Deciding whether to use antidepressants is a major and personal choice.
I believe that it’s best made in consultation with your primary healthcare physician, doctor, or psychiatrist.
Although I would say that it’s almost a no-brainer if you’re suicidal or so severely depressed that you can’t function anymore due to the severity of the symptoms. If that’s the case, then I believe it’s always worth employing the help of medication.
There are several factors to consider when evaluating whether antidepressants might be helpful for you specifically:
- Severity of symptoms
Mild depression can usually be treated without medication, although it can still be useful.
Lifestyle changes, therapy, or short-term interventions might be enough to improve mood without the use of drugs.
Antidepressants are probably recommended if you’re suffering from moderate to severe depression. That’s particularly true if the symptoms significantly impair your daily functioning or quality of life.
Speaking from personal experience, using antidepressants was useful, especially in the beginning, although the effects tapered off after a couple of months. But that might not be the case for you, and they might continue to work.
- Duration of depression
Because in my opinion, what do you have to lose at that point? It should at least deserve some consideration.
- Other treatments
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- Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), counseling, and other forms of therapy are highly effective and should be tried before or alongside medication.
CBT made a very positive change in my life and helped me adjust my negative thinking while helping me establish healthy (sustainable) lifestyle habits.
Healthy lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and practicing relaxation can also positively impact mood while being low-entry, low-cost pieces of the treatment puzzle.
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- Combined treatment
Most people experience the best results from using antidepressants alongside therapy.
That comes as no surprise, since therapy is usually needed to address the root cause of the issue that’s causing the psychological problem.
- Potential benefits
Whether someone should employ the aid of medication is always a cost-benefit analysis.
Antidepressants can alleviate symptoms such as insomnia, low mood, lack of motivation, and anxiety.
They’re life-changing for some, restoring a sense of normalcy after struggling with depression. For others, they don’t do much, if anything at all. Everyone is different, and that means that it’s hard to decide if it will be beneficial for you or not without trying.
Some people experience no or only minimal side effects, while others need to try multiple different medications to find the right fit that they can tolerate.
- Long-term commitment
Antidepressants usually take 4–6 weeks to start showing effects and may need to be taken for several months or longer, depending on the person.
That seems about right, seeing as it took me a couple of weeks before I started to notice positive effects of the antidepressants when I was taking them.
Discontinuing antidepressants should always be done under medical supervision to avoid going through symptoms of withdrawal or potentially relapsing.
- Risk of dependency
- Personal and family history
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- Previous experience with antidepressants
If you’ve used them in the past, and they were helpful, then it’s probably more likely that a doctor would suggest them again since they worked before.
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- Family history
If a close relative has responded well to a specific type of antidepressant, this information might guide your doctor’s decision to advise you to try medication.
That’s because genetic factors can also influence how people respond to medications.
- Underlying health conditions
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- Chronic conditions
When you’re suffering from other physical or mental health issues, antidepressants may be prescribed as part of a broader treatment plan.
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- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Some antidepressants can be more appropriate than others if you’re pregnant or planning to conceive, since certain drugs can affect the fetus or infant.
Again, talk to a professional healthcare professional since they can give you the best advice before deciding.
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
Antidepressants can sometimes be part of a larger pharmacological approach, but your doctor might be cautious about prescribing the correct type out of fear that it might cause the worsening of one of the preexisting illnesses.
For example, avoiding antidepressants that have the possibility of triggering mania in bipolar disorder.
- Your current medication regimen
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- Drug interactions
Your doctor will assess whether an antidepressant could interfere with the medications you’re already taking.
- Personal preferences
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- Comfort with medication
Some people prefer to avoid taking medication whenever possible, while others are more open to pharmacological treatment.
Even though I’m not a big fan of taking medicine when it can be helped, I’ll admit that it did help me, and that it’s absolutely necessary in some cases, especially when suicidal or at risk for self-harm.
If you have doubts about taking antidepressants, then it’s best to discuss these concerns with your doctor, since they can help guide the decision.
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- Natural or holistic approaches
People can prefer to explore complementary treatments like herbal remedies, supplements, or alternative therapies like acupuncture or yoga.
These might be used together with or in place of medication, depending on the individual’s goals.
- Cost and access
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- Affordability
While many antidepressants can be cost-effective while being available as generics, the affordability and insurance coverage of certain drugs may influence your decision.
At the end of the day, we all get bills to pay. Still, your health is worth investing in!
Medication might be a more accessible first line of treatment if you don’t have regular access to therapy or other mental health resources.
Nevertheless, it’s ideally combined with some form of support. Be it informal support in the form of friends and family, or formal assistance by professionals.
- Time to commitment
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- Delayed onset
Antidepressants often take several weeks to show their full effects. During this time, symptoms might not improve and could even get slightly worse in the beginning.
This period can be challenging, and it’s important to be patient and stay in close communication with your doctor during the first few months for additional support and to figure out if changes are needed in your regimen.
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- Commitment to trial and error
Finding the right antidepressant may require trying more than one type of medication, adjusting doses, and combining treatments.
This trial-and-error process can take time, but it’s necessary to find what works best for you.
- Risk of suicide (Especially in younger people)
Some antidepressants have been associated with a slightly increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in the first few weeks of treatment. That’s particularly true for younger adults and teenagers.
This risk is small, but it’s nonetheless something your doctor will carefully monitor if antidepressants are prescribed.
- Lifestyle factors
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- Substance use
Regularly using alcohol or recreational drugs can interfere with the effectiveness of antidepressants or increase side effects.
I did drink occasionally (although not to the point of getting wasted) when using antidepressants, and personally didn’t notice any adverse consequences.
Your physician may address this before or alongside medication treatment.
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- Stress levels and external environment
Life events can contribute to depression. Think of instances like job stress, relationship issues, or financial difficulties.
Sometimes, addressing these external factors with or without medication can help improve temperament.
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- Older adults
Older folks may have different responses to antidepressants.
Thus, their medication needs can vary due to the presence of other conditions or medications.
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- Children and adolescents
Antidepressants are generally prescribed with caution in younger populations, and treatment typically includes therapy.
But in my opinion, therapy should always be included as part of the solution. Rarely does medication cure the root cause of depression.
Conclusion
It’s valuable to talk to a healthcare provider if you are considering antidepressants, since they can help inform you of the risks and benefits, but also what medication would be best suited to you and your symptoms.
Please consider joining our forum and Facebook if you enjoyed reading this and would like to chat with like-minded peers about anything depression related.
It would certainly go a long way toward making my dream of creating a thriving, supportive community a reality!
