Are meds addicting? Is it hard to quit, once you start?
And how is it different than medicating with drugs or alcohol? Why is it acceptable and others drugs not?
2007-01-12 08:00:44 · 9 answers · asked by JoeBob 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
These drugs are physically addictive. Anyone that tells you they aren't doesn't know very much about them. I am not a doctor by any means, but I have taken several different ones over the years. Each one of them has similar side effects. They do not affect you in the same way as drugs and alcohol do. They help to adjust the chemical imbalances in your brain. They help boost your serotonin levels. After taking them for so long your body will build up a tolerance so the dosage will have to be increased.
As for coming off of the antidepressants, it is a gradual decrease in the dosage. If you try to stop cold turkey, you may experience nausea, shaking, you can get a little off balance and many other reactions can occur. Personally I recommend seeking alternative treatments before taking antidepressants, but I do understand that sometimes you need more than just therapy.
2007-01-12 08:19:29 · answer #1 · answered by KD 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely not. A person can not become addicted even though he takes these medications for months or years. People who take insulin and high blood pressure pills are not addicted; neither are people who take antidepressants. A person who does not have depression would feel no effect if he took an antidepressant. They work on the brain chemistry that gets out of balance and results in depression.
When you start them you have to gradually increase your dose to where it works for you. When you don't want to take them anylonger, you have to wean off of them. To suddenly stop causes the brain to short circuit, which can cause what I call "zap seizures". Not very comfortable.
The difference between these drugs and others is that they are helping to control depression. Alcohol is a depressant and does kill brain cells. Other drugs are illegal for a reason, they destroy peoples lives and bodies. Self medicating will only make things worse. Get your drugs from the doctor.
2007-01-12 08:27:05 · answer #2 · answered by Twisted Maggie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anti-depressants are not addicting. It is not hard to quit, but you have to do it if your doctor agrees and get off slowly. Don't quit cold turkey.
Alcohol is a depressant, and it kills brain cells. The worst thing a depressed person can do is drink alcohol.
Illegal drugs are addicting and damage the brain. Illegal drugs make your mental health problems worse.
2007-01-12 08:08:04 · answer #3 · answered by regerugged 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The antidepressants are not addictive, but they do have the potential to produce a withdrawal syndrome if discontinued adter long use.
As far as alcohol goes, it's not such a big deal with SSRIs SNRIs, and other modern ones. But, do not take it with MAOIs or tricyclics.
2007-01-12 08:13:40 · answer #4 · answered by Philip Kiriakis 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they can be addicting. Read the labels, most mention severe side effects if you try and quit. Be careful with them, and don't try and quit the drugs too suddenly, the doctors recommend a gradual withdrawl.
2007-01-12 08:02:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
They are addicting, especially if your depression case is severe. When you go off of the medicine there are a lot of cases where people's depression gets worse, so I would really talk to your doctor about all side effects.
2007-01-12 08:08:22 · answer #6 · answered by Stephanie D 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes! They are EXTREMELY addicting. And they can cause brain damage. Stay away from antidepressants.
Generally once you start seeing a psychiatrist they want you to see them for the rest of your life.
http://antipsychiatry.org/lawson.htm
http://hdlighthouse.org/see/drugs/antipsychotics.htm
2007-01-12 08:06:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
because the powers that be for-mothers and fathers have fought long and hard..................gave their lives to keep future generations under control. If you were allowed to use cures that really healed you millions of people would lose their jobs. Just like crime. Do you think they are really seeking to stop crime? If all crime stopped today how many people would be out of work?
2007-01-12 08:06:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
they're not addicting...
and you don't get high or drunk off of them, they just subdue your depression.
2007-01-12 08:03:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋