Depression. My case in support of antidepressant medication
Hi Musers, as you will know from my previous posts, I suffer from depression. I have for over 25 years, and while I have good days, it is always there in some form or fashion. It limits my life and makes me feel too exhausted even to exist sometimes. I’ve discussed what I do on bad days and strategies I use to try to cope. What I haven’t talked about much is the role of medication in treating my depression. There is a lot of information out there, both good and bad, about antidepressants. I know that while it’s not a perfect solution, I couldn’t cope without my daily dose. So for that reason, the purpose of today’s post is to debunk a few myths, go over the pros and cons and state my case in support of antidepressant medication.
Are antidepressants addictive? Does your body eventually need them to be happy?
A worry a lot of people have is that they will become addicted to their antidepressants. It’s an understandable worry, but antidepressants are not addictive. Here’s why:
- There is no “high” with antidepressants. Narcotics and alcohol have an instant effect on your body and a spike in good feelings. Antidepressants, on the other hand, can take weeks to work. It’s not a big high that you feel either. It just lifts you off rock bottom.
- You won’t find yourself craving them if you stop taking them.
- No withdrawal. You may decide once you’ve come off ADs that actually you still need their help, but it’s not withdrawal. No sweating or shaking.
As for whether you will need them long term, that’s more tricky. Many people can and do take ADs for a relatively short time of 6-12 months and then never need them again. Others, like me, with several depressive episodes and a family history of depression, may need to take them long term. It isn’t caused by the medication, though; it depends on the person.
Do They Have Horrendous Side-Effects?
Side-effects yes. Horrendous? No, not really. At least not in my experience or that of the people I know who have taken it. If you read the list of side-effects, it does sound terrifying, but this is true of any medication you take, even paracetamol. To protect themselves from lawsuits, drug companies have to list all potential side-effects even if the odds of you suffering from them are literally 1 in a million. According to the NHS website, these are the common side-effects
- feeling agitated, shaky or anxious
- feeling and being sick
- indigestion and stomach aches
- diarrhoea or constipation
- loss of appetite
- dizziness
- not sleeping well (insomnia), or feeling very sleepy
- headaches
- low sex drive
- difficulties achieving orgasm during sex or masturbation
- in men, difficulties obtaining or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
Of these, I’ve personally only had a few. I had awful nausea for 2-3 days when starting and stopping Sertraline. It felt horrible, but it was manageable. I did find my symptoms of anxiety got worse for a week or so too. The sex drive part is correct for me too, I don’t know 100% if it’s the medication or my chronic fatigue, though. I’m tired all the time.
Haven’t People Committed Suicide After Taking Antidepressants?
Yes. A very small group of people had an extreme reaction when taking antidepressants. It either made their depression worse or caused psychosis. However, multiple studies have found no correlation between antidepressants and an increased risk of suicide in adults. I also believe that antidepressants will have prevented far more suicides than they caused. That’s the reason why I’m in support of antidepressant medication. I’ve never felt suicidal but what if I’d never taken medication? I’m honestly not sure
My Experience
I know I’m not in a good place at all without them. I tried coming off them a few years ago without telling my family. They were so confused by my irritability and mood swings that it nearly cost me my marriage. It was only when Mike told me how unhappy he was, and I admitted I was off my medication that things improved. Needless to say, I went back on it pretty quickly.
I have had side-effects, but they were mostly mild. The one exception is Mirtazapine. I was exhausted for the first week of taking it; I physically couldn’t stay awake. After that, I was a horrible person. Angry and irritable all the time. After a month, I came off them and have not had a similar reaction to any other type of medication since.
Do antidepressants “fix” you?
No. Not for most people. As I explained above, the role of antidepressants is to lift you off rock bottom. To make you able to cope with life. They will not “cure” you and make you feel as if you don’t have depression. You still have to do the work, I’m afraid. I used the medication as a springboard to make changes that would help me long term. I started to exercise a little. I found hobbies I enjoyed, like this blog 😃 I bought myself pretty clothes and makeup and started learning to love my body. I still have good and bad days, but the bad days are less extreme. Not to sound like a broken record but that’s why I support antidepressant medication as a primary treatment.
Your experience might be different. You may need to see a therapist or work to repair relationships damaged by your depression or tidy your house or try to advance your career. Once the antidepressants kick in, only you can take an inventory and decide what improvements you need to make.
I’ve Been Taking Antidepressants For A Few Months And Feel Great. Should I Stop Taking Them?
No! This is the number 1 mistake people make. Just as antidepressants should only be started under medical supervision, they need to be ended the same way. The medication built up over months in your system, and a sudden drop can cause many side-effects, not to mention a severe relapse in your symptoms. If you feel you’re ready to try coping on your own please, Please, PLEASE talk to your doctor. They will help you come off them in a controlled manner and supervise you while you do. It is the only safe way.
The Takeaway
While I understand people feeling wary and wanting to try other avenues of treatment, in my experience, for those to work, you need to be in a place where you can participate. I couldn’t do that. Your depression might be less severe than mine, and you manage without them. If not, then please don’t be afraid to consider them if your doctor suggests them. If you’re in the UK like me, then please bear in mind that the NHS is amazing in so many ways, but there is a long queue for mental health support. It could take months to receive counselling unless you pay for it privately or have a scheme through work.
Yes, exercise can help too, but I found myself so low I couldn’t make myself do it until I was medicated. That’s why I’m speaking in support of antidepressant medication. Remember, the point of this article is to try and allay the fears you might have, not to insist every person with depression must take medication. It’s your body, your life, your choice. Always.
Until next time, take care of yourselves.
Love CMoo
