Will You Have to Take Antidepressants Forever?

What This All Means for People With Depression

If You Do Have To Take Antidepressants Forever, You Will Be OK

Depression is a complex condition with many contributing factors, and there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Antidepressants can be an effective part of a treatment plan for depression, but they are not a cure. Some people may need to take antidepressants for a short time, while others may need to take them for a longer period of time, or even indefinitely.

If you are considering taking antidepressants, it is essential to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits involved. Your doctor can help you determine if antidepressants are right for you and can help you find the right medication and dosage.

Why Do We Still Use Antidepressants?

Most existing FDA-approved antidepressants are designed to either increase the availability of serotonin or norepinephrine (or both) in the brain. However, a widely reported study published in Molecular Psychiatry in July 2022 revealed that there is no consistent evidence to support the idea that depression is caused by low serotonin levels.

This does not mean that antidepressants don’t work. Decades of clinical research on the FDA-approved antidepressants available right now along with other studies investigating how and why antidepressants work confirm that antidepressants can provide symptom relief.

Antidepressants May Rewire Brains to Think More Positively

Researchers have suggested that antidepressants aren’t just numbing emotions or acting as a placebo for depressed patients. Instead, the benefits might come from changes to brain circuitry.

Ketamine May Soon Fill Gaps in Standard Antidepressant Treatment Outcomes

Ketamine and ketamine-derived treatments can induce a noticeable antidepressant effect within two hours and as much as 71% of patients experience a significant antidepressant response within 24 hours of a single dose.

The Role of Therapy and Lifestyle Changes

Most clinicians suggest that antidepressants should, ideally, be used as just one piece of a multidimensional treatment plan that includes therapy and lifestyle changes. Therapy can help you learn how to cope with the symptoms of depression and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep, can also help improve your mood and energy levels.

Some Cases of Depression Do Require Ongoing Antidepressant Treatment

Even with the advances in antidepressant research and the promising potential of therapy alongside diet and exercise, some patients with severe depression might still need more help. In these cases, antidepressants are often taken indefinitely.

Comorbidities Make Identifying Those Cases Complicated

Whether or not you have a severe, difficult-to-treat form of depression can be hard to say for certain. Even if you do need lifelong treatment, it may not necessarily need to involve antidepressants.

If you aren’t responding well to antidepressants—or you are but you aren’t thrilled about the idea of taking them forever—you may want to talk to your doctor about other conditions that might be making it harder to get rid of stubborn depression symptoms.