Man star said. "I like it the way it is, and I think she likes it the way it is."

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comments 1-10 of 39  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • FIN
    kateyv45 There is no known cure for Autism.To write something so vile actually puts you in the group of people who are seriously mentally ill.Please seek the help of a Professional,and come back here from time to time to report on your progress.I for one,am very concerned for your health and well being.
    report abuseposted December 25, 2008 8:24 AM PST
  • FIN
    TRUTH999 Anything can be made into pill form.This doesn't necessarily mean it is also a drug.People in general can benefit from natural sources,and/or vitamins.To jump the gun and list WORSE CASE SCENARIOS,is totally wrong.How many people have gotten "better" using placebo's? LOTS. To assume folks are going to take J.C's advice tells me you think everyone
    report abuseposted December 25, 2008 8:20 AM PST
  • Tina P
    truth9999 said: Mind-altering drugs are bad, PERIOD! Why is this even debated anymore? Because they are all on Prozac mind altering drugs. Vitamins are natural from the earth and Prozac and other mind altering drugs are man made chemicals that have been mutated and combined. Natural vitamins are supplements that are natures medicines just like water.
    report abuseposted December 18, 2008 4:55 PM PST
  • swtncute1981
    He is right that medication isn't solving any problems. All doctors do is dope you up and make you forget about it. I know I was really depressed. One day I looked at my daughter and thought I couldn't depend on meds anymore. I started to exercise and deal with the problems the best I could. Doctors also recomend you too exercise if you are depressed.
    report abuseposted December 18, 2008 4:34 PM PST
  • Wow, he must have been the one who "cured" McCarthy's son of autism too! What an a$$.
    report abuseposted December 17, 2008 2:58 AM PST
  • Spoken like somone who doesn't know what they're talking about ala Tom Cruise. Well, thanks Dr. Carrey, but I'll stick to a real doctor if I need this kind of thing. These drugs have saved lives. Stick your vitamins wherever you'd like, Jim, but don't advise others on what you don't understand.
    report abuseposted December 17, 2008 2:53 AM PST
  • LA
    A lot of that didn't make anysense anyway.
    report abuseposted December 17, 2008 1:42 AM PST
  • Matthew C
    Carrey, shut the f**k up! Just because you can regurgitate what you've been told doesn't make you qualified to give medical advice. I guess you don't care at this point since nobody sees your movies anyhow.
    report abuseposted December 17, 2008 1:41 AM PST
  • LaLa
    HEY JIM IF YOU ARE TAKING SUPPLEMENTS ITS STILL A PILL! LETS SEE YOUR MEDICAL DEGREE! YOUR OPINION CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION THAT JUST STOP TAKING THEIR MEDS. SEIZURES, SPIKES IN BLOOD PRESSURE AND ONSET OF MORE SYMPTOMS. TALK TO YOUR DOCS PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN TO JIM CARREY!
    report abuseposted December 16, 2008 10:28 PM PST
  • truth9999
    Mind-altering drugs are bad, PERIOD! Why is this even debated anymore?
    report abuseposted December 16, 2008 10:09 PM PST
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