Approximately 15.5 million Americans have been taking antidepressants for at least five years and 25 million have been on them for two years. This rate has almost doubled since 2010 and more than tripled since 2000. Increasing numbers of patients are being prescribed antidepressant medications and are being kept on them long term. However, it’s not as easy to stop treatment as many patients had hoped.
For people who have severe depression or who are going through difficult situations in life that seem too great to bear, antidepressants just may help to get life back on track. We’re not here to say that all antidepressants are bad and that they should never be taken. What we ARE saying is that too many times patients aren’t warned of the potential side effects associated with taking certain antipsychotic medications nor are they told about the difficulties they may face when they want to get off of them. Our goal is to paint the full picture so that you can make an educated decision as to whether or not you want to take a medication and if you and your doctor feel that it’s time to stop taking a medication, that you can have the least amount of complications and withdrawal symptoms for an easy transition.Antidepressants were originally designed to be a short-term treatment to be taken for six to nine months or for just enough time to get you through a difficult crisis. Later studies suggested that “maintenance therapy” could prevent a return of depression in some patients, but those trials rarely lasted more than two years. Nowadays, physicians regularly prescribe antidepressants as they see fit which is usually indefinitely. However, the long term effects of this medication on the brain is yet unknown.
First and foremost, it’s critical that you discuss your plans with your doctor and for both of you to create a strategy so that you can reduce your medication safely. You should also inform your family of your decision so that they can be aware of any withdrawal symptoms or behaviors that may be concerning. If you have made an appointment with your doctor to stop your medication, he may give you the following information:
