Cons of Anti-Depressants

Depression is the most common health issue in the world. It's no wonder millions are seeking treatment and looking for relief from the symptoms of depression. The most common treatment prescribed today is a pill called an anti-depressant. Anti-depressants can be difficult to stomach, though, due to various side effects and the lengthy time it takes for them to start providing relief. Some people are making a decision to suffer in the depression versus suffering the side effects of the treatment. Others are seeking out new drug-free treatment methods and using old-fashioned counseling approaches to cope with their condition.

Identification

Depression is defined as a medical illness that affects the mind and body. It can cause several problems, both emotional and physical, and is not something you can simply "snap out of" like had been thought by some. It is a condition that needs medical treatment; if left untreated it can start to affect all areas of one's life and eventually become a debilitating condition. Most doctors consider depression to be a chronic illness that requires medical treatment, and, for most people. depression symptoms can be greatly reduced and a feeling of well-being restored with such treatment.

Treatment Options

The main treatment options for depression are medications, psychotherapy, electro-convulsive therapy, and brain stimulation. The most common and usually first method for treatment is to prescribe medication. Anti-depressants are sorted into four tiers or types related to how they affect the brain; the stronger the medication the more serious the side effects. Another sometimes discouraging part of the anti-depressant treatment option is that these medications can take weeks to start relieving depression symptoms. Most take 8 to 12 weeks to begin working in the brain. What can happen is that when the patient doesn't notice relief from his depression soon enough, he then asks the doctor for a stronger medication--which can lead to a lot of people being over-medicated for depression. Over-medication can cause severe reactions in the brain and make it harder to stop taking the medication if you choose to.

Side Effects

Anti-depressants come with a list of side effects, and, for some, the adverse symptoms will be worse than the depression symptoms and they will look for alternative treatment. On the flip side for some, the relief from depression symptoms makes dealing with the negative aspects of the treatment no problem. The short list of negatives includes nausea, dry mouth, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, loss of sexual desire, headaches, trouble sleeping, nervousness and trouble staying awake during the daytime. Although some of the side effects are temporary, they vary in degree from person to person. Some will never go away, such as dry mouth, loss of sexual desire and bowel problems. The stronger class of anti-depressant medications has even more severe side effects that can include potentially include fatal interactions with certain foods or other medications.

Suicidal Thoughts

There has also been a lot of controversy surrounding anti-depressants and their use with children and young adults due to disturbing side effects. The FDA has now required that all anti-depressants carry the agency's strictest warnings regarding side effects. Most noted is a warning regarding children, adolescents, and young adults ages 18 to 24, which states that these medications may increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors. If you start having thoughts of suicide or hurting others while taking an anti-depressant, you should contact your doctor immediately. It's also important to consider any family history of depression and reactions to medications when choosing an anti-depressant; if a family member has experienced adverse reactions to certain anti-depressants, you may also.

Withdrawal

Something not widely talked about is anti-depressants' potential withdrawal side effects. These can be worse than the initial side effects of the medication. Most commonly, this withdrawal happens when people try to come off of anti-depressants too quickly. Some people find once they have been on medication for depression they can't stop taking it. The depression can return and be more severe than it was when they started taking medication. Over half of all people taking anti-depressants would experience withdrawal if they stopped taking them. This kind of withdrawal includes suffering nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, dizziness, insomnia, weakness and muscle pain. It can take 2 weeks or more to withdraw from most anti-depressants, and it should be done under a doctor's supervision.

Warning

There are dozens of medications available to treat depression and many that work best in combination. The FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) has specifically approved certain medications for the treatment of depression and requires all research, symptoms, and warnings related to them be available to you. However, some doctors are prescribing medications that haven't been approved by the FDA. This practice is legal but could be very dangerous if the doctor doesn't know much about the "off label" medication he is prescribing. This is why it is vital that you become an active part in the treatment of your depression and research all types of anti-depressants so you will be familiar with the medication your doctor is prescribing.