Antidepressants do not affect everyone in the same way
Antidepressants can help some people. For others, they may do very little. And for some, they can cause side effects that leave them feeling worse rather than better.
I think we need to be able to say all of that without turning the conversation into an argument for or against medication.
People are different. The medication is different. The dose is different. Other medicines, physical health problems and the reason it was prescribed may all play a part.
This article looks at recent research linking antidepressant use with self-injury and suicidal thinking in some people with bipolar disorder, and with heart rhythm problems and sudden death in certain groups.
That does not mean everyone taking an antidepressant is in danger. It does mean that possible adverse effects should not be dismissed, minimised or automatically treated as part of the person’s original problem.
Sometimes people are told to give medication time to work. That may be reasonable when side effects are mild and expected. But feeling noticeably worse, becoming unusually agitated, experiencing frightening changes in your thoughts, feeling emotionally unlike yourself, or developing physical symptoms should not simply be pushed aside.
You know when something has changed.
If you begin to feel worse after starting an antidepressant, changing the dose or adding another medication, contact your doctor or prescriber. Tell them what has changed, when it started and how serious it feels. You are not wasting their time.
Do not suddenly stop taking an antidepressant without medical advice. Stopping too quickly can also cause serious and distressing withdrawal effects, and this can sometimes be mistaken for the original problem returning.
Medication should not be something that is prescribed and then forgotten about. It needs proper information, honest discussion and regular review.
Some people benefit greatly from antidepressants. Some struggle with them. Both experiences are real.
The point is not fear.
The point is awareness, choice and being listened to.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or feel that you may be in immediate danger, seek urgent help now through emergency services or a local mental health crisis service.
Source material
This week Mad in America examines three studies related to adverse effects of antidepressants. The first study finds that antidepressant use is linked to suicidal behavior and self-injury in people with a bipolar disorder diagnosis. The second finds that antidepressant increase the risk of irregular heartbeat and sudden death in people taking antipsychotics. The third […] The post Antidepressants Linked to Suicide Risk, Irregular Heartbeat, and Sudden Death appeared first on Mad In America.
Source: Mad In America
