![]() ![]() Healthy lifestyle habits, such as proper sleep, good nutrition, regular physical activity, and stress reduction techniques, can help your body adjust to the changing medication levels. “Cognitive therapy can help people reexamine the accuracy of their negative beliefs, which can relieve their distress,” says Steven Hollon, a professor of psychiatry who researches the prevention and treatment of depression at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.Ĭonsider your daily routine, too. You may also want to schedule sessions with a therapist to deal with other life issues, such as grief, low self-esteem, or negative thinking that may control your mood. During this process, you should schedule regular follow-ups so your doctor can closely monitor you for any side effects or signs of relapse. It may take several weeks to decrease medication levels safely. Every antidepressant enters and exits the body at a different speed. Work with your doctor to create a plan to gradually reduce your medication dose over time. A major drop in medication levels can trigger a relapse or other harmful symptoms, such as suicidal thoughts. If you decide to stop taking antidepressants, don’t quit taking them on your own. “Poor sleep, low energy and low self-esteem symptoms might respond to medication, but antidepressants don’t take care of relationship problems.” “Decide with your doctor what you expect to gain and improve from taking medication,” Baron says. Ongoing stressors, such as trouble sleeping or work or relationship problems.Ongoing symptoms while you’re on medication.Other long-term medical or mental health problems.This can depend on a few factors including your: Doctors may also recommend longer treatment when the risk of relapse is high. If you have ongoing major depressive disorder, or you have had three or more depressive episodes, the APA recommends treatment for at least a few years. Altogether, this could mean taking a prescription for about a year to get the full benefits. After that, it can take 3 to 6 months for symptoms to improve to the point that you are no longer depressed. Keep in mind that you may need to try several different antidepressants to find the right option for you, and even then, it can take 2 or 3 weeks to see an initial improvement. Under American Psychiatric Association guidelines, if you are taking an antidepressant for your first depressive episode, you should stay on it for at least 4 or 5 months after your symptoms of depression stop. If you and your doctor decide it’s time to stop, you’ll need to know the best way to do it and how to avoid possible side effects. ![]() “Antidepressants can and do work, but they should be used like any other medication.” ![]() “This decision needs to be made with a professional, just as a patient who takes insulin or chemotherapy would have specific discussions with their specialist,” he says. “We know that taking antidepressants for too short a time might pose real risks for some people, but for others, taking them for longer could be more than you need,” says David Baron, a psychiatrist and provost of the Western University of Health Sciences in California. Whether it’s a good idea to stop depends on you.
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