Do people stay on antidepressants for years?

Many people with depression continue taking antidepressant drugs for months or even years after their symptoms have resolved. This so-called maintenance therapy aims to reduce the risk of relapse.

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Is it OK to stay on antidepressants forever?

And luckily, as long as the benefits of the medication outweigh the potential side effects, there's no strong evidence that long-term use of SSRIs poses any major problems. “These medications have been around for decades,” says Dr. Jin Hee Yoon-Hudman, a psychiatrist and medical advisor at Minded.

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What happens if you stay on antidepressants for years?

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.

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How many years do people stay on antidepressants?

Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants. If you've had three or more recurrences of depression, make that at least two years.

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Can antidepressants stop working after 20 years?

If you feel like your antidepressant has stopped working, you're not alone. It's common for a medication that once worked wonders to become ineffective, especially if you've been taking it for a long time. Symptoms return for up to 33% of people using antidepressants — it's called breakthrough depression.

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The 'extreme' side-effects of antidepressants - BBC News

26 related questions found

Is 10 years too long to be on antidepressants?

Guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence recommends that antidepressants are used as 'maintenance' treatment for up to 2 years to prevent their depression returning (relapse). It also recommends cognitive-behavioural therapy to change habits of thought and behaviour.

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How long is too long for antidepressants?

It's usually recommended that a course of antidepressants continues for at least 6 months after you feel better, to prevent your condition recurring when you stop. Some people with recurrent illness are advised to carry on taking medicine indefinitely.

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Which antidepressants are hardest to wean off of?

Hardest-to-Stop Antidepressants
  • citalopram) (Celexa)
  • escitalopram (Lexapro)
  • paroxetine (Paxil)
  • sertraline (Zoloft)

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How do you know when to stop antidepressants?

Your doctor might recommend stopping your antidepressant if:
  • You're feeling better, and you and the doctor agree that it's time to stop.
  • You have been taking the medicine for at least 6 months.

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Can you take Lexapro for life?

Are There Any Risks For Taking Escitalopram For Long Periods Of Time? To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of escitalopram. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.

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What is the safest antidepressant?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. They can ease symptoms of moderate to severe depression, are relatively safe and typically cause fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants do.

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Do antidepressants work for long-term depression?

Antidepressants can also relieve long-term symptoms of chronic depressive disorder (dysthymia) and chronic depression, and help make them go away completely. An antidepressant can already have an effect within one or two weeks. But it may take longer for the symptoms to improve.

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What is the best and safest antidepressant?

SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. This is because they're effective and well-tolerated antidepressants with little side effects. With many SSRIs available as generic products, this medication class typically costs less. SNRIs and bupropion are also common choices for similar reasons.

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Will my brain recover from antidepressants?

Antidepressants can cause changes in neurotransmitter levels and brain function; however, these changes are typically reversible once the medication is stopped.

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Why is everyone on antidepressants?

Perhaps the fundamental reason why antidepressants are so widely prescribed and used is that they fit with the 'medical model' of mental illness, which has become the standard view in western culture. This model sees depression as a medical condition which can be “fixed” in the same way as a physical injury or illness.

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What can I do instead of taking antidepressants?

Several treatments can be used instead of antidepressants for treating depression and other mental health conditions.
  • Talking therapies. Cognitive behavioural therapy. ...
  • Exercise. ...
  • Self-help groups. ...
  • Lithium. ...
  • Electric shock treatment.

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Do you feel better after stopping antidepressants?

If you stop taking an antidepressant because you're feeling better, your doctor may want to keep in touch to see how you're feeling once the med has left your system. It's possible that your symptoms might return when the antidepressant is no longer in your body. With Bezzy for Depression, you're never alone.

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What are the long term side effects of SSRI?

During long-term SSRI therapy, the most troubling adverse effects are sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and sleep disturbance.

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What is the mildest safest antidepressant?

Which SSRI antidepressants have the least side effects?
  1. Celexa. Overall, Celexa seems to be one of the best-tolerated SSRIs for many people. ...
  2. Lexapro. Lexapro is closely related to Celexa. ...
  3. Prozac. Prozac causes less weight gain than other SSRIs. ...
  4. Zoloft.

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What's better than antidepressants?

What are the alternatives to antidepressants?
  • Talking therapies.
  • Mindfulness.
  • Arts and creative therapies.
  • Ecotherapy.
  • Complementary and alternative therapies.
  • Peer support.
  • Look after your physical health.

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What is the mildest antidepressant?

SSRIs are usually the first choice medicine for depression because they generally have fewer side effects than most other types of antidepressant.

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What happens if you take antidepressants but don't need them?

There is new reason to be cautious about using popular antidepressants in people who are not really depressed. For the first time, research has shown that a widely used antidepressant may cause subtle changes in brain structure and function when taken by those who are not depressed.

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How long should you stay on SSRI?

It's usually recommended that a course of SSRIs continues for at least 6 months after you feel better, to prevent your condition coming back when you stop. However, if you've experienced previous episodes of depression, a 2-year course may be recommended.

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How can I get off antidepressants naturally?

Benefits of natural remedies

When experiencing withdrawal symptoms or antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, increasing physical exercise or changing the diet to include more fresh food may help ease symptoms by making a person feel reinvigorated and less lethargic.

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What are the best antidepressants in Australia?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

This class includes sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine and fluvoxamine. SSRIs are: the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in Australia. often a doctor's first choice for most types of depression.

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