Antidepressants' effect on lifespan is complex; while they treat severe depression (which shortens life), studies suggest long-term use, especially non-SSRIs, may increase risks for heart issues and mortality, even after accounting for depression severity, while SSRIs might offer some protection against high blood pressure or diabetes but still carry concerns like increased bleeding risk and falls in older adults. Overall, research indicates potential trade-offs, with some studies finding antidepressants could take more lives than they save, though the science is debated, and individual risks vary.
Long-term use of antidepressants over several years may increase your risk of diabetes. This is especially in people who are: over the age of 30. taking SSRIs or tricyclics.
If you take antidepressants for a long time (several years or more) you may be at an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This is more likely if you are over the age of 30 and are taking either SSRI or tricyclic antidepressants.
People without depression who take antidepressants commonly report feeling emotionally “flat” or “numb.” This happens because the medications alter normal neurotransmitter function: Reduced ability to feel both positive and negative emotions. Decreased emotional reactivity to normally joyful events.
Antidepressants don't just remove bad emotions--for many people, they numb everything. People report feeling emotionally blunted, detached, or like a different person entirely. Yet, this side effect is rarely discussed before prescribing. Why aren't patients warned? 👇 HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
One of the widely-reported side effects of SSRIs is 'blunting', where patients report feeling emotionally dull and no longer finding things as pleasurable as they used to. Between 40-60% of patients taking SSRIs are believed to experience this side effect.
Common side effects of antidepressants
difficulty sleeping. weight gain. headaches. dry mouth.
Taking long-term antidepressants can prevent depression recurring (relapse). But new research shows that almost half of those who stop taking the medication do not relapse. Depression is a major cause of ill health and disability worldwide. It causes emotional distress and interferes with everyday life.
Some antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can cause short-term memory problems in certain individuals. Research shows that many people experience these side effects only while taking the medication, and the memory issues often go away when the treatment is adjusted or stopped.
For some people, an antidepressant may simply stop working over time. This is called antidepressant tolerance. Healthcare professionals don't fully understand what causes antidepressant tolerance, also called tachyphylaxis, to happen. They also aren't sure why it happens for some people and not others.
In time, the brain returns to a normal state after stopping antidepressants. If depressive symptoms do arise and gradually worsen, it's best to consult a psychiatrist or doctor if they don't improve within a few weeks or if they become severe.
The typical length of treatment is 6 to 12 months, but some people may stay on antidepressants for much longer.
For people with chronic or severe depression, medication may be needed on a long-term basis. In these cases, antidepressants are often taken indefinitely. That is, in part, because depression is not an illness that can be cured.
Those who had used antidepressants for >3 years reported more severe side effects, including “weight gain”, “addiction”, “feeling not like myself ”, “withdrawal symptoms”, and “suicidality”, than those who had been on antidepressants for ≤2 years.
Most people can gradually stop taking their antidepressants over a few weeks or months, by taking smaller doses and then stopping completely. This is called 'tapering'. This can reduce the risk of you getting withdrawal symptoms, or mean that any symptoms you have are less severe.
Taking antidepressants may help to lift your mood. This can help you feel more able to do things that don't feel possible while you're depressed. This may include using other types of support for your mental health. See our page on treatments for depression to find other options which may help.
However, while SSRIs can be highly effective when it comes to managing depressive symptoms, they can also have their own side effects, including brain fog.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also called SSRIs, are the type of antidepressant prescribed most often. They can ease symptoms of moderate to severe depression. They are relatively safe, and they typically cause fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants do.
Benzodiazepines and anticholinergic drugs are considered to be the drugs most often responsible for iatrogenic amnesia.
As we've learned more about the long-term effects of antidepressants such as Zoloft, some of the top concerns that have emerged have to do with weight gain and diabetes. However, many other side effects can persist and have a negative impact on your quality of life.
However, when compared with antidepressants, a recent 2022 network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found no difference between exercise and pharmacological interventions in reducing depressive symptoms in adults with nonsevere depression.
Avoid driving or operating machinery. Avoid caffeine, tobacco and alcohol. Drink plenty of fluids. Take your antidepressant at bedtime if your doctor approves.
Although modern antidepressants are usually well-tolerated, there is mounting evidence of less common but serious effects, including increased suicidal thoughts,19 fetal malformations,20 bleeding, a prolonged and severe withdrawal syndrome,21 and persistent sexual dysfunction after discontinuation.
Antidepressants are thought to work by increasing neurotransmitters like serotonin and noradrenaline. These are chemicals in the brain which can improve mood and emotion. But this process isn't fully understood. Increasing levels of neurotransmitters can also disrupt pain signals sent by nerves.
Antidepressant medications don't work for everyone. About one-third of people who take antidepressants do not have an adequate response to them, a situation called "treatment-resistant depression." That means there are lots of people out there who have personal experience with the drugs not working.