It can occur in response to antidepressants, making it more difficult to treat symptoms of depression.
At a Glance
Tachyphylaxis is a condition that comes up whenever a drug suddenly becomes ineffective.
This can happen with any medication and to any person.
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Talk to your doctor if you feel like your medication isn’t working as well as it used to.
Just be sure that you don’t stop or change your medication without talking to your doctor first.
An Overview of Tachyphylaxis
Tachyphylaxis tends to develop quickly over a short period.
It takes place if a persons response to repeated doses of a medication rapidly decreases over a short period.
The condition is also known asacute drug desensitizationand can occur with any drug.
The condition can be treated by withholding the medication for some time or increasing the dosage.
The term tachyphylaxis stems from the Greek “tachy” meaning swift and “phylaxis” meaning guarding/protection.
How Is Tachyphylaxis Diagnosed?
One of the first indications of tachyphylaxis is the return or worsening of your conditions symptoms.
Non-Medication Adherence
A possible explanation for tachyphylaxis is that a person has stopped taking their medication.
This is known asnon-medication adherenceand isnt true tachyphylaxis.
If you dont, then you might have tachyphylaxis.
Changes in Disorder Symptoms
Treatment of certain conditions might also make it difficult to identify tachyphylaxis.
What Causes Tachyphylaxis?
Doctors and researchers also observed antidepressant tachyphylaxis following the introduction ofselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs).
This can make depression more challenging to treat.
However, using over-the-counter ocular medication has been commonly linked to tachyphylaxis.
Medication typically used to treat glaucoma and conjunctivitis are most commonly subject to tachyphylaxis.
You might experience a worsening of your side effects initially but this is only temporary.
For patients with glaucoma doctors typically recommend a reduction of the frequency of their medication.
You also shouldn’t increase or decrease the dosage you are taking without speaking to your doctor.
This could include switching the medication, adding on another treatment option, increasing or decreasing your dosage.
How Is Tachyphylaxis Treated?
Each person is unique and theres no single way to treat conditions like depression and bipolar disorder.
Treatment plans must be tailored to each individual’s specific needs.
Even when this is done, its still possible for tachyphylaxis to occur.
Time is relative when it comes to treating conditions.
Theres no specific treatment for tachyphylaxis.
In most cases, treatment typically consists of increasing the dosage of the medication.
Can You Prevent Tachyphylaxis?
There’s no clear consensus on what might be helpful in terms of preventing tachyphylaxis.
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