New research has found that over half (56 per cent) of those who have experienced depression discontinued their course of medicine before it was finished.
Of those with depression who discontinued their medication, 49 per cent said that their depression returned, while 29 per cent said they felt worse than before.
Commenting on the research, Dr Jogin Thakore, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director, St Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview said: “Many patients begin to feel better within a few weeks of taking their medicine and sometimes assume that the depression has gone away, but it is recommended that antidepressants are taken for a minimum of between six to 12 months in order to prevent the depression relapsing.
“The risk of depression recurring increases three times if you stop your course of medicine before it is complete,” he said.
“It is important to note that many patients stop their talking therapy before they should just as patients often stop their medication before they should,” the ICGP’s Dr Mel Bates said.
“If you are going to take antidepressants you should expect to be on them for six months to a year ideally and they don’t work as well otherwise. While antidepressants should not be given out inappropriately the GP is firmly in the frontline.”
The research was conducted by Lundbeck (Ireland) Ltd.
When asked why they stopped taking their medication, 38 per cent of those who have personally experienced depression said they felt better or didn’t need to take it anymore; 30 per cent said they forgot to take it; 28 per cent said they felt it was controlling them; 28 per cent said it did not agree with them physically and 23 per cent said it did not agree with them mentally.
About Greg Baxter
I’ve been taking anti depressants for nearly five years now. Yes, they have helped, but now I think I’m relapsing in spite of them. As for talking therapy, as far I’m concerned there was none. And I am willing and able to talk. There is no treatment other than meds in Ireland. It’s production line stuff. Once my GP had made the referral, he didn’t want to know either. What now? A higher dose? Where does it end?
I’ve been on Efexor XL for 15 years and I have never had a review from my GP. I still have suicide thoughts and long for the day of my release from this hell!
The longest amount of time I have known someone to be on psyche drugs before coming off is 30 years (I think), read Mary Maddock’s book “Soul Survivor”.
If you want to come off, it has to be done slowly because the brain being probably the most complex organ in the body, takes time to adjust and adapt (Neuroplasticity) to a change of drug state. Sudden change of chemical in the brain is most dangerous, this includes sudden withdrawal, sudden increase and sudden alteration of drug, dont take risks stick to what you know and come off slowly.
The brain being made largely of fatty tissue (the big white blob) that insulates the conductive nerves means that healthy natural fats will help, like fish oil omega fatty acids.
What you really need to do though is become your own discerning customer, there is a wealth of information out there on the net now, far more than I could say here.
I suffered for years, and always fought against being fobbed off by doctors who were too quick to whip out their prescription pads and send me packing with a packet of pills. Drugs do not make your problems go away. When will Irish Health experts realise this. The only thing that finally worked for me was 2 years of one hour a week sessions with a psychotherapist. A simple talking therapy! The vast majority of those seeking help, simply need to be heard, no to be numbed with drugs! I’ve been there, done that! Trust me, talking therapy works! It took me a while to find the right therapist, and I tried various styles of therapy, but psychotherapy worked a treat for me! It corrected my negative conditioning, helped me to understand how I got to where I was, and that I wasn’t “nuts/a mentaller/off my rocker” etc, as we all fear we will be labelled. I learned to love myself, and to feel a sense of value for myself. It was the best investment I ever made. €65 a week for a one hour session,its not cheap at all but by god, it did me the world of good! No drug could ever have corrected my old mind-set!