Antidepressants: Are they really necessary, or are we overusing them?

Do you sometimes feel very sad, lonely, and burdened? Do you have days when you don't even want to get out of bed in the morning, when everything seems to be gone? You must have heard of the 'mood-boosting drugs' that doctors prescribe to relieve such severe mental stress, or the condition we call depression. We also call these antidepressants. Today we are going to talk about a big debate in society about these types of drugs. Are these really divine medicines that can save lives? Or are we unknowingly addicted to them?

What are these antidepressants?

Simply put, these are a type of medication that helps improve our mood by changing the activity of certain chemicals in our brain. One of the most well-known is a type of medication that controls the level of a neurotransmitter called serotonin . These are called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors , or SSRIs for short. You may have heard of brand names like `(Prozac)`, `(Paxil)`, `(Zoloft)`. These all belong to this category.

The use of this drug has increased a lot in Sri Lanka and all over the world. Some reports say that one in every ten people in America uses this drug. This is really a surprisingly high number. So this is where the problem begins.

There are people who have won their lives because of this medicine.

We need to understand the other side of this story. This medicine is a great blessing for those who are really suffering from severe depression. Imagine, someone who was so depressed that they were about to end their life, someone who could not even get out of bed in the morning and take care of their children, comes back to normal life because of this medicine. For such people, this medicine may be indispensable. That is true.

Kanchana is one such person. She had severe depression. The medicine prescribed by the doctor helped her recover from that condition. She regained the strength to take care of her children and enjoy her family life. So from this perspective, this medicine is a lifesaver.

So where is the problem? This is where the controversy begins.

The question arises as to whether everyone really needs this medication. Some expert psychiatrists allege that in today's society, these medications have reached a point where they are prescribed even for minor mental stress, minor sadness, or the sadness that comes with `failing` an exam.

What's even more alarming is that about half of those taking these medications take them for longer than a year. Many of these medications haven't been properly tested for long-term use, so no one knows exactly what the effects will be over time.

Side Effects to Watch Out For

Like any medicine, these `Antidepressants` also have side effects. Sometimes these can be quite severe. Let's recall Kanchana's story again. After the first medicine she was given, she felt no joy, no sadness, no emotions. She said she felt like a robot. She also got completely bored with her sex life.

These are some of the most common side effects.

Kanchana went back to her doctor because of these side effects. He then gave her a different medicine. For five years, she kept switching between different medicines. But she never went to see a psychiatrist. She thought that since she was taking medicine, she didn't need it. This is also a mistake that many people in our society make.

Is it possible to get a cure just by thinking 'I'm taking a medicine'? - The Placebo Effect

Now let's talk about another amazing thing. That is the 'Placebo Effect' . Simply put: Imagine, a doctor gives you a medicine that is just a sugar pill. But you think that it is the best medicine. Because of that belief, your illness gets a little better. It's like your mind and your body are being tricked.

Some research has shown that a significant proportion of people who take medication for depression experience relief from this ``placebo`` effect. That is, the relief is due to the belief, "I'm taking a pill, I'm feeling better now," rather than the chemical action of the medication. In some studies, there has been no significant difference between those who took the real medication and those who just took sugar pills.

So this medicine doesn't work at all? - Opposing opinion

No, that's not true. There are a large number of expert doctors who speak out against this discourse. They say that antidepressants are a very effective treatment for depression.

They point out that, in all the research done in the world, there is not a single study that has proven that a `placebo` is better than an `antidepressant`. In 60% - 70% of the studies, the drug has shown more successful results than the `placebo`.

These doctors say that the literature written against these drugs is causing people who really need treatment to be afraid to seek treatment. According to them, depression is not an overdiagnosed disease, but an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease.