The growth rate of Americans being subscribed to antidepressants has risen 6.2% from 1999-2011, according to Journal of the American Medical Association. The most commonly used and prescribed anti-depressants in which that are widely used among teens and adults are medications such as Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa and Luvox. These anti-depressants and those similarly prescribed are used to treat a wide range of mental illnesses that may include depression, OCD, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD and bipolar disorder. But how do anti-depressants work and are they genuinely efficient?
Anti-depressants work to correct the chemical imbalances of the neurotransmitters (certain brain circuits and chemicals) in the brain that may have been initially disrupted before diagnosis of a mental condition. These chemical imbalances may contribute and be held accountable for changes in the mood and behaviors. The corrections of chemical balances that may have been disrupted could ultimately increase appetite and concentration, fix unstable sleeping patterns and help to improve one’s overall mood. However, chemical imbalances aren’t the only contributing factors to depression and other mental illnesses, therefore, scientists aren’t entirely sure what can cause these illnesses. But factors such as genetic predisposition, certain life events, medical problems and deaths helps to give conclusive insight to these mental occurrences that can be short term and/or long term.
Anti-depressants are categorized into different groups as listed: Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Doctors prescribe a certain medication classified in one of these above groups depending on the severity of an illness, other taken medications that may interfere with the prescribed medication, drug dependency and other health issues. Common symptoms of antidepressants may include nausea, increased appetite, weight gain, insomnia, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, loss of sexual desire, blurred vision, anxiety, drowsiness, agitation and in some cases may worsen depression and increase suicidal thoughts. Withdrawing from certain medications could ultimately result in the listed symptoms as well. Side effects of antidepressants often contradict an individual’s thoughts on whether taking the medication is worth the side effects, especially with the consideration that numerous reports and critics are unaffected by the first prescribed medication. This leads to the bigger question and concern to if whether or not antidepressants are overall genuinely efficient or not, part taking the second or third prescription.
Reports shown in 2011 concluded that 31% of prescribed medications were shown efficient after 14 weeks and 65% efficient after 6 months. The remaing 35% proved little or no effect on the patients. In fact, the medication has been shown to worsen the mental conditions in some cases. This state of condition varies and possibly results from a under prescribed medication, other medical conditions and missing daily dosages. Discontinuing a medication could also result in a relapse back into a mental illness that once has occurred before.
Although scientists don’t know the exact cause of depression, antidepressants can change the way people feel, but to other’s can have no efficient result. Corollary to studies shown that chemical imbalances are linked to depression and whether or not antidepressants have significant value, depends on the individual prescribed to the medication. Antidepressants work to balance chemical neurotransmitters in the brain, but in some individuals, chemical imbalances aren’t the case as to one’s mental illnesses.
