Depression is one of the most common and serious mental health problems of the current time. There has been a significant increase in the number of people silently falling prey to this illness. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global health estimates of 2017, an estimated 322 million people were affected by depression in 2015. India is home to an estimated 57 million people (18% of the global estimate) affected by depression. It is a mental health condition that can affect people of all age groups right from kids to adults to pregnant women and the elderly.
Common Myths And Misconceptions About Antidepressants
While a lot of people including celebs have come out in the open about suffering from depression and how they tackled it, there still seems to be a lot of taboo about this mental disorder. We do hear stories about people taking their lives due to depression. One of the key reasons for this is the lack of awareness about the condition and its treatment options. People suffering from depression always hear from relatives and close friends that medications for depression have numerous side-effects, they are addictive in nature and not good for overall health. Also, yoga, exercise and herbal remedies can help a person get out of the condition, which is not true.
So in this article, we tackle some of these common myths and misconceptions about antidepressants and spread awareness about the condition and its treatment.
#1. Antidepressants are addictive.
No. Antidepressants are not addictive like alcohol or tobacco because you don’t experience any cravings for the medication. Moreover, antidepressants do not cause tolerance, which means you don’t have to take a higher dose of the medication for the drug to be effective in the long term. However, if you stop taking antidepressants suddenly you may experience withdrawal symptoms like nausea, which is why it is important to take a doctor’s advice while going off antidepressants.
#2. Antidepressants are “happy” pills.
This is completely wrong as antidepressants do not give you a high or euphoria. They are medications which help to correct the chemical imbalance in the brain and reduce the constant negative feelings a person with depression goes through. They help a person with depression to actually make it through the day feeling relatively normal and not a merely happier person.
#3. Once on antidepressants, I have to take them for the rest of my life.
Not really. As a general rule, antidepressants are usually taken for one to two years, sometimes longer, to prevent relapses. Moreover, a person has to take antidepressants for about six months after the symptoms of depression go away or as advised by the doctor. It is after this, that the expert will start to wean off the antidepressants by slowly monitoring the dose. In a few cases, especially for people who have two or more relapses of major depression, long-term use of antidepressants is recommended.
#4. Antidepressants give you quick relief.
Not many people are aware of the fact that antidepressants can take around four to six weeks for the medication at a clinically effective dose to start showing any signs of improvement. However, you might experience the side-effects of the medication much earlier. Hence, it is advised to stick to the medications for at least six weeks before you consider changing the medication.
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#5. Antidepressants make you more depressed.
This is mostly the case with people who do not have clinical depression and are wrongly given the medications. The second scenario could be that the person might need a different medication. Hence, it is important to consult the right doctor who can diagnose your condition properly and give you the right type of antidepressants.
#6. Once I start feeling better, I can stop taking antidepressants.
Just like you shouldn’t discontinue a course of antibiotics without completing the course of the medication, you should not stop taking antidepressants even if you are feeling recovered. It is recommended to stay on antidepressants for the prescribed time so as to prevent a relapse. Talk to your doctor about the weaning process or any queries you have regarding the same.
#7. If an antidepressant has worked for my friend or relative with depression, it will work for me too.
It is important to know that every person is different both physically and mentally. As our brains are wired in a unique way, the medication that might work for your friend or colleague might not work for you. This is because the medication which is targeted at a particular chemical messenger might work differently. This is why it is important to study a person with depression in and out before prescribing any medication.
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#8. Antidepressants have serious side-effects.
Like any other medications, antidepressants also have several side-effects which can range from nausea, fatigue, headache and dry mouth to low sex drive. More than half of the people on these medications report side-effects. However, they are less common after the initial weeks of treatment. But if you have severe side-effects such as dizziness, insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, lack of sexual desire, or epileptic fits, see your psychiatrist or therapist immediately. The symptoms such as increased heartbeat, palpitations, yellowing of the skin, and itchy skin could indicate heart or liver damage, which is a sign that you should consult your doctor.
(The article is reviewed by Dr. Swati Mishra, Medical Editor and Dr. Lalit Kanodia, General Physician)
Recommended Reads:
7 Myths About Depression That Are Simply Not True!
8 Natural Ways To Fight Depression
References:
Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017.
Depression: How effective are antidepressants? PubMed Health.
Grover S, Dutt A, Avasthi A. An overview of Indian research in depression. Indian J Psychiatry. 2010 Jan;52(Suppl 1):S178-88.
Antidepressants. Mental Health Medications. Transforming the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses. National Institute of Mental Health.