Depression is a crippling disease, and many people need to turn to antidepressants in order to regain control of their lives. Antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, and they are often prescribed for long-term use. Data on long-term effects is limited, but some studies have found that long-term use can cause blood sugar problems, weight gain, and addiction to the drug. Some people also report that long-term use causes them not to feel like themselves. Are the side effects of these drugs worth it? Is quality of life actually improving? What are the other options for treatment when it comes people living with severe depression?
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While it is true that antidepressants can be "worth" the side effects for many, what concerns me is the long-term use of antidepressants. In the U.S., nearly 15.5 million Americans have been on antidepressants for five or more years. Antidepressants were originally approved for short-term use, as previous research with antidepressants had only lasted for two months. There is still a lack of data about the long-term consequences of using antidepressants. Yet many face withdrawal symptoms which prevent them from quitting the usage of these drugs.
There needs to be more research surrounding the long-term effects and better guidelines on the length one should be on antidepressant medication.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/07/health/antidepressants-withdrawal-prozac-cymbalta.html
As someone who has been on an antidepressant before, it's my opinion that the side effects of antidepressants are generally worth it. As a child, I was on a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for a short time, and hardly noticed any changes to my personality, weight, eating habits, or general health while taking it. I do remember that missing a dose affected my mood severely, but I was less anxious and more equipped to improve my mental health while on the drug.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the general side effects of Fluoxetine (Prozac) are minor, ranging from insomnia to dry mouth to minor weight changes. Given that about 1 in 10 people in the U.S. take SSRIs like I did, it's clear that they generally "work", and are trusted by physicians and patients nationwide.
That being said, drugs like Prozac have been recently linked to high blood sugar increased risk of Type II Diabetes. Thus, antidepressants may be widely used and "worth" the side effects, but should be taken with care.
https://www.madinamerica.com/2016/10/use-antidepressants-linked-diabetes/