10 Things You May Not Have Known About Antidepressants
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Far too often, antidepressants are written off as pills for crazy or sad people, or simply “happy pills” that will make your day brighter. But antidepressants are more complicated than that, as they can treat a wide variety of disorders — and they affect everyone differently.
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, and it often goes undiagnosed. That being said, there are an estimated 350 million people suffering from depression all over the world, according to the WHO. There are different types of depression, as well as other mental illnesses that often go hand-in-hand, like anxiety. In addition to small lifestyle changes, like increased physical activity, improved sleep hygiene and diet, and social interaction, clinical ways of treating depression most commonly include some form of psychotherapy and of course, antidepressants.
If you suffer from some form of depression and haven't tried antidepressants, don't be scared of them. Discuss them with your doctor or psychiatrist to see what the best individualized approach may be for treating your mental illness.
Treating Mental Illness Is Just Like Treating A Physical Illness
Antidepressants have a physical and chemical impact on the brain and body. They're typically used to treat depression, and they act upon neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These chemicals can become imbalanced in the brain, contributing to depression or other mental health issues, and antidepressants work to balance them out.
Most people need to take antidepressants for up to three weeks before they start noticing any positive effects.
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Sometimes they don't work at all for certain people. One-third of patients who use antidepressants experience an improvement in their depression, one-third experience a partial response, and one-third don't respond to the drugs at all. The same goes for side effects. Common side effects of popular antidepressants include weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and an increase in blood sugar, in addition to different levels of sexual dysfunction. But everyone experiences different side effects — and different levels of the side effects.
They might treat other mental health issues, like irritability or fatigue, or even pain or chronic migraines. "Antidepressants have indications for other conditions — premenstrual dysphoric disorders, anxiety disorders like OCD, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder," Dr. Norman Sussman, Professor of Psychiatry at NYU, told Medical Daily . "Some are approved for pain treatment, and some are even used for smoking cessation."
There Isn't Just One Type Of Antidepressant. There are a lot, and each will affect you differently. Choosing the right antidepressant is sort of like choosing the right clothes — everyone is unique. Sometimes it takes several trials of different antidepressants before choosing the one that works best for you.
Mixing Antidepressants With Other Drugs Isn't Always Dangerous
While it's typically not the best idea to drink heavily or abuse other drugs while on antidepressants, Sussman notes that drinking in moderation or using other medications shouldn't be a problem. Check with your doctor first, however.
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Antidepressants Don’t Just Make You Reach A Happy State
"Antidepressants are not abusable," Sussman said. "They're not happy pills, they don't make you euphoric. They take time to work, so it's not like you can pop them like an abusable drug like cocaine or marijuana. They're not recreational drugs. If you don't need it, you probably won't get anything about it aside from side effects."
Antidepressants Don't Change Who You Are As A Person
The myth that antidepressants change your personality isn't true. While certain antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can create some emotional blocking and a decreased responsiveness to things that would make you happy or sad, they don't change who you are as a person."It doesn't change your values, it doesn't change your core personality," Sussman continued. "Unless you're depressed, it makes you less depressed."
They Treat You Like Therapy
Antidepressants may be just as effective in treating major depressive disorder as cognitive behavioral therapy. Research has shown that both antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy are effective in treating major depressive disorder. Sometimes, combining both can provide for even better treatment for certain patients.
You're Not Crazy
Finally, just because you're taking antidepressants doesn't mean you're crazy or you have serious problems. They can be helpful to anyone from those suffering from severe depression to people whose chemical balances are just a bit off. In some ways, it's not too different from choosing nutritional foods or vitamin supplements to keep your body balanced and healthy.
by Lecia Bushak for Medical Daily
3/16/2016
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