Is antidepressants better for life?

Researchers say antidepressants don't necessarily improve quality of life over a long period of time. They add, however, that there are short-term benefits and people should continue to take their medications as directed by healthcare professionals.

Do people stay on antidepressants for life?

Yet many people see antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications as a short-term solution—something they'll stop taking when they start feeling better. While that might be the case for some people, others—including me—will be on mental health medication for the long-haul.

Should antidepressants be taken permanently?

Guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence recommends that antidepressants are used as 'maintenance' treatment for up to 2 years to prevent their depression returning (relapse). It also recommends cognitive-behavioural therapy to change habits of thought and behaviour.

How long does the average person stay on antidepressants?

The length of treatment varies.

Even once you do start to feel better, you should expect to remain on your antidepressant for at least 4 to 6 additional months. Those experiencing depression for the first time may require even longer, from 6 to 12 months.

Does your brain go back to normal after antidepressants?

If the symptoms develop later or gradually, they may constitute a relapse of the depression. Ultimately, these withdrawal symptoms will improve with time, but they can be unpleasant for days and possibly even weeks. In time, the brain readjusts and people should experience a return to their normal state.

My experience with antidepressants

Can antidepressants affect you permanently?

"By the time we find out what the effects of long term use are it may be too late to help those people, the effects could be permanent. "If it does cause an increased risk of stroke or seizures or effect on the kidneys, these things may only come to light as you get older and it may be very difficult to treat those."

Can you be happy after antidepressants?

Taking antidepressants may help to lift your mood. This can help you feel more able to do things that don't feel possible while you're depressed. This may include using other types of support for your mental health.

What happens if you take antidepressants for years?

Those who had used antidepressants for >3 years reported more severe side effects, including “weight gain”, “addiction”, “feeling not like myself ”, “withdrawal symptoms”, and “suicidality”, than those who had been on antidepressants for ≤2 years.

How do you know when to go off antidepressants?

You are feeling better, and you and the doctor agree that it is time to stop. You have been taking the medicine for at least 6 months after you feel better. You are having counselling to help you cope with problems and help change how you think and feel. You are not worried about the depression coming back.

How is life after antidepressants?

Discontinuation symptoms often include physical complaints that aren't commonly found in depression, such as dizziness, flulike symptoms, and abnormal sensations. Discontinuation symptoms disappear quickly if you take a dose of the antidepressant, while drug treatment of depression itself takes weeks to work.

Will I have to take anxiety meds forever?

7) Do I have to take my anxiety medication for life? Not always. It depends on your symptoms and how controlled they become over time. As mentioned, if you're taking an antidepressant, it may take a few weeks before your symptoms improve.

Are all antidepressants hard to get off at?

The few studies of antidepressant withdrawal that have been published suggest that it is harder to get off some medications than others. This is due to differences in the drugs' half-life — the time it takes the body to clear the medication once the pills are stopped.

Why is coming off antidepressants so hard?

A person may experience withdrawal symptoms due to chemical changes in the brain. The body adjusts to changes that an antidepressant such as Zoloft may cause. Stopping or reducing the antidepressant can throw the brain into a state of imbalance. This can have a physical and mental impact.

Why do people stop taking antidepressants?

Some may want to quit because of side effects such as loss of sexual desire or decreased arousal. In other cases, their prescribers may recommend they stop taking the medications.

Are antidepressants worth it?

If you keep taking your medicine, there is a good chance that you will start to feel less depressed and that the side effects will decrease. Most people feel that the benefits of antidepressants are well worth the price of living with some side effects.

Is it possible to get off antidepressants after long term use?

To minimize the risk of antidepressant withdrawal, talk with your doctor before you stop taking an antidepressant. Your doctor may recommend that you gradually reduce the dose of your antidepressant for several weeks or more to allow your body to adapt to the absence of the medication.

Can antidepressants stop working after 20 years?

If you feel like your antidepressant has stopped working, you're not alone. It's common for a medication that once worked wonders to become ineffective, especially if you've been taking it for a long time. Symptoms return for up to 33% of people using antidepressants — it's called breakthrough depression.

Why are so many people on antidepressants?

Perhaps the fundamental reason why antidepressants are so widely prescribed and used is that they fit with the 'medical model' of mental illness, which has become the standard view in western culture. This model sees depression as a medical condition which can be “fixed” in the same way as a physical injury or illness.

How long should you stay on antidepressants for anxiety?

It's usually recommended that a course of antidepressants continues for at least 6 months after you feel better, to prevent your condition recurring when you stop. Some people with recurrent illness are advised to carry on taking medicine indefinitely.

What does it feel like to be on antidepressants?

When first starting antidepressants, some people have mild stomach upset, headache or fatigue, but these side effects often diminish in the first few weeks as the body adjusts. Some people gain weight, though many stay “weight neutral,” and some even lose weight, Dr. Cox says.

How to live without antidepressants?

How can I get off antidepressants naturally?

Someone coming off antidepressants after 10 years, or a higher dose, might have to gradually reduce their dose for several months. A tapering schedule can involve cutting your current dose by 10% and up to 50% each week — depending on the half-life of the medication — and see how you feel for the next 2 to 4 weeks.

How long does it take for your brain to adjust after stopping antidepressants?

In most cases, withdrawal symptoms are fairly mild in the first one to three days and may intensify on the fourth or fifth day before they subside and may persist for up to three weeks. If you're having a relapse of your depression, however, the symptoms may get worse.

What percentage of people take antidepressants?

In each of those years, about 17.5 million U.S. men and women respondents were newly diagnosed with depression, at an average age of 48. Nearly 58% were prescribed an antidepressant.

How many Americans are on antidepressants?

The latest increase means that the number of antidepressant items prescribed over the past six years has increased by 34.8%, from 61.9 million items in 2015/2016 to 83.4 million items in 2021/2022.