Antidepressants Addiction

Understanding Antidepressants

Antidepressants are prescribed drugs used to treat depression, some anxiety disorders chronic pain conditions.

Types of Antidepressants:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (RIMAs)
• Tetracyclic antidepressants (TeCAs)
• Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NaSSAs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

The most common class of antidepressants is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. SSRIs work by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is involved in many functions, including sleep, appetite, sexual desire, memory, and emotions. The increase in serotonin helps reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.

For this reason, people with specific mental health issues, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders or depression, are usually prescribed antidepressants to help them manage their symptoms.

There are several different types of antidepressant medications that fall into this category:

• Citalopram – marketed under the brand name Celexa
• Escitalopram – sold as Lexapro
• Fluoxetine – sold as Prozac
• Paroxetine – sold under the brand names Paxil and Pexeva
• Sertraline – sold under the brands Zoloft and Lustral
• Trazodone – sold under the brand Rydexyl
• Venlafaxine – sold under the name Effexor

Other Types of Antidepressants

There are other classes of antidepressants that have been developed for specific uses. These include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and atypical antidepressants. TCAs are used primarily to help relieve severe depression. They also may be helpful in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. MAOIs are used to treat people who have an increased risk of suicide. Atypicals are newer antidepressants that act differently than traditional antidepressants. This means that they do not affect serotonin or norepinephrine levels in the brain. Instead, they target certain neurotransmitters that play a role in mood regulation. Examples of these drugs include bupropion, nefazodone and mirtazapine.

Research has shown that 90% of people dependent on antidepressants will continue to use them after they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms and develop a drug addiction.

Signs and Symptoms of Antidepressants Addiction

There is some evidence that antidepressants can cause problems with memory, concentration, and judgment. In addition, there are signs and symptoms associated with antidepressants addiction. The following list describes some of these symptoms.

Hand Tremors

Hand tremors are involuntary movements of the hands. Hand tremors occur because of nerve damage caused by substance abuse. Hand tremors can also be caused by certain prescription drugs, such as antidepressants.

Nausea

Nausea occurs when your stomach produces excessive amounts of acid. Nausea is common among individuals who are addicted to antidepressants.

Fatigue

Fatigue is another symptom of antidepressants addiction. Fatigue is a condition where you feel tired all the time. You might even feel like you could fall asleep at any moment.

Depression

If you’re depressed, it’s normal to feel sad or unhappy. Depression is a feeling of sadness or hopelessness that lasts longer than two weeks. When you’re depressed, you may feel anxious, guilty, angry, or worthless.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomnia can make it hard to function during the day.

Tolerance

When you take a substance for some time, your body gets used to its effects. As a result, you need to increase the dose of the substance to get the same effect. Tolerance means that you need to take larger doses of the substance to achieve the desired effect.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal refers to the uncomfortable and adverse side effects that occur after you stop taking an addictive substance.

Memory Loss

Memory loss is one of the most common side-effects of antidepressants. Memory loss can range from mild forgetfulness to severe dementia.

Antidepressants Addiction Treatment And Rehab

Once you realise that you or a loved one has developed an addiction to prescription drugs, you should not hesitate to seek professional treatment advice.

It is essential to choose the appropriate treatment for each patient, and a doctor can provide medical advice before you decide between treatment providers.

To effectively treat antidepressants addiction, therapists must understand the underlying causes of the problem. An addiction to antidepressants might have developed because of self-medication to deal with an underlying mental illness.

The best approach is usually the combination of different types of treatment. There are several effective treatments available for Antidepressants Addiction. These include:

Medication-assisted Treatment

The most common way to treat antidepressants addiction is through medication-assisted treatment. MAT involves prescribing certain medications along with counselling. Medications used to treat antidepressants addiction include Suboxone, Methadose, Vivitrol, and Depakote.

Inpatient Treatment

Individuals who suffer from antidepressants addiction often have trouble maintaining sobriety. They may relapse after stopping their medication. Therefore, it is vital to continue working with them until they no longer require medication. Inpatient treatment is the preferred alternative for relapse prevention and continuous assistance during the recovery process since the patient is regularly supervised by a certified addiction professional.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This type of therapy focuses on helping patients identify negative thought patterns and replace them with positive ones. CBT also teaches them ways to cope with stress.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

DBT helps patients learn skills that will allow them to control anger and other destructive behaviours. These techniques include mindfulness meditation, cognitive restructuring, and dialectical behaviour therapy.