Is it safe to take antidepressants?
Mental health researchers believe the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are associated with depression; these communicate messages between brain cells. An antidepressant can treat depression by affecting the neurotransmitters.
There are many types of antidepressants, including:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—these are known to cause fewer side effects at higher doses than other antidepressants.
ex. fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram (Lexapro)
Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
ex. duloxetine (Cymbalta) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
Atypical antidepressants—called “atypical” because they don’t fit into other antidepressant categories.
trazodone and mirtazapine (Remeron)
Tricyclic antidepressants—these cause more side effects than newer antidepressants, these aren’t prescribed unless you’ve tried other antidepressants.
imipramine and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)—these antidepressants are a last resort, as they require a strict diet from certain cheeses, pickles, wines, and other medications.
phenelzine (Nardil)
Antidepressants are not known to be addictive. At Family Psychiatry, we offer flexible treatment plans where you and your provider can try antidepressants to see if they improve symptoms.
The risk of antidepressants
Antidepressants do have side effects including:
Changes in appetite
Sleep disturbances
Weight gain headaches
Mood changes
Libido issues
Side effects can be noticeable when you begin taking antidepressants, especially if you’re adjusting to a new prescription. In some antidepressants, there is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in individuals twenty-four years or older.
While mood changes are a common side effect of antidepressants, this does not mean an individual taking antidepressants will undergo a personality change. These “personality changes” are most likely side effects of medication adjustment; mood changes are highly likely to improve with treatment.
An individual considering treating their depression with antidepressants should also consider their family history, particularly if other family members tried certain medications.
Should I take antidepressants?
It can take four to eight weeks for antidepressants to work and symptoms to ease, therefore, if you or a loved one is starting a new antidepressant, we encourage time and patience.
If you’re considering trying antidepressants, the benefits could include:
Improved daily functioning, easier to concentrate on and complete tasks
Alleviating persistent feelings of sadness or exhaustion
Effective combination with talk therapy
Antidepressants are meant to be a tool—not a crutch, meaning they cannot replace an entire personality, or be the sole solution for effective treatment. Given that antidepressants are not addictive and can vastly improve depressive symptoms, they are a worthwhile treatment option to consider with a licensed mental health professional.