Are Antidepressants Worth It?
Others fear they will become addicted to them or that they will change their personality.
The choice to take antidepressants or not is indeed a pretty big one.
Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou
So are antidepressants worth it?
Doing your research and having one or more meaningful discussions with your doctor is the best place to start.
Motivation to Enact Lifestyle Changes
Many lifestyle changes could help manage depressive symptoms.
The catch is that a depressed person cannot always get motivated enough to initiate these lifestyle adjustments.
Antidepressants can provide a running start to the implementation of a healthier way of living.
One doesnt replace the other.
Antidepressants Are Safe
Antidepressants have been proven to be safe.
Antidepressants Are Effective
Whenever a drug is tested for efficacy, it is tested against a placebo.
Any benefits of medication have to surpass that of the placebo effect to be declared effective.
However, very little information is available regarding a hierarchy of efficacy among antidepressants.
The fact that antidepressants are effective is a significant pro.
It can severely limit psychosocial functioning and diminish your quality of life.
They project that the disease will rank first by 2030.
Remember, the drawbacks of taking an antidepressant must be measured against the drawbacks of remaining depressed.
Side Effects
Although antidepressants are safe, they are not free of side effects.
This is largely true for antidepressants.
Some people who have side effects decide that the benefits they are getting from the medication are worth it.
Delayed Onset
Antidepressants dont work right away.
Most will experience some benefits within two to four weeks.
You and your doctor can discuss whether it is realistic to expect benefits before getting to that dosage.
Stigma
We give a shot to avoid being swayed bystigmawhen making major life decisions.
However, there seems to be a genetic component to antidepressant response.
Some companies offergenetic testingwhich may be helpful in determining the best choice for you.
This does not mean, however, that antidepressants don’t help.
Instead, it means we don’t fully understand preciselywhyantidepressants relieve symptoms of depression.
Depression is complex and can have multiple causes.
Because of this, no single treatment works for everyone.
A Word From Verywell
Making the commitment to take an antidepressant is a major decision.
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Malhi GS, Mann JJ.Depression.Lancet.
