We have all experienced feeling unwell at some point in our lives. When one has a headache, they reach for an aspirin or paracetamol, grab a Gaviscon tablet for acid reflux and carry their insulin to manage their blood sugar when they need to.
Anyone diagnosed with a long-term illness has to rely on regular medications for relief as prescribed by their doctors and are grateful for the reprieve that the medication brings to them.
In the UK, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year and 1 in 6 people report undergoing a common mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder in any given week but antidepressants are not spoken of as liberally as other medications.
There is a lot of stigma surrounding mental health to begin with, so it becomes a sensitive topic when someone has to start taking antidepressants for a mental illness or to let family and friends know about their diagnosis.
Here are some of the reasons why people who are struggling with mental health problems may not want to take antidepressants:
- The fear of side effects deters people from taking antidepressants. There is a lot of negative talk regarding the potential side effects of antidepressants and some people believe that the medication will make them worse
- The cost of the medication may prevent a person suffering with mental health problems from obtaining repeat prescriptions for their antidepressants
- The fear of being labelled a pill popper, lazy, and mad by their peers and families
- Some people are not good at taking medication, they forget or miss doses, and some expect faster results so may stop taking the antidepressants before they kick in and then say that the medication is not working
- There is always a worry that one may become too dependent on antidepressants and not be able to function without them or that their problems could be accelerated because of taking the medication, so some people avoid taking their antidepressants.
We are surrounded by different types of people. Some are kind and sympathetic to those struggling and some can’t hide their annoyance when someone is open about their mental illness.
That causes a lot of people who have mental health problems to hide their illness and end up not taking their medication but there should be no shame in anyone taking their prescribed medication.
It is also important for people that are struggling with mental health illnesses to take their medications directly as prescribed by their doctor and not combine it with any other medication or substances in order to treat their symptoms correctly and to help them manage or overcome their problems.
When antidepressants are not used properly, they can result in unpleasant side effects, longer recovery, worsened health, substance abuse disorders, or even loss of life.
Here are some useful tips for taking your antidepressants:
- Always try to keep an up to date list of your medications so that doctors do not prescribe antidepressants that counteract with your other medications
- Make sure to check whether your antidepressants can be taken on an empty stomach, with food, or after food
- Create a routine so that you don’t forget to take your antidepressants and take them at the same time daily to avoid overlapping your doses
- Use a clear pill organiser with labels for the times and days of the week to help you keep track of your daily medication doses
- Do not share your antidepressants with other people and do not double up on a dosage if for any reason you have missed your medication
- Do not take other people’s medication and reduce your intake of alcohol and other stimulants while on antidepressants
- Travel with extra medication when visiting family and friends in case you stay for longer than you had planned
- Pack all your prescribed medications in your carry-on case if you are flying for safety in the event that your luggage gets lost and to protect them from damage
- Do not go off your antidepressants cold turkey as that has more detrimental effects to your physical and mental health. Follow the directions of your doctor when you need to increase, reduce or stop taking the medication
As with all medications, there is no one size fits all approach to treating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health illnesses. All antidepressants carry a suicide warning and can cause different reactions to the people taking them. At least 50 percent of people who take antidepressants report excessive weight loss, weight gain, loss of libido but the benefits and the improved quality of life that the antidepressants can provide, outweighs its risks.
Some people may also choose to treat their depression and anxiety symptoms using holistic treatments such as exercise, mindfulness, meditation, yoga, hypnosis, and natural supplements such as Multi-Vitamins with B6 and minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and Vitamin D-3.
There are many different views on how antidepressants work, however they are considered to be an important part of treating depression as they relieve the symptoms, help with emotional balance, and reduce the chances that they may come back.
People have referred to antidepressants as happy pills, but they do not make you happy. They do not instantly make you cheerful, but when you are prescribed with a combination that works for you, they allow you to perform better and engage in the things that will bring you happiness.
It is not recommended to stop taking any antidepressants abruptly as it can cause withdrawals such as severe depression, digestion problems, and sleeping problems. Only start weaning off your medications under the supervision of your doctor.