When should I stop taking antidepressants?

When should I stop taking antidepressants?

You may be tempted to stop taking antidepressants as soon as your symptoms ease, but depression can return if you quit too soon. Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants.

Can depression change your brain?

Major depression is a common yet serious mental illness that causes low mood as well as a number of physical symptoms. Depression, especially when it goes untreated, can actually change the brain, making episodes worse or more frequent.

Does depression shrink the brain?

Major depression or chronic stress can cause the loss of brain volume, a condition that contributes to both emotional and cognitive impairment.

Does depression age your brain?

New research out of Yale University shows depression can physically change a person’s brain, hastening an aging effect that might leave them more susceptible to illnesses associated with old age.

Is there a happy pill for depression?

“Happy pills” — in particular the anxiolytic drugs Miltown and Valium and the antidepressant Prozac — have been spectacularly successful “products” over the last 5 decades, largely because they have widespread off label use.

Can I take antidepressants forever?

Although it may be tempting to stop medication as your mood lifts, continue taking it for as long as your doctor recommends. Most doctors advise patients to take antidepressants for six months to a year after they no longer feel depressed. Stopping before that time can cause depression to return.

Does depression show up on MRI?

MRI Scans May Pick Up Brain Abnormalities in People with Depression. In a new study, researchers say MRI scans have detected a biomarker involving the blood-brain barrier in people with major depression. In another study, researchers report that MRIs picked up abnormalities in the brains of people with major depression …

Do antidepressants kill brain cells?

Taken in large doses, antidepressants may also affect the structure of neurons in other ways that we would tend to equate with brain damage. Thus these substances not only re-establish the equilibrium of certain neurotransmitters but also probably produce changes in the structure of numerous neural networks.

How does depression affect learning?

How Does Depression Directly Affect Learning? Individuals with depression may be unable to complete tasks that require high-motor and cognitive skills. They may feel confused, scatterbrained, overwhelmed or easily frustrated. Even basic everyday tasks become difficult.