“How dangerous is it to take antidepressants? ”
I am a 41-year-old female who has been obese most of her life. To emotionally handle being overweight, I have been taking antidepressants for many years. I am starting to question how bad they are to be taking. How dangerous is it to take antidepressants?
5 Answers
Treatments are not dangerous if the diagnosis is right.
Antidepressants are not considered to be particularly dangerous. Some to have a side effect of weight gain. It depends on the nature of the condition being treated.
Antidepressants are not dangerous if needed to treat Depression or Anxiety or other related illnesses. They actually work like a fertilizer to the brain cells. However, most of them do tend to increase appetite and in your case it should be combined with nutritional counseling and regular physical exercise.
It depends on the antidepressant. Some are safer than others. You should discuss your concerns with your doctor and perhaps be weaned off.
A good general rule is that antidepressants are generally extremely safe and effective, even when taken for years. A common mistake is to decide you shouldn't be taking a DRUG and stopping it before you're ready. A relapse commonly follows. Also, current research shows that once you decide to quit, you should taper and stop the medication very slowly.
Regarding risks and side effects, the answer is, it depends. First, which antidepressant are you taking? Some promote weight gain by increasing craving for carbohydrates. But bupropion (Wellbutrin) can help people lose weight. SRI-type antidepressants commonly interfere with sexual function. You should research and understand side effects. You should also investigate non-drug ways to combat depression. Both mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy are scientifically proven to help and sometimes can resolve sad moods for life. A good psychotherapist can help a lot too. But be picky about choosing a therapist. Sometimes the therapist is the last one to know their treatment isn't helping.
Regarding risks and side effects, the answer is, it depends. First, which antidepressant are you taking? Some promote weight gain by increasing craving for carbohydrates. But bupropion (Wellbutrin) can help people lose weight. SRI-type antidepressants commonly interfere with sexual function. You should research and understand side effects. You should also investigate non-drug ways to combat depression. Both mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy are scientifically proven to help and sometimes can resolve sad moods for life. A good psychotherapist can help a lot too. But be picky about choosing a therapist. Sometimes the therapist is the last one to know their treatment isn't helping.
