Are antidepressants for life?

Have you been taking antidepressants for a long time? Did you leave them and have to return to them because of a relapse? There are many people who fear the effects of these continued administrations. What does science say in these situations? The following article explains it.

Are antidepressants for life? The short answer is no”. So where does the myth originate? The point is that in the topic of mental health and depressive disorders there are nuances that change everything. A percentage of patients who were prescribed psychotropic drugs, at some point, continue with them for two years or more.

These medications work, they generate brain changes that allow us to get rid of a good part of the symptoms that reinforce depression itself. However, by themselves, they do not resolve the conflicts in which this disorder may arise.

Hence the importance of a multidisciplinary intervention, with a therapy that restores stability to the person, while drugs help in the process. Making an analogy: it is about installing a shuttle to help take off, but also about repairing the engine, returning autonomy to the patient.

People who spend more time taking antidepressants tend to present other psychological conditions and additional life problems.

Are antidepressants for life? What does science say?

When an antidepressant is prescribed for the first time, it is usual to take it for at least 4 or 6 months. After that period, the doctor will prescribe withdrawal and plan a follow-up. This is ideal. However, each person has their own baggage that health professionals must attend to and supervise.

On the other hand, existing antidepressants have as their main mechanism of action increasing the availability of serotonin or norepinephrine. However, studies such as those carried out by University College London , in 2022, indicate that there is not enough evidence to confirm the idea that depression is due to a deficiency of these neurotransmitters.

The approach to treating depressive disorders should not be based solely on psychotropic drugs. More strategies are needed, due to the following reasons.

1. Each patient has needs

The time that some people take the medication is too long, because the ultimate objective of the intervention is for the consumption to disappear. For this, a series of conditions must be met. Continuing with psychotropic drugs is usually discouraging, because you cannot see the end of that stage. However, it is necessary to choose the moment very well, because a relapse would sow deeper hopelessness.

A large-scale exploration, carried out at the University of North Carolina, reported that Only a third of those who consume these drugs recover completely in a few months. The rest improve a little and need more time to experience its effects.

It is also common to see patients who have been consuming different types of antidepressants for several years, because they cannot find the one that suits their needs.

The administration of drugs must always be supervised by specialized professionals.

2. Relapses are frequent

When estimating the duration of a pharmacological intervention for depression, threats must be considered; perhaps the most important is relapse. Research such as that published by the University of Minnesota highlights that 50% of patients who recover from a first depression could relapse. They add that 80% of those who suffer two relapses will be at risk of a third.

In too many cases, it happens that the withdrawal of consumption is scheduled, and then indicated again. In order to avoid the most adverse effects of relapses, it is very important that the patient is aware of this possibility and that at the time of withdrawal of the medication they have a positive story, if it should occur.

It is better to anticipate this emotional management when you are well and cheerful than at the moment of deterioration, where everything may seem dark. Tools like storytelling contribute positively. On the other hand, it must be noted that the propensity to relapses often have a genetic basis.

There are many people who have been taking antidepressants for decades. The cause is constant relapses, which are often due to genetic factors, more complex personal conditions and the lack of an adequate psychological approach.

3. Factors why you can spend a lifetime on antidepressants

There are multiple variables that determine whether treatment with antidepressants is longer over time. When a patient has had two or three episodes of major depression, the most severe form, doctors may recommend continuing this treatment for a long time.. And this can last for years. Other factors? We list them below:

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Periodic relapses. Incorrect diagnoses and ineffective therapeutic approaches. When there is a history of family members with mental illness.Opting only for antidepressants and not resorting to psychological therapy would make depression chronic.Often, the person does not stop dealing with stressful experiences. Continued challenges, adversities and sleeping problems, for example, would explain this reality.Sometimes, the patient does not find the antidepressant that best suits their needs. This can lead to years of trying different compounds and recipes. Along with depression, other clinical comorbidities may appear. That is, if there is also another psychological problem, it is possible to take psychotropic drugs for a longer period of time.

Are there health risks if you take antidepressants for life?

Long-term prescription of antidepressants is not without risks. The same thing happens with a good part of the drugs consumed for years. Now, in recent times these medications have fewer side effects; In addition, doctors will always try to guide, so that the possible progressive withdrawal of the same or replacement with milder ones occurs.

Either way, We must know that antidepressants become less effective over time. This is a fact that should be considered, in order to focus on other options according to particular needs. Likewise, the University of Auckland studied the effects of prolonged administration of these drugs. They are the following:

Fatigue. Suicidal ideation. Weight gain. Sexual dysfunction. Social disconnection. Risk of diabetes. Emotional numbness. Gastrointestinal problems. Feeling that one has become addicted. Limitation in feeling positive emotions.

On the other hand, Each person’s medical conditions can cause this extended administration to have one effect or another.. But the most obvious thing is that depressive symptoms intensify. This can prompt the person to reinforce the idea that they should continue taking these drugs, when what is needed is another therapeutic approach.

It is necessary to tell the specialist what type of effects you notice with antidepressants. You can always prescribe another psychotropic drug that best suits the needs/particularities.

Psychological therapy, added to antidepressants occasionally, would prevent relapses of depression.

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What can I do so that consumption does not become chronic?

As said at the beginning, when asking if antidepressants are for life, the answer should be “no.” But each person shows particularities and demands an approach tailored to their needs. This can sometimes cause someone to spend several years taking this type of medication.

However, If you want to avoid this situation, there is a formula: psychological therapy and lifestyle changes. And only if the doctor prescribes it, antidepressants. Because, although these medications are effective, they only address the symptom, but never the root of the problem. This is where the relevance of turning to psychologists comes in.

Currently, Cognitive therapy for depression based on mindfulness is the most effective in preventing relapses. Studies, such as the one carried out by Dr. John D. Teasdale, from the University of Oxford, highlight the benefits of this approach. Don’t hesitate to take the step and ask for expert help.