Myths about antidepressants

Where do the myths come from?

Depression and its treatment are still often a taboo subject, and knowledge comes more often from hearsay, internet forums and individual difficult experiences than from a doctor. As a result, many people put off treatment for months, are afraid to start it, or stop the medicine too early — and risk a relapse.

Meanwhile, antidepressants have been used for several decades in millions of patients and are among the best-studied medicines in medicine. Below we set the most common myths against what the research actually shows.

“Antidepressants are addictive”

They are not addictive. We speak of addiction when euphoria, craving for the substance and a need to increase the dose to get the same effect appear — antidepressants do not have these features. You do not “take them for pleasure” and they do not cause a compulsive urge.

Withdrawal symptoms after stopping abruptly can be misleading — dizziness, irritability, a sensation of “electric shocks” in the head or flu-like symptoms. This is not the same as addiction; it is a sign that the body has got used to the medicine, just as it gets used to many other medicines, for example for high blood pressure. That is why the medicine is stopped gradually, according to a plan agreed with the doctor, and not from one day to the next.

“They change your personality”

The medicines do not change who you are. Depression and anxiety can dampen energy, joy and interests — treatment lifts this “filter”, which is why many people say that only on the medicine do they “come back to themselves” rather than become someone else.

Some people, on the other hand, describe a reduced intensity of emotions — both difficult and pleasant ones. It is sometimes felt as relief, but when it is bothersome, the dose can be reduced or the medicine changed. It is worth reporting this feeling, because it can usually be eased.

“They should work at once”

The improvement in mood develops gradually, usually after 2 to 4, sometimes 6 weeks. Antidepressants do not act on the spot and do not give a “kick” like stimulants — you will not feel a change after the first tablet.

This matters, because side effects can be the reverse: they may appear in the first days and disappear before the improvement comes. That is exactly why the start of treatment is often the hardest and worth getting through, without giving up too early.

“Once I feel better, I can stop the medicine straight away”

This is one of the most common causes of relapse. Improvement means the medicine is working — not that you can already stop it. After the symptoms have eased, treatment continues for some time to consolidate the effect and reduce the risk of relapse. When and how to end treatment is decided together with the doctor.

“I will take them for the rest of my life”

The vast majority of people take antidepressants only for as long as treatment needs — until the symptoms ease and for some time afterwards, to consolidate the effect. The need to take them indefinitely is very unlikely. You decide on the length of treatment and its ending together with your doctor.

“Taking medicine is a sign of weakness”

Depression is an illness, not a matter of willpower or character — it is linked to changes in how the brain works, over which one has no direct control. No one accuses a person with diabetes who takes insulin of “weakness”.

Reaching for treatment is not “taking the easy way out”, but a responsible decision and a choice of an effective, well-studied method. You do not have to cope on your own, and attempts to “wait out” severe depression without help can be dangerous.

“Medicines only mask the problem, they do not treat the cause”

Antidepressants restore the balance of the messenger systems in the brain, which genuinely reduces symptoms and lets you regain energy and the ability to act. This makes it easier for many people to benefit from psychotherapy and to make changes in their life that address the causes. The best results usually come from combining pharmacotherapy with psychotherapy.

“Natural methods are safer”

Natural does not mean harmless. St John’s wort is sometimes advertised as a gentle mood remedy, but it has numerous, sometimes dangerous interactions — it weakens the action of many medicines (among others contraception), and combined with antidepressants it can cause serotonin syndrome.

Dietary supplements are also not subject to as strict control as medicines, so their composition and dose can be uncertain. This does not mean that lifestyle does not matter — sleep, movement and diet genuinely support treatment — but they do not replace proven methods. It is worth reporting every supplement and herb to your doctor.

“You cannot live normally during treatment”

Most people during treatment work, study, drive a car and function as before. Antidepressants usually do not rule out driving, although at the start, when drowsiness or dizziness may appear, it is worth being careful.

It is better to avoid alcohol, especially in the first weeks — it increases drowsiness, worsens mood and makes it harder to judge whether the medicine is working. Treatment itself, however, does not mean giving up a normal life. Settle any doubts about driving, shift work or combining with other medicines with your doctor.

If you have doubts about your treatment, do not stop the medicine on your own — talk to your doctor. That is the best way to separate the facts from the myths in your situation.

This article is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation. The choice of medicine, the dose and any changes in treatment are always decided by the doctor together with the patient.