Can long-term use of antidepressants destroy your brain?

Question

I have been taking antidepressants for about 8 years. Lately, like in the past couple of years or so, I have noticed that I seem to be getting stupid. I constantly forget things, like turning off lights, misplacing things, having total blank-outs when I am speaking, I write words backwards. I feel like I am losing my mind. I'm only 42 so I can't be getting Alzheimer's. Could it be that the antidepressants are negatively affecting my brain?

I just have plain old, garden-variety depression, combined with anxiety. I'm not manic-depressive or bi-polar or whatever.

Answer 1

While I doubt that most antidepressants could completely "destroy your brain", the truth is that the drug companies really did a rush job with getting the SSRIs out on the market...they didn't even test for increased suicide risk in kids and teens until the stuff had been out there for years. And as has been mentioned, there have been *no* long term studies done on the safety of these newer SSRI drugs. So yeah, some things are possible...

But the truth is, you're in a bind anyway. Depression itself can cause a lot of what you are going through if you let it go long enough, with the blanking out, short-term memory issues, and concentration. *And* some antidepressants also do something called "neuron pruning" that you might be concerned with.

Go ahead and do a search on "anti-depressants" and "Neuron Pruning", apparently, some of your SSRIs have a habit, with long-term use, of eliminating some nerve cells from the brain in the same ways puberty does. In fact, some researchers have even suggested that one of the reasons that antidepressants quit working or "poop out" is because the drugs do eventually get rid of the brain cells they work on.

Which can be a problem if a) you've been on multiple different kinds of anti-depressants like I have, for years and years, and b) the "poop out" issues get worse each time. Basically, every time you try a new drug regimen and it *fails* you lose more brain cells, which in turn makes the physical side effects of depression itself (the going blank is a new one, but the short-term memory and concentration issues are well documented) worse and worse each time it comes back.

So yeah, in terms of long-term use, antidepressants can end up being rather like regular aspirin or ibuprofen use. If you take aspirin or the like too often, it can eventually *cause* headaches as a side effect. Likewise, we've already found out recently that with kids and teens, SSRI antidepressants *already* do increase risk of suicide for the first six months of use....

So it would make sense that when an antidepressant fails or "poops out" that it would have, as a side effect, making symptoms of depression *worse* and not better.

So, while "destroying your brain" might not be a total issue, having some kinds of antidepressants at work in your brain might not be an option anymore (you may wish to talk to your doctor about the older, non-SSRI generation of anti-depressants....they have more and worse bodily side effects but more is known about what they do to your brain and intellect).

I hope this helps a little, I know it is a lot of info to digest, especially if you do that Web Search like I asked....but really, you are on to something, and it isn't just you. Here are some links you could search, using the whole phrases, quotes and all, "Neuron Pruning" and "anti-depressant drugs".

http://www.sciencenews.org/

http://www.sciam.com/

http://www.popsci.com/

That last one does more of a Smart Search, it takes more time but generates fewer "crap results" like ads and such.

Take care and stay well....

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Antidepressants Brain Damage

Answer 4

I had a great life until I was 28. I had a fantastic job, a beautiful home, great kids, pretty much everything I could ask for. Then a therapist told me that I needed to be taking antidepressants. 6 months later my entire life had been turned upside down. I quit my job, moved out of my house, stopped talking to my friends and family. I didn't speak to my children or my family for 12 years. Once I stopped taking the meds I realized how out of control I had been all that time. Shortly after that I was diagnosed as bipolar and told that the medication I was being instructed to take all of those years had been making me manic. Even though these medications can be beneficial when properly administered the potential risks are so enormous that I would only use them as a last resort. If you do decide to use antidepressants make sure that you see a psychiatrist not a GP. Regular doctors can't be trusted with mental health issues.

Answer 5

I don't know much.. I take them too, but I'm only 16 and have been taking them for 2 years. I notice that I completely space out at times and sometimes get forgetful and that, so maybe it IS the antidepressants... but here's hoping it isn't. It might be related, though.

Answer 6

i am sorry to sound non specific in this answer put the answer is yes.......and......no...there are many prescription drugs on the
market today used in the treatment of depression. the anti-depression drugs fall into a number of categories. you would,for instance use one type for bipolar[manic depressive] in conjunction with an offsetting stabilizer. sometimes with lithium. there are more than one type of bi polars, varying that treatment. then you have people who are clinically depressed who would
very possibly receive a different type of antidepressant. there are also people depressed from using illegal drugs , and the
list goes on. given this information , i would suggest that you
discuss with you druggist, doctor , and get information on line
regarding any anti-depressant you might consider. if you find
that you are just a bit "moody" it may not be good for you.
my suggestion also is that you see a psychiatrist for an anti-depressant. family gp's are dispensing them are on the increase but if you were a manic-depressive and didn't know it and took an anti-depressant it would send you into a serious manic episode. this is, of course , an opinion , as i am not an m.d.

Answer 7

I believe it could be.
The Pharmacutical Companies petal so many drugs on us when there are alternative solutions like herbs, natural diet, getting rid of food alergies, vitamin supplements and so forth.
Drugs would be my last choice.
Some have depression because of the misfiring in the brain, somethines from birth. Then you may need drugs otherwise I would use natural first.
There are great Naturopathic Doctors, Holistic Doctors, Herbalist, out there that they can work with you to keep it in control the natural way.
Do your research. Read books, look online, talk to your specialists at the Herb shop or Health Food Store.

Plus check out this site: www.bachremedies.com
In the Uk they have done research on Flower therapy for many ailments including depression. You do not have to buy online from UK as they are sold in some Health Food Stores and Wild Oats Market.
These are really supposed to work and are all natural, at least check it out and take the test there.
When you take chemicals to cure one ailment they can cause other problems as they store in the body or brain. These doctors and drug companies do not want to tell you that as they are making money.
Also check out Sam Bisers book: Saving your life with Cayenne.
and a book called: Prescription for Nutritional Healing.

Good Luck

Answer 8

I doubt is is your antidepressants that are causing your problems, but it is a reasonable issue to discuss with your doctor. Antidepressants do not "destroy your brain", but they do have side effects, and memory and attention problems could be some of them. You symptoms could be due to depression as well. Or they may just be a sign of aging or a more serious problem like dementia.

Answer 9

OMG! Thank you, I thought I was the only one who was this way. I'm 43 and Bi Polar. People tell me that they said something a couple of hours or days ago and can't remember what so ever.
Or I have to double check to see if I did something or not. I was going to ask my doctor about it next appointment. Believe me I totally know where your coming from.

Answer 10

It hasn't been proven, but I personally believe so, just like birth control can eventually make a person infertile. But I don't think it has ever been scientifically proven.