In recent years, the number of prescriptions written for antidepressants has risen sharply. In fact, according to a report by CNN Health.com, drugs in the antidepressant category are prescribed more than any other, surpassing medications written for the treatment of high blood pressure, cancer and all other medical conditions. Some psychiatrists see this as a good sign-a sign that people are finally paying attention to their mental health-but critics argue that the alarming number of prescriptions written, reflects a disturbing trend-a trend seeing millions of people becoming dependent upon potentially dangerous medications, which serve only to manage the symptoms of depression, while leaving the causes for the illness unexplored.
There are different types of antidepressant medications, but the most popular and widely prescribed, fall under a class of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs.
The popular SSRIs include:
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Zoloft (sertraline)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Lexapro (escitalopram)
Celexa (citalopram)
The SSRIs act on a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin helps regulate mood, but it also plays a role in digestion, pain, sleep, mental clarity, and other bodily functions. As a result, the SSRI antidepressants cause a wide range of side effects. These side effects can be moderate to severe, depending on dosage and the individual. Some of the most common side effects include: nausea, vomiting, insomnia, sexual difficulty (loss of sex drive, impotence), weight changes and tremors.
In certain cases, however, these drugs are even more dangerous, causing serious health problems and even death. In elderly patients, SSRIs can increase the possibility of falls, fractures, and bone loss.
In adolescents, studies show an increase in the likelihood of suicide in patients taking the drugs.
Serious withdrawal symptoms have been reported as a result of discontinuing an SSRI regiment.
Combining SSRIs with certain pain relief medications, such as ibuprofen, can cause stomach bleeding.
SSRIs can inhibit one's ability to safely drive or operate machinery, increasing the possibility for automobile accidents.
So why, considering these potentially harmful side effects, are these antidepressants so widely used?
Good question. Often it is the only option suggested by doctors, and people, desperate for relief from troubling symptoms, jump at the prospect of feeling better, at any cost. Many believe these pills can "cure" what ails them and give them their life back, but the truth, as mentioned earlier, is that antidepressants treat only the symptoms of depression, and without further treatment, the underlying cause of their condition will continue to persist. In too many cases, people find that the use of these drugs has not only failed to cure them, but introduced a secondary cause for anguish and grief: dealing with the side effects of the drug on which they have become dependent.
To combat this, more and more people are beginning to explore alternate treatments that address the causes of their depression. Techniques such as cognitive therapy, subconscious restructuring and mindfulness, based on eastern meditation, offer patients a chance to deal directly with the root of their depression, to live calmly and confidently in the moment and learn ways to recognize internal and external triggers which act as precursors to their symptoms. These treatments take time, but they are readily accessible methods for patients to take an active, rather than passive role in their recovery.
Depression is a complex medical condition, requiring a multi-step approach in its treatment. Medication therapy alone, while occasionally effective in easing the symptoms of depression, is not a one-stop solution to the problem. Antidepressants can cause dependence and an array of negative side effects that can compound the difficulty of living with the illness. Be active in your recovery. Take the time to become educated about all the treatment options available, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each, before settling upon a singular approach involving medication alone.
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