Does anyone really need antidepressants?
Asked by: Joseph Hill | Last update: January 25, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (8 votes)
Do people really need antidepressants?
Taking medicine for your depression can help you get your life back to normal, especially if you also get counselling. But if your symptoms are mild, lifestyle changes and counselling may be all you need. You don't need to be ashamed about taking antidepressants.
How do you know if you need an antidepressant?
Persistent sadness is one of the key symptoms of depression. Feeling overwhelmingly sad more days than not or feeling like you don't enjoy activities you once loved can be signs you may benefit from a prescribed antidepressant medication.
Is there a downside to antidepressants?
In rare cases, some people experience suicidal thoughts and a desire to self-harm when they first take antidepressants. Young people under 25 seem particularly at risk. Contact your GP, or go to A&E immediately, if you have thoughts of killing or harming yourself at any time while taking antidepressants.
What do doctors think of antidepressants?
Antidepressants aren't right for everyone, Dr. Joseph says, but they can work well alongside other therapies. She recommends patients try more conservative treatments first, however. “I always put therapy before the medication if it's mild,” she says.
Do you need an antidepressant? | Consumer Reports
At what point is it worth trying antidepressants?
Research suggests that antidepressants can be helpful for people with moderate or severe depression. They're not usually recommended for mild depression, unless other treatments like talking therapy have not helped.
What is the hardest antidepressant to come off of?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most likely antidepressants to cause withdrawal symptoms. Listed according to their risk of causing withdrawal, they include: With a high risk of withdrawal: Desvenlafaxine (Khedezla, Pristiq)
Who should avoid antidepressants?
- a history of heart disease.
- recently had a heart attack.
- liver disease.
- an inherited blood disorder called porphyria.
- bipolar disorder.
- schizophrenia.
- a growth on your adrenal glands that is causing high blood pressure (pheochromocytoma)
How long does the average person stay on antidepressants?
Clinicians usually recommend that people continue taking antidepressants for about six months after they begin feeling better. Although it is tempting to stop taking the medication as soon as you feel better, abruptly stopping will greatly increase your risk of relapse.
How to heal your gut after antidepressants?
Probiotics, prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation are shown to be promising strategies to ameliorate antidepressant-associated dysbiosis.
Will I ever not need antidepressants?
Even with the advances in antidepressant research and the promising potential of therapy alongside diet and exercise, some patients with severe depression might still need more help. For people with chronic or severe depression, medication may be needed on a long-term basis.
Do you ever feel normal on antidepressants?
The main thing to know is that antidepressants do not make people feel happy, and are not designed to: Their purpose is to help people with depression feel normal again. Some reports may claim that antidepressants are fundamentally ineffective and at best have a placebo effect, but that's not true either.
Why are people against antidepressants?
Some feel that there are too many side effects or that they don't work or that others will judge them if they are taking antidepressants. Others fear they will become addicted to them or that they will change their personality. The choice to take antidepressants or not is indeed a pretty big one.
What is the success rate of antidepressants?
Around 60% of people respond by about two months to the drugs with about a 50% reduction in their symptoms - an improvement in mood, better sleep and so on. But, he said, “about 80% of people stop antidepressants within a month”.
What is the safest antidepressant?
- Celexa. Overall, Celexa seems to be one of the best-tolerated SSRIs for many people. ...
- Lexapro. Lexapro is closely related to Celexa. ...
- Prozac. Prozac causes less weight gain than other SSRIs. ...
- Zoloft.
What are the benefits of going off antidepressants?
Getting off of antidepressants or reducing your dose can help you feel sharper and more alert in both your personal life as well as in your professional life.
What happens if I take antidepressants and don't need them?
Although this is beneficial for someone who's depressed, for someone who does not have depression, taking antidepressant medication can cause serotonin to build up in the body, resulting in serotonin syndrome. When serotonin levels are too high, the person may experience symptoms like: Agitation or restlessness.
What is the highest rated medication for anxiety?
Gabapentin is the most common drug used to treat anxiety, accounting for nearly 22% of prescriptions dispensed in 2024 through October. While typically used to treat seizure disorders, the medication is also used to manage symptoms for patients with anxiety and other mental health disorders.
How do you tell if you need antidepressants?
- Lack of enjoyment in things you used to enjoy.
- Sleep too much, or sleep too little.
- Feeling guilty about the inability to function normally.
- Lack of energy or motivation to complete tasks.
- Suicidal thoughts.
What's the best natural antidepressant?
- St. John's wort. ...
- SAMe. This dietary supplement is a synthetic form of a chemical that occurs naturally in the body. ...
- Omega-3 fatty acids. These fats are found in cold-water fish, flaxseed, flax oil, walnuts and some other foods. ...
- Saffron. ...
- 5-HTP. ...
- DHEA.
How do you feel coming off antidepressants?
- restlessness.
- trouble sleeping.
- unsteadiness.
- sweating.
- stomach problems.
- feeling as if there's an electric shock in your head.
- changes to your mood, such as low mood or feeling irritable, anxious or confused.
What is the world's strongest antidepressant?
Agomelatine, amitriptyline, escitalopram, mirtazapine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and vortioxetine were more effective than other antidepressants (ORs ranging between 1·19 and 1·96), whereas fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, reboxetine, and trazodone were among the least efficacious drugs (ORs ranging between 0·51 and 0·84).
Will I ever get off antidepressants?
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.
What is the least addictive antidepressant?
Antidepressants like Prozac® and Zoloft® , known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and Buspirone (Buspar), are medications that help with anxiety without causing physical addiction. They work by regulating the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, chemicals responsible for mood and anxiety.