Do Antidepressants Do More Harm than Good?

Content updated from previous publish date. Americans are the unhappiest they have been in over 50 years. Because of this, it’s not surprising that antidepressants are some of the most common medications used in the United States. And the number of people taking them is on this rise. During the pandemic, the number of new prescriptions for antidepressants spiked by close to 19%, based on a 2020 report. In 2021, statistics show that the number of prescriptions for antidepressants topped 337 million.   In 2021, the number of prescriptions for antidepressants topped 337 million.

Click to tweet

When prescribed appropriately based on findings from a comprehensive evaluation that includes brain imaging, these medications can be helpful as a part of a treatment program for some people suffering from depression. But they don’t help everyone. In fact, they can make some people worse. Here’s why.

THE PROBLEMS WITH ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Most prescriptions for antidepressants are doled out after brief office visits with healthcare providers who do not look at the brain or consider any biological information. It’s like they are throwing darts in the dark at the problem. This diagnostic and treatment paradigm isn’t working. In a large study in Health Technology Assessment, researchers found that over 50% of depressed people failed to reach full remission of their symptoms after taking antidepressants. And for one-third of people, remission continued to elude them after 4 courses of medication. One review in Evidence-Based Mental Health found that except for people with severe depressive disorder, antidepressants worked no better than placebos. These are depressing statistics. For some people, antidepressant medication comes with unwanted side effects, including:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Lower sex drive
• Difficulty achieving orgasm
• Heightened anxiety
• Trouble sleeping or insomnia
• Headaches
• Restlessness or agitation
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Blurry vision
• Tremors

Even worse, lawsuits have claimed that the antidepressant medication Prozac caused violence or suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Virtually all antidepressants have black box warnings, which, in simple terms means the FDA cautions patients in the strongest terms to pay close attention to potentially extremely harmful or dangerous threats to their health. In addition to these risks, antidepressants can change how you feel in ways you didn’t expect. Antidepressant medication is intended to decrease negative emotions. However, according to an Oxford University study, the majority of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressants—effectively dampen all emotions, including love, happiness, and joy. In this study, participants reported feeling distant from their surroundings, and they no longer cared as much about important aspects of their everyday lives. They said it seemed like their personalities had changed. These are serious downsides.

NOT ALL DEPRESSED PEOPLE ARE THE SAME

One of the reasons why antidepressant medication has such a high failure rate is that depression isn’t a single or simple disorder. Brain SPECT imaging studies at Amen Clinics have helped identify 7 types of depression, and each type requires a different treatment plan. Giving everyone with depression the same treatment will never work, and it can make some people worse. For example, many practitioners prescribe SSRIs (such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro) as a first line of defense for patients who say they feel depressed. But these antidepressants don’t work for all 7 types of depression, and they exacerbate symptoms for several subtypes of the condition. A pair of 2019 studies in Nature Human Behavior and The American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that brain imaging may help predict which antidepressants will work best for individuals. Another reason why treatment failures are so high is that depression is not a disease; it’s a symptom similar to the way chest pain is a symptom. It doesn’t indicate what’s causing it. Chest pain can be caused by many different things. It’s the same with depression. Many factors contribute to depressive symptoms, including some biological issues that aren’t resolved by antidepressants. For instance, depression has been associated with:

• Head injuries
• Heart disease and low blood flow
• Chronic pain
• Inflammation
• Exposure to toxins(such as mold)
• Lyme disease and other infections
• Hormonal imbalances
• Obesity
• Poor diet
• Chronic insomnia

In some people, addressing these underlying issues can be critical in overcoming sadness or low moods.

ANTIDEPRESSANTS AREN’T THE ONLY OPTION

If you’re struggling with depression, medications should not be the first or only thing you do to help your brain and your mind. To overcome depressive symptoms, think about using all the tools available, and focus first on the least toxic, most effective solutions. These may include:

• Nutritional supplements (Did you know that 20 studies have shown that saffron is more effective than a placebo and equal to the antidepressants Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, and imipramine for depression?)
• Eating anti-inflammatory mood foods that fight depression
• Exercising (a wealth of studies show that physical activity has antidepressant effects, plus it boosts blood flow)
• Healing any underlying brain injuries
• Balancing hormones
• Making sleep a priority
• Tackling negative thinking habits
• Eliminating exposure to toxins
• Learning strategies to cope with chronic pain
• Testing for and treating any infections

Depending on your individual needs, medication may be necessary in addition to these other solutions. Getting a brain scan to more accurately diagnose your subtype of depression can be very helpful in determining which antidepressant is most likely to work for you. And follow-up brain imaging can show how well treatment is working and if any adjustments are needed. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.