A new study has revealed that the long term use of antidepressant medications provides limited benefits while also being associated with various health risks.
Of the more than 330 million people worldwide suffering from depression, a large number use antidepressant medications daily. Interestingly, the use of these medications among women is nearly twice as high as among men.
In high income countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, most people who use antidepressants continue taking them for extended periods.
However, growing scientific research is now suggesting, contrary to previous beliefs, that commonly prescribed antidepressants do not work by correcting any underlying deficiency of serotonin, a chemical substance present in the brain.
Researchers have also warned that the long term use of antidepressants may cause severe and distressing withdrawal symptoms in some individuals when they discontinue the medication, which can sometimes be far more serious than expected.
For this reason, researchers have urged healthcare providers to reassess a patient’s treatment every six months.
