You can stay on antidepressants for a short time (6-12 months after feeling better for a first episode) or for years, even indefinitely, depending on your condition's severity, history of relapse, and how you respond; it's a personalized decision made with a doctor, as stopping too soon risks relapse, while long-term use helps prevent recurrence in some cases.
If You Do Have to Take Antidepressants Forever, You Will Be OK. Some recent studies suggest long-term antidepressant use may come with side effects previously unknown to scientists. "These risks include an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, especially for SSRI users," Dr.
When should I stop taking antidepressants?
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.
Two recent reviews of research in this area concluded that discontinuation effects, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and sleep disturbance (multiple long-wake periods) are adverse effects of long-term SSRI use.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant. This is because they're effective and well-tolerated with mild side effects for many people. With many SSRIs available as generic products, they also tend to be more affordable. SNRIs and bupropion are also common choices for similar reasons.
Antidepressants can have far-reaching effects on our brain functions. This can include changes to our cognition (how we think and understand), our emotions (how we feel), and our behavior (how we act).
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.
Some people find complementary and alternative therapies help to manage their symptoms. For example, this may be aromatherapy, reflexology or acupuncture. Complementary therapies may also help manage some of the side effects of medication, if you decide to continue with it.
Discontinuation symptoms can include anxiety and depression. Since these may be the reason you were prescribed antidepressants in the first place, their reappearance may suggest that you're having a relapse and need ongoing treatment.
The hardest antidepressants to come off are typically those with short half-lives, meaning they leave the body quickly, leading to more intense withdrawal (discontinuation syndrome); prominent examples include Paroxetine (Paxil), Venlafaxine (Effexor), and Fluvoxamine (Luvox), with Venlafaxine often cited for particularly severe withdrawal. In contrast, Fluoxetine (Prozac), with its long half-life, is generally considered the easiest to stop due to its gradual exit from the body.
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.
Cut back on sweets and sugary drinks. Select lower calorie nutritious foods, such as vegetables and fruits, and avoid saturated and trans fats.
Some people take antidepressants for 6 to 12 months before stopping and their symptoms do not come back. Other people need to take antidepressants for longer, sometimes for life.
Suicidal feelings
There is a possibility that taking an antidepressant could make you feel suicidal. It may happen even if you didn't experience suicidal feelings before. This side effect is mainly with SSRI antidepressants. But it is a risk with all antidepressants.
Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking an antidepressant. They will help you agree a plan for how to gradually reduce your dose to help with any withdrawal symptoms, usually over several weeks or months, until you've stopped the medicine entirely.
There's good news for people with severe treatment-resistant depression: Esketamine is a groundbreaking therapy that can provide relief from major depression within hours.
Types of natural antidepressants
Vitamins and minerals: B-vitamins (thiamine, L-methylfolate, B12), magnesium, vitamin D. Foods: Following the Mediterranean diet; avoiding processed foods, refined carbohydrates and sugars; eating plenty of omega-3 fatty acids or nutrient-dense foods (like seafood and leafy greens)
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.
Despite the effects MDD has been shown to have on the brain, there is good news. “When depression is treated effectively, many people experience a resolution of the cognitive changes, suggesting that these changes may not be permanent,” Kristinsson says.
However, some positive effects of withdrawal were also reported, such as people feeling like their emotions were returning to normal (rather than being 'blunted' by their medication). Some participants reported positive changes in their thinking patterns and found it easier to recall positive memories.
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.
Only a qualified doctor or mental health care professional can determine if taking antidepressants is a good idea for you. However, here's how to know if you might need or benefit from taking antidepressants: You feel persistent sadness or hopelessness. You feel numb or detached from reality.
In general, it can take several months for your brain to regulate itself. Some people have symptoms for longer than a few months. Your best strategy for going off your medicine is to taper your doses down slowly. Your doctor can help you figure out the best tapering schedule for you.
While it is generally accepted that antidepressant medications are not addictive, they do have the potential to cause withdrawal symptoms when use is suddenly reduced or stopped. Most misuse or abuse of prescription antidepressants generally occurs as a result of polysubstance use. What Is Addiction?