Are you thinking about stopping antidepressants? Let's talk about this a little!

Only those who suffer from depression know how difficult it is to live with the mental condition. So when a doctor prescribes you medication for depression, it can be a great relief. But sometimes the side effects of these medications can be a bit annoying. Maybe you gain weight, or you feel other discomforts. So have you ever thought, "It would be better to just stay on this medication"? This is something that many people think. But it is not a good idea to stop taking the medication so abruptly. Let's talk about why that is.

Give the medicine some time to work.

Antidepressants, or what we call antidepressants, don't work instantly, like taking a painkiller to relieve a headache. They work by restoring the balance of natural chemicals in our brains that control our mood, called neurotransmitters . So this process takes some time.

You may not notice much of a difference during this time. But maybe your family, that is, your husband, wife, mother, father, will start to notice a change in you. For example, they may notice that you are less angry now than before.

A mistake many people make is to stop taking the medication because they can't tolerate this period of time, especially due to the side effects that occur in the first two weeks of starting the medication.

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• A little slow (Sedation)

These things are normal at first. But most of these side effects go away within a few weeks. So, doctors say to be patient during this time. Since you are already depressed due to depression, it can be easy to give up, thinking, "This medicine is not working." But remember, when you treat depression, you will have more strength to face the challenges in your life.

What are the main reasons for wanting to stop taking medication?

Let's see what reasons many people are tempted to stop taking this medication.

• Weight gain: This is the main cause. Some medications, such as Paxil and Remeron, can cause weight gain. If you are concerned about this, ask your doctor which medications are least likely to cause weight gain.
• Decreased sexual interest: Some antidepressants can affect sex life. This is especially true for young men, Dr.This is a major reason to stop taking medication without even mentioning it. If you feel something like this, don't hide it and definitely talk to your doctor. There are solutions for that.
• Other reasons: Some people stop taking their medication due to the cost of medication, pressure from family or friends ("I don't need medication to make you feel better"), etc.
• Thinking, "I'm better now": This is the biggest trap. When the medication is working properly, you start to feel really good. So you think, "Oh, I don't need the medication anymore." But you're actually feeling better because the medication is working. If you stop taking it, the depression is much more likely to come back.

Is the dose of medicine given to you correct?

Sometimes you may think, "No matter how long I take this medicine, it's not working." The reason for this may be that the dose of medicine you have been prescribed is not enough.

The dosage of `Antidepressants` is not increased suddenly. The doctor increases the dosage gradually. This gives the body time to get used to it. Sometimes, doctors also say, "Let's take a good look at it and then increase the dosage," so it may be too late to reach the required dosage.

Before stopping medication, be sure to talk to your doctor.

Okay, let's say you decide to stop taking your medication for whatever reason. If you do, don't do it suddenly. Talk to your doctor first.

If you stop taking your medication suddenly, you may experience withdrawal-like symptoms. Doctors call this condition Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome . While this doesn't happen to everyone, it can be very difficult for someone.

• Nausea
• Body pain
• Restlessness
• Sleep problems
• Numbness in the hands and feet

These symptoms may occur. These usually subside within a few weeks, but can be very painful during this time. However, these symptoms will quickly disappear once the medication is restarted.

To avoid these discomforts, doctors recommend that you taper off the medication gradually, over a period of days or weeks. This will give your body time to adjust to the change.

I want to go on this journey together with the doctor.

Good communication between you and your doctor is very important during this treatment. It's like a team effort. Here are some things you can do on your part.

You may need to try more than one medication to find the one that works best for you. But the most important thing is to stick to your treatment and maintain a good relationship with your doctor. It's easy to prescribe medication. But for treatment to be successful, it's important to talk to your doctor about your feelings and thoughts.