1. What are antidepressants

2. Side effects

3. How affective are they

4. Duration of treatment 

5. Stopping Antidepressants

It's a quick treatment. Instread of finding another way, medication can be effective within one to two weeks. But you might feel benefits sooner than this. It relieves the symptoms of severe depression, when feeling down, and or exhausted very fast. 

My cousin, lost his mom and brother a few years ago. It was never easy for him to lose two people who he had loved the most in the entire world, he was young and didn’t know much. Throughout the interview he was very open, he opened up his feelings. When I had asked about any side effects with antidepressants he had mentioned how he noticed his mood changing a lot. They can be a huge help when you feel alone, lost, and confused. Something I had learned was realizing how different everyone's story is. There is no right or wrong answer to healing depression, you just have to experiment and find the best option for you.

I have witnessed family members including my mom struggle with this problem for the past year and don’t think depression should be treated with medication. It’s a big risk, in which can turn into something bigger than what it already was. The side effects can become very extreme. I would personally never take them. I would prefer finding another method to help and not in which I feel I have to rely on pills to be mentally well. They make you forget your problems rather than deal with them. 

In a world, when people are sick they tend to reach for a bottle of pills, thinking it’ll make them better. It’s always important to look into both the positive and negative outcomes. It can lead people into an ongoing cycle of medication if  not used correctly. People tend to experience extreme side effects including behavior change, hallucinations, confusion and agitation, nausea, and more. In the process of using this medication you need to know how, it can be more complicated than you may think. Duration, missed or extra dose, stopping antidepressants in general can put you in a very difficult situation. Knowing the facts about this medication is important if you are ever considering using them, you’ll need to know what you’re getting yourself into as it can be a very intense drug, however looking into how other people deal with antidepressants can help as well, considering everyone responds differently. If relying on a drug to cure you isn’t what you believe in, you may not be totally wrong as the state of mind plays a huge role in contributing to treating this depression. Everyone has a different belief whether they want to involve themselves with medication or want to manage it personally with therapy. Finding the right treatment for you is a personal journey that may not always be easy.

What are antidepressants? Antidepressants are a medication that generally helps treat depression. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a constant feeling of sadness, someone struggling with depression may deal with loss of interest in things or activities they once enjoyed. Can cause difficulty with thinking, memory, motivation, eating and sleeping. About 21 million adults or 8.3% of adults have experienced major depression in the United States. There are different types of depression such as clinical depression, which is the most common. Persistent depressive disorder, a mild but long term form of depression. Bipolar disorder, which may cause extreme mood swings that include emotional highs and lows. Bipolar ii disorder, a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. Last but not least postpartum disorder, depression that occurs after childbirth. Although antidepressants can be a type of treatment they may not alway work the way you want them to. Many health providers urge you to talk to someone instead as effectiveness can vary from person to person. Research on antidepressants has shown that they can work in reducing symptoms of depression and improving everyday function. Antidepressants generally change the way your brain thinks. It adds chemicals into your brain to change a person’s mood, behavior, and emotion. These chemicals are called serotonin and noradrenaline. In other cases they can be prescribed for other conditions such as anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and other certain types of chronic pain. The similarities between these conditions is that they are all mental health conditions. They may share very similar symptoms as well as can be influenced by biological, genetic, and environmental factors. 

Being consistent with dose and duration is a very important factor when on antidepressants. The right dose and duration can be hard to nail down. There are so many types, the most effective being bupropion and mirtazapine, both being first choice options when treating depression. You usually take 1 to 3 tables a day, as the exact number depends on severity, and type of antidepressant being prescribed. A course treatment usually lasts up to 6 months, however  research shows “the average duration in people today is 3.9 years”. It’s a huge chunk of your life, relying and  being on drugs for 4 years of your life. Might make someone feel confused, miserable, and make the condition worse. “You’ll start on the lowest possible dose to improve your symptoms.” If you’re using for 4 weeks and you don’t feel any difference in yourself, you need to speak to a mental health specialist and try another form of medication. Showing it’s a big commitment, and the most important step when you fail at it, it feels like a waste of time. Waiting to see results and never receiving them, not knowing if medication may even work.

It’s important to make sure you don’t miss a dose or try to make up for the one you missed as it can mess up your treatment plan and make it less effective. Taking too many, taking a double dose can lead to an overdose. When missing a dose you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, drowsiness, mental confusion, coma, blurred vision, and more. “The risk of overdose can increase depending on several factors”. For example if you’re already taking another type of medication, it may not mix well with the antidepressants, it can be too much for your body to handle and lead to severe complications. To treat an overdose you will need “close monitoring in an emergency department or hospital setting.” Either or, both are bad news, when done by mistake it is crucial to call, check with a pharmacist, a medical professional and get the best advice you need. Making sure you set reminders for yourself as it’s something you need to fit into your daily schedule.

Coming off antidepressants can make your depression return or worsen. It should be “considered thoughtfully and made with the support of your physician”. When making a choice and getting medication you’ll need to know how to do it. Taking your time being the most important, even if you think you don’t need it, your body is so used to being on the medication it won’t know how to act and function without it. Antidepressants aren’t an addictive medication, however it will mess up the way you think if not used correctly. Staying active, research has shown that people are “less likely to relapse after recovering from depression if they exercise 3x a week or more”.  Exercise boosts serotonin levels you’ll need, treating your body the best you can. Not only exercising but eating healthy and getting enough sleep. How well you’re dealing with  mental health  may physically show up. Working on loving yourself and taking care of yourself.

Although antidepressants are effective, never use them as a way to heal your depression. They won’t fix every situation, they won’t work for everyone. Considering therapy, lifestyle changes, and support from the people you love will work if you’re willing to try so. Research has shown “they are effective in moderate, severe and chronic depression, but probably not in mild cases.” It really depends on the person, as they can be a huge help if you feel you have no other option. “She was at the lowest point in her life,” said Hannah Gurtholot. Developed anxiety, dealt with a family death, experienced weight loss, weight gain, felt lonely, numb, and often had suicidal thoughts. When she got on the medication she had called her whole family and told them she would be ok, she had hope for herself and it started changing her life for the better. A recent survey at Curie High School showed that about 8/50 or 16% of students believe depression should be treated with medication. Many believe there are other alternatives other than medication and shouldn’t depend on it. “ No, because it’s a temporary solution, '' said a student. Although it may work you need a plan after the treatment or it will come back to you way worse, you will experience symptoms and cause problems in which you may need to visit the hospital and talk to a mental health specialist.

If ever looking into antidepressants, know how they work, any consequences you will experience when missing a dose, doubling a dose, stopping the medication and dose duration. Have a plan after the treatment that includes taking your time, talking to a doctor, consider therapy, stay active, and seek support. If you believe medication is not for you and you are dealing with depression, seek help immediately. 

• Antidepressants. NHS inform. (2023, October 20). https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/medicines-and-medical-aids/types-of-medicine/antidepressants/#:~:text=It%27s%20thought%20that%20antidepressants%20work,pain%20signals%20sent%20by%20nerves. 

• Going off antidepressants - harvard health publishing. Harvard Health. (2022, May 15). https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/going-off-antidepressants 

• Jennifer Nadel, M. (2022, June 24). Can you overdose on antidepressants? what to know. K Health. https://khealth.com/learn/antidepressants/can-you-overdose/ 

• Personal stories. NAMI. (n.d.). https://www.nami.org/Personal-Stories/My-Depression-in-My-Life 

• professional, C. C. medical. (n.d.-b). Antidepressants. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/9301-antidepressants-depression-medication