Will I have to take antidepressant medication for the rest of my life?

Taking medications for at least 7 to 15 months after recovery reduces your risk for relapse. Medications for depression must be tapered off and not stopped abruptly. About half of those who experience one episode of depression will experience a recurrence of symptoms (relapse). Recurrent depression may require medication for the rest of your life.

Will taking antidepressant medication change my personality?

Antidepressants can change how you feel and respond in certain situations, but they do not change who you are. You may feel more relaxed, more social, more assertive, or more outgoing when taking an antidepressant. Research indicates that these effects may be caused not only by the relief of depression but also by the direct effect of antidepressant drugs on brain chemistry.

What to expect if you do take medications to treat depression

If you have depression, determining the severity of your symptoms and how much they interfere with your daily living can help you decide whether to take medications. Antidepressants can help balance the chemicals in your brain (neurotransmitters) and reduce the intensity of your depressive symptoms.

It may take several weeks before you notice a significant change, especially if you have been depressed for a long time, but you should notice some improvement in 2 to 3 weeks and see the full effects in 12 weeks. It is important to remember that people respond differently to antidepressant medications, and the first medication you try may or may not be effective in relieving your symptoms of depression. If the medication is not effective after several weeks, you may need to try another antidepressant.

Although medications have potential side effects, these side effects are usually temporary and go away within the first few weeks of therapy. If your depressive symptoms are worse than the possible side effects of the medications, you may benefit from taking medications to treat depression. Common side effects include:

• Nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea
• Anxiety or irritability
• Problems sleeping or drowsiness
• Loss of sexual desire or ability
• Headaches or dizziness

What to expect if you do NOT take medications to treat depression

If you determine that your symptoms are not interfering with your daily living and that your symptoms are less bothersome than the side effects of the medications, you may decide against taking medications to treat your depression. However, you should seek other treatment for depression, such as professional counseling. Untreated depression may get worse.

If you do not take antidepressant medications to treat depression, continuing to monitor how much your symptoms interrupt your life and the lives of those around you can be helpful in your treatment. Professional counseling can help you deal with immediate problems and learn ways to better cope with future issues. Some people are able to overcome mild and sometimes moderate depression by seeking treatment other than medication.

next: Relief From Depression