Will long-term use of antidepressants cause damage to the brain?

Generally, long-term use of antidepressants does not damage the brain. At present, new antidepressants are relatively safe and have less side effects. When used properly, there is generally no risk of harming the body.

Some patients with depression are afraid that antidepressants will damage the brain and reduce intelligence, so they refuse to take them. In fact, the main function of antidepressants is to improve depression and anxiety, and to improve the slow response and memory loss of patients with depression. Therefore, taking antidepressants scientifically and rationally will not damage the brain, and some new antidepressants can also improve learning and memory abilities.

In addition, in clinical practice, in order to prevent the recurrence of depression, the medication cycle is often extended. This situation is also the reason why most patients are worried. However, compared with the harm to patients caused by the recurrence of depression, it is generally more beneficial to patients to take medication as directed by their doctor. Moreover, with the continuous emergence of new antidepressants, such as vortioxetine, they have fewer adverse reactions and better safety. Long-term use has not been found to have adverse effects on the brain, liver, and kidney functions.

At the same time, it is also important to understand that antidepressants are not dependent or addictive. Unless the patient suddenly stops taking the drug during the treatment of depression, he or she may experience a "drug withdrawal reaction", with clinical manifestations such as dizziness, headache, insomnia, nausea, anxiety, etc. Different antidepressants have different incidence rates of withdrawal reactions. Generally speaking, as long as you insist on adequate treatment for 4-6 months after the symptoms completely disappear, then enter the maintenance treatment phase, and gradually reduce the dose within a sufficient period of time, you can completely avoid "withdrawal reactions."

Therefore, antidepressants need to be used under the guidance of a professional doctor. The length of time to take antidepressants should be discussed with the doctor, and the medication should not be stopped without authorization. You should also pay attention to the following issues when using it:

• Most antidepressant drugs need to be taken for at least 2 weeks to have obvious effects, and the complete therapeutic effect will only occur after 12 weeks.

• These drugs can cause drowsiness and should be used with caution when driving, operating equipment, or other tasks that require concentration.

• Concomitant use with alcohol or other drugs that can cause drowsiness should be avoided.

• Patients and their families should be alert to abnormal behavior, worsening of the condition, or suicidal tendencies. Once it occurs, the doctor should be notified immediately.

References

[1] Guo Jiji, Tang Dazhong, Guo Fei. Tongji Health Consulting Depression Prevention and Treatment [M]. Wuhan: Hubei Science and Technology Press, 2012: 170-171.

[2] Editorial Board of this book. Comprehensive Pharmacy Knowledge and Skills. 7th Edition [M] Beijing: China Medical Science and Technology Press, 2017: 299-300.