• Question: What are the long term effects of anti-depressant drugs on the brain or body?

    Asked by oliviac to Darren, Deuan, Duncan, Lori-An, Michelle on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Darren Nesbeth

      Darren Nesbeth answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      I’m not sure. Unfortunately I’m sure there are probably adverse side effects. Wherever possible I think cognitive therapy should be tried.

    • Photo: Lori-An Etherington

      Lori-An Etherington answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Most of the side-effects that might occur with anti-depressant drugs are seen early on in treatment and if the patient can tolerate them (such as headaches or feeling sick) they may in fact start to get better after a while. There are no definate adversed effects of taking anti-depressants but people are monitored by their doctors to see how they are doing and if there were any bad side-effects the drug would be stopped
      Hope this helps

    • Photo: Michelle Hudson-Shore

      Michelle Hudson-Shore answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      This isn’t really my field but as far as I’m aware the effects of antidepressants will eventually go when you stop taking them although this can take a long time. Anti-depressants have to be carefully prescribed and the patient monitored because some of the drugs just don’t suit some people. Doctors have to find the right one that helps their patient because some of the effects can be very serious including altering someones personaility or making them sucidal.

Comments