Understanding Depression Medication: Risks, Benefits & Safe Discontinuation

Depression affects as many as 10 percent of Americans. The disease can be long term and chronic, or can be just as a result of a particularly hard time, such as losing a loved one.

Medications

• The most common prescriptions for depression are Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Nortriptyline, Desipramine, Protriptline, Amitriptyline, Imipramine and Doxepin according to the usdoctor.com website. As with all drugs, these can have many side effects.

Stopping Medications

• Antidepressant usage must be tapered off gradually. Failure to taper off slowly can lead to mild to severe withdrawal symptoms; such as hallucinations, nausea, flu-like symptoms, balance problems, blurred vision and many others.

Support

• See a doctor for the best plan to get off antidepressants. Family, support groups and psychotherapy can all be very helpful during the withdrawal stage.

Activity

• Exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes at a time. Exercise increases stamina, resistance to disease and elevates your mood by releasing endorphins into your body

Diet

• A healthy, well-balanced diet can be crucial to someone stopping antidepressants. This keeps you in your best mental and physical shape. Taking 25 to 50 mg of B6 every day can also help relieve withdrawal problems.