Will antidepressants make people stupid, dull and dependent?

In many people's impressions, depression is a "heart disease" that needs to be treated with "heart medicine", and antidepressants will make people stupid and dull, and become dependent, thus refusing to use antidepressants. But Huazi said that this is not actually the case. Although depression is a "heart disease" that needs to be treated with "heart medicine", medicine can quickly relieve depressive symptoms and is a very good auxiliary treatment method.

1. Depression and depression Depression is a mental illness, which is mainly manifested by a significant and persistent low mood. In fact, many people will feel depressed when they encounter unpleasant things in life, study or work. However, short-term low mood is not depression, it can only be called depression.

Depression is normal and everyone will experience it. It can be recovered through self-regulation. However, if the low mood lasts for more than 2 weeks, for months or even years, and cannot be self-regulated and recovered, it is depression, and symptoms such as decreased thinking ability, insomnia, early awakening, loss of appetite, and refusal to socialize will appear, which will have a serious impact on life and may even lead to suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

2. Why do we suffer from depression? There are many factors that cause depression. Depression is not a genetic disease, but it has a genetic tendency. If one of the parents suffers from depression, the possibility of the child suffering from the disease will increase a lot. One's own personality is a very important factor. If a person is prone to pessimism, lacks self-confidence, and demands too much perfection in life, he will suffer from depression because he cannot control the details of life.

People with chronic diseases and obsessive-compulsive disorder may also suffer from depression. Environmental factors are also common causes of depression, such as long-term violence and poverty, or being ignored and lacking recognition by people around you, which may induce depression.

3. There is no need to refuse antidepressant treatment. The occurrence of depression is related to brain neurobiological factors, mainly due to insufficient secretion of neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) in the brain due to various reasons.

If 5-HT is lacking, depression, anxiety, fear, compulsive behavior and suspicion will occur; if NE is lacking, motivation, interest and emotional apathy will be reduced; if DA is lacking, the feeling of happiness will be lost, and life will feel meaningless, which may lead to suicidal and self-harming behaviors.

Therefore, when treating depression, drugs can be used to increase neurotransmitter levels and quickly relieve symptoms.

4. Antidepressants will not make people stupid. A friend who suffers from depression told Huazi that after taking antidepressants, he felt like he became dull and a little stupid, and he was also worried that he would become dependent on the drugs if he took too much.

Huazi told her that this might be a side effect of the drug, because the drug relaxes the brain and reduces impulses, so in the early stages of medication, there may be adverse reactions such as drowsiness and reduced mood swings, giving people the illusion of "becoming stupid". But as the treatment continues, this state will be alleviated and will not make people stupid.

Moreover, antidepressants are not addictive and will not cause drug dependence, but antidepressant treatment usually needs to last for a long time, with the average treatment time being about 2 years.

5. What are the commonly used antidepressants? 1. SSRIs: Commonly used drugs include sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine, citalopram, etc. They can inhibit the reuptake of 5-HT by nerve endings, increase the concentration of 5-HT in the nerve space, and improve depression symptoms. SSRIs are well tolerated and have few adverse reactions. They are currently the most commonly used first-line antidepressants.

2. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: Commonly used drugs include venlafaxine, duloxetine, mirtazapine, etc. They can simultaneously increase 5-HT and NE levels, enhance sympathetic nerve activity, and increase appetite. They are suitable for patients with generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and poor appetite.

3. Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors: The commonly used drug is bupropion, which can increase NE and DA levels. It is suitable for patients with bipolar depression and can lead to weight loss and improved sexual function. If the patient has a poor appetite and eating disorders, this drug is not suitable.

4. Serotonin balancing drugs: The commonly used drug is trazodone, which can increase the level of 5-HT and slightly increase the level of HE. When used to treat depression and anxiety, it will produce the side effect of drowsiness, so it is suitable for patients with depression accompanied by sleep disorders, but it may cause sexual dysfunction in male patients.

5. Melatonin receptor hormones: This type of drug includes agomelatine, which can stimulate melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2) and antagonize 5-HT2c receptors. While fighting depression, it can also correct life rhythms and improve sleep.

6. The mechanism of action of the new antidepressant drug vortioxetine hydrobromide is not yet fully understood. It can regulate a variety of neurotransmitters including 5-HT. While exerting its antidepressant effect, it does not significantly affect sexual function, insomnia or drowsiness, weight gain and other adverse reactions. The disadvantage is that it is expensive.

7. Traditional tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors: such as imipramine, amitriptyline, mianserin, moclobemide, etc. However, traditional drugs have poor selectivity, many adverse reactions, and many adverse reactions with food and other drugs, and are now not commonly used. If monoamine oxidase inhibitors are used and then other antidepressants are used, an interval of more than 5 weeks is required.

To sum up, although depression is a "mental disease", the rational use of antidepressants during treatment can quickly relieve symptoms. Antidepressants do not make people dull or stupid, nor do they cause dependence, but you should pay attention to the indications and related contraindications when taking them. Drugs need to be used under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any doubts about the use of drugs, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.