Many people are reluctant to take antidepressants because they worry these drugs are addictive, sedative or make you gain weight. These worries are usually unfounded.

We recommend three antidepressants, none of which cause these side effects. The three drugs we use at Doing Well are Fluoxetine, Citalopram and Lofepramine. Click on each of the drug names to find out more about each. (This information comes from the patient.co.uk website. The links include useful information about each drug, as well as feedback from people who have taken them.)

It might also be helpful for you to know that:

·         Antidepressants have nothing to do with sedative drugs like Valium (diazepam)
Benzodiazepine drugs like Valium were designed to reduce anxiety and promote sedation. They are potentially addictive, and the effect starts to wear off after a few weeks. Antidepressants are not related to Valium. Antidepressants are not designed to be sedative, are not addictive, and the effect doesn't wear off with time.
 

·         Antidepressants are not "happy pills"
In fact, they only work for people who are clinically depressed. They work best the more depressed you are- and usually don't work at all for people who have mild depression or are just feeling low for a few days. They do not make you feel "better than well".
 

·         Taking an antidepressant isn't usually a cure in itself
In fact, these drugs mainly work by improving the quality of your sleep (though not actually making you sleepier), so that you feel more rested when you wake, and helping your appetite, concentration and energy recover to normal levels. Most people find this is the kind of help they need to begin making decisions about their life or making changes that they need to do. Antidepressants work well in conjunction with talking therapies- the two approaches are complementary.
 

·         There's no point in taking an antidepressant for a few days
Antidepressants bring about gentle, subtle changes in mood and body chemistry, and generally take at least two weeks to work. If you decide that you want to try taking one of these drugs, it's very important that you give them time to have their effect. It's usually helpful to commit yourself to taking them every day for at least month before deciding whether they have been helpful or not. Check your PHQ before taking them and again at two and four weeks to keep an eye on any response.
 

·         Not everyone responds to the first antidepressant they try
50 or 60% of people will feel better after about a month of the first antidepressant they try. For those who don't recover in this time, it's usually worth switching (with your doctor's help) to try a different drug. But our view is that if two or three changes of antidepressant still don't make you feel better, then you might have to think again about the kind of problem you face. A referral to a mental health specialist would usually be a good idea.
 

·         Antidepressants don't increase the risk of suicide in adults
As far as we know at the moment, there is no increased risk of suicide from taking antidepressants in adults - if anything, they are likely to reduce the risk. (People under 18 should only take antidepressants with specialist advice and supervision). But some people find the drugs make them feel agitated and restless in the first few days (especially with fluoxetine). The agitation in itself may make suicidal feelings harder to bear. This side effect usually wears off quite quickly- but if the agitation is a problem, you should contact your GP promptly.
 

·         Antidepressants won't work if you're drinking heavily
Be honest with yourself if you're drinking more than you should- count up how many drinks you take in a week and let your GP know. Heavy drinking will stop antidepressants from working properly and may be dangerous. If drinking has become a problem, this may be a good time to stop altogether- speak to your GP about getting help with this.

 

For information about antidepressants, we recommend reading a factsheet published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists- click here to read more.

We'd be interested to hear your experience of antidepressants, good or bad- contact us at feedback@doingwell.org.uk