As a psychiatrist, I naturally get a ton of questions about medication.
(Im gladits what Im there for!)
A lot of times this question seems to come from a patients fear of staying on medication forever.
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The truth is that some people do benefit from staying on antidepressants for their entire lives.
This can be lifesaving, life-enriching, or both.
Here are some things to keep in mind before you dive in antidepressants.
This increases serotonin, which can improve mood.
Many doctors consider at least three major episodes ofdepressionenough reason to recommend permanently staying on antidepressants, he adds.
Whatever the reason, stopping medication is always ultimately a patients choice.
To that end, coming off of antidepressants should always be done with the help of a physician.
I would love to say this is all about good doctor-patient communication, which does definitely factor in.
These are the symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal and how to avoid them.
The phenomenon often referred to as antidepressant withdrawal is actually medically known asantidepressant discontinuation syndrome(ADS).
(With that said, Ive seen people who mention having ADS symptoms when they forget even one pill.
But its important to note that not everyone who stops taking antidepressants experiences ADS.
As I mentioned, most people dont.
But there are some risk factors that might make you more likely to experience it.
Others include a longer length of treatment and a previous history of ADS.
The brain does not do well with sudden changes, Dr. Conway says.
Also, tapering effectively might mean getting lower doses of your medication altogether.
The point of tapering is to eventually get you to a dose below whats considered therapeutic.
This is why its so important to talk to your doctor first.
Remember: Needing antidepressants is not the same as addiction.
For starters, addiction is marked bylong-lasting changesin how your brain responds to things like pleasure and decision-making.
These kinds of changes simply dont occur with antidepressants, no matter how long you use them.
There is no evidence that being on antidepressants alters the brain in a permanent way, Dr. Conway says.
In fact, the emergence of ADS symptoms would actually argue for the opposite.
The first thing I do every morning is put on my glasses, she tells SELF.
Shes clearly dependent on them, she explains, but that doesnt translate into being addicted.
Thats another hallmark of addiction, according to theNational Institutes of Health.
I dont point out the difference betweenaddictionand needing antidepressants to stigmatize substance use disorders.
But clarifying this misconception is necessary to prevent misunderstanding and minimization of addiction.
I dont think medications should be started lightly, but they should not be feared.
