If you have ever suffered from poor mental health you would probably have been prescribed some sort of Antidepressants that make you feel better. But here are ten things you might not know about them and for anyone about to go onto using Antidepressants this will be well worth a read...
Antidepressants Don't Work For Some people!
There is a small percentage of people in this world that are ..."immune" to the effects of antidepressants. No matter how much they take their bodies either reject it making them ill, or they simply show no signs at all of the effects it should have. For these kinds of people, it can be a lot harder to recover, especially if doing therapy as well.
Don't Ever Go Cold Turkey
Do you feel like you could stop taking your antidepressants because you feel strong enough? Then don't. It is important to slowly wean yourself off as stopping "cold turkey" can have disastrous side effects. As with anything prescription based do consult a doctor before changing the dosage or frequency.
Antidepressants Should Be The Last Resort, Not The First
If you are just starting to feel the signs of depression and anxiety you should try talking to a therapist first, then if you are still not coping consult your doctor. For some people therapy is all they need, but for others antidepressants are needed.
Antidepressants Take Ages To Work
While some people will start feeling more in control within just a few weeks most people will not get the full effect of the antidepressants for months! In fact, it can take up to 3 months before the full effect of them is kicked in. But much longer than that you might well need to go back to your doctor.
There Are Hundreds of Different Antidepressants
If one kind of antidepressants isn't working for you the good news is another might! There are hundreds of different brands, kinds and dosages to play around with and your doctor will help you find the right one and dosage for you, even if it does take a long time to do so. There is escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, agomelatine and mirtazapine to name just a few of them! Just keep talking to your doctor and letting them know what is working and what isn't.
You Should Learn The Side-Effects
It might be a long and boring piece of paper inside the box of antidepressants, but it is there for a good reason. Read through the signs of all the known side-effects to make sure you know what to look out for. Also, be aware that you might experience something that is not on that list. Once again do keep talking to your doctor about anything you are experiencing, be it good or bad. Do also be aware that different antidepressants can come with different side effects, so if you swap brand/type do read the paper inside the box again.
Antidepressants Won't Cure Your Depression or Anxiety!
They are taken to give you back control so you can get better through therapy and self-help. Don't think for one moment taking a few Prozac pills will cure you. My own therapist says antidepressants are just 5% of the recovery percentage and another 5% is guidance and therapy. The other 90% is all up to you.
Taking Antidepressants Can Sometimes Cause More Problems Than They Fix!
Sadly some of the side effects of an antidepressant can be worse than the problem they are trying to prevent in the first place. If you are taking them for anxiety, they can often cause depression and vice-versa.
They Might Void Your Car Insurance
If you do start taking antidepressants you will need to inform your car insurance company as it could void your insurance in the event of a crash. The general rule of thumb is if they tell you on the packet not to drive, then don't drive!
Millions of People Take Antidepressants Every Day
If you think it is a small number of people taking antidepressants you couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, in the UK alone 7.3 million people were prescribed antidepressants and we are just a tiny island! So don't feel bad about taking them as they are way more common than you might think.
