Severe warning issued about common antidepressants that could put users at risk of cardiac arrest
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide and self-harm which some readers may find distressing.
Experts have raised concerns about the long-term use of antidepressants due to a lack of research around the pills.
More than nine million people in the UK alone were prescribed an antidepressant last year, with many benefitting from the medication which works by altering brain chemicals and boosting serotonin as a way of easing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Naturally, when a tablet is working well for someone, there is a reticence to come off it, but scientists are growing concerned about the lack of knowledge around the impact that taking antidepressants for several years can have on the body and the brain.
Advert
Research has proven that long-term antidepressant use is vital in reducing the risk of self-harm or suicide, which of course should be enough to convince most that it's a good idea to keep taking it.
However, some scientists are pointing towards serious side effects such as cardiac arrest, dementia or cognitive decline and type 2 diabetes as a reason why patients should never stay on the medication for longer than needed.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, professor Joanna Moncrieff said: "We certainly can’t say that long-term antidepressants are safe or harmless, because we have not done enough research to know that. The main finding of our review is that the evidence for effects of long-term antidepressant treatment is very poor.
"There are few studies and they are mostly low quality. We haven’t investigated this issue properly, and that should be a cause for concern, especially since there are so many long-term users.
"Getting into a pattern of using antidepressants for shorter periods than we currently do would reduce the harm they cause and the morbidity burden associated with them considerably."
Psychiatrist Dr Sameer Jauhar, from Imperial College London, added: "We now know, from several studies, that different antidepressants have different long-term effects – particularly on the heart – and that should be built into the decisions being made by doctors when they prescribe to patients."
Although a direct link between heart issues and antidepressants has not yet been proven, professor Moncrieff has recently been involved in a study, which has not yet been published, and as previously mentioned, there needs to be more information out there about the long-term side effects.
It's also worth pointing out of course that anyone suffering from depression is already at an increased risk of health issues such as heart disease, dementia and diabetes because the mental health condition leaves us feeling extremely lethargic, and it is therefore difficult to maintain any sort of exercise of balanced diet.
Professor of psychiatry Dr David Healy, also suggested that it is easy to comprehend how long-term boosts of serotonin might have an impact on the body.
He said: "Serotonin is in our bones, our joints, our muscles, the peripheral nervous system – lots of places other than our brain. If an antidepressant is designed to increase serotonin, it is going to change things in the body. The chances are that if you’re on them for a while it could cause problems.
"Look at other examples, such as antibiotics – fine in the short term, but there’s an increasing chance of them being problematic long term."
The NHS suggests that if you're prescribed antidepressants, you'll usually take them for at least six months after you feel better, but it seems as if most scientists would agree that they should never be taken indefinitely.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
Topics: Mental Health
James Moorhouse