Antidepressant Addiction

Antidepressants are drugs designed to help manage and improve the symptoms of depression. Depression is more than just feeling sad for a day or two; it can make you feel down for weeks, months or even longer and can affect every part of your life.

While various things can trigger depression, it actually affects the way your brain works. Our brains have chemicals called neurotransmitters that help send signals between nerve cells and affect our mood, energy levels and overall sense of well-being. Some of the key neurotransmitters related to mood are serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

Antidepressants work by balancing these chemicals in your brain. Depending on the type of antidepressant, they might increase the levels of these chemicals or make it easier for them to send messages between nerve cells.

While this can help enormously with depression, there are also antidepressants side effects which can occur, such as:

• Nausea
• Weight gain
• Drowsiness
• Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• Dry mouth

Antidepressant side effects usually get better over time, but if they don’t, your doctor might adjust the dose or try a different medication.

There are a few main types of antidepressants, each working a bit differently:

SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

These are the most common types of antidepressants and work by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain. Examples include Prozac and Zoloft.

SNRIs (Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)

SNRIs include drugs like Effexor and Cymbalta and affect both serotonin and norepinephrine levels.

TCAs (Tricyclic antidepressants)

These are an older type of antidepressant and affect several neurotransmitters. They are not used as much now because they often have more antidepressant side effects. Examples include Elavil and Tofranil.

MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors)

MAOIs are also older medicines like Nardil and Parnate that work by blocking the enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters. They can have serious antidepressant side effects, so they are rarely prescribed now.

Antidepressant addiction is a complex condition but at its simplest, it means you can’t stop taking antidepressants even though they are harming you in some way. It is a little different to other types of drug addiction because antidepressants don’t create any “high” pleasurable effects or cravings, which are usually the cause of escalating use and eventual addiction.

However, some antidepressants can create a physical dependence on them, which means after you have been taking them in large quantities for a long time if you suddenly stop, you experience withdrawal symptoms. These can make quitting very difficult, even if you want to. They include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Flu-like symptoms
• Rebound depression

The final withdrawal symptom, rebound depression can also make giving up antidepressants a scary thought. You may worry that if you stop taking the medication, your depression will come back even worse than before which can keep you locked in a cycle of fear and addiction.

The best way to spot a developing addiction is to look out for antidepressants addiction symptoms. This isn’t always easy because you were likely given antidepressants as a prescription drug for a genuine medical reason. However, if you notice any of these problems or behaviours in yourself or someone else, they could be signs of antidepressant addiction:

• Taking more antidepressants than prescribed and running out before you are supposed to
• Constantly worrying about your supply and spending a lot of time and energy making sure you have enough
• Using your antidepressants to handle stress or emotions that they weren’t prescribed for, like taking an extra dose during a particularly tough day.
• Feeling like you can’t get through the day or manage your normal activities without taking antidepressants
• Feeling the need to hide how much medication you are taking or lie about it to your loved ones
• Noticing that your antidepressant use is starting to affect your school, work or relationships negatively

Antidepressant dependence can happen for various reasons but most people have some underlying struggles that increase their chances. These often include issues such as:

Relying solely on antidepressants

If you only rely on antidepressants to cope with depression and don’t complement them with other methods like therapy, exercise or healthy living, it can be easier to become dependent on the medicine.

Taking higher doses

Start taking more antidepressants than your doctor prescribed because you think it will help you feel better faster or because your prescribed dose isn’t working. This can quickly build tolerance and lead to antidepressant addiction.

Self-medicating

This means using your antidepressants to cope with stress, anxiety or other issues that the medication wasn’t prescribed for. Self-medicating without a doctor’s advice can be dangerous and contribute to antidepressant addiction.

Genetics

Some people may be more likely to develop dependence because of their genes. This means that if there is a family history of substance dependence, you might be more prone to antidepressant addiction.

Mental health conditions, stress and trauma

If you have other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or PTSD, you may be more likely to become dependent on antidepressants as you try to manage multiple issues. Likewise, major life changes or stressful events, like losing a loved one or experiencing trauma, can make you rely more on medication to cope with your emotions.

Understanding the effects and dangers of becoming addicted to antidepressants is important to ensure you use them safely. Here are some of the main issues that can occur:

Physical health issues

Taking more antidepressants than prescribed can lead to various physical health problems including dizziness, nausea, headaches and trouble sleeping, all of which can make you feel physically unwell and can harm your body.

Mental health problems

While antidepressants are meant to help with depression, antidepressant addiction can actually make symptoms worse. The same is true if you are using antidepressants to self-medicate for other mental health problems.

Impact on daily life

Dependence on antidepressants can hugely affect your daily life. You might find it hard to focus at school or work or avoid loved ones or social activities. This can lead to feelings of isolation and make your depression worse.

Risk of antidepressant overdose

Taking more medication than prescribed increases the risk of overdose, which can be very dangerous. Symptoms of an antidepressant overdose can include severe drowsiness, confusion or even life-threatening conditions like heart problems.

Financial costs

Buying more medication than you need or seeing doctors frequently for prescriptions can become expensive, putting a financial strain on you or your family.

Antidepressant addiction treatment combines drug detox, rehab and aftercare for a holistic recovery approach. Drug detox allows you to come off antidepressants safely with a medical team who will help you deal with any withdrawal symptoms. Drug rehab then looks at why you have become psychologically or emotionally reliant on antidepressants. It will explore the roots of depression and hopefully help you find ways to manage it without misusing medication. Once those stages are done, aftercare offers ongoing therapy and support to guide you through the challenges that often emerge following treatment.

Are you or someone you know struggling with antidepressant addiction? Then Oasis Bradford can help. We have an expert team of therapists, counsellors and medical staff who will support you through every step, from stopping the medication safely to finding new ways to manage your symptoms. Don’t let antidepressants control your life another day. Contact Oasis Bradford today to start your journey to feeling happier and healthier.