Wikipedia defines an antidepressant as "a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders" and continues to explain that "[their] effectiveness and adverse effects are the subject of many studies..." Which I would have to agree is true. Are antidepressants effective, and worth the adverse effects they can have on an individual?
I believe the answer to this question is up to each individual person in their search for inner peace and happiness. First, looking at what caused the depression; secondly, strategize...how to combat it, whether that be with medication, deciding if the side effects will hinder your mental healing or help.
After I was admitted into the hospital, I was labeled with a few diagnoses then prescribed Celexa. Since they were not sure how it would react with my system because of my malnutrition and vitamin deficiency and other substances, the doctor started me off on a low dosage to monitor the possible side effects as well as how I would adjust to the medication. Celexa (Citalopram) works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.[1]
Side effects of Celexa are different for many people. Some people experience nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, drowsiness, excessive tiredness, uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body, excitement or nervousness, muscle or joint pain, and/or loss of appetite. When I first began taking Celexa, I experienced the drowsiness and had numbness and tingling in my face and arms and legs; however I did not experience any of the other symptoms. As I started eating again and taking vitamins, as well as adjusting to the medication, the side effects I was experiencing went away. Recently however, I had forgotten a dosage so I took a pill as soon as I remembered and it did induce vomiting. (But for those of you who know me well, know that just eating can cause me to vomit. LoL)
As with any medication, it is imperative that you see a health care professional while taking. Antidepressants are not like cold medicine or antibiotics that you can just stop taking when you are feeling better. In some instances stopping the medication cold turkey can have the same effect as when the person first started taking the medication, or even make the symptoms worse. According to the FDA, "It is very important that you do not stop [your] antidepressant without first checking with the prescribing doctor. Also, some of these medications may be associated with discontinuation symptoms if stopped abruptly, so that, if the doctor advises that the medication should be stopped, be sure to follow the doctor’s advice about how to accomplish this."[2]
Hopefully I have helped someone in their reading this...It is my motivation and inspiration for blogging my experiences. May God and the Universe bless you. HuGz.
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1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001041
2. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm096321.htm#6
