In an increasingly rapid world, mental illnesses have come to the fore like never before in civilizational history. It is likely that human beings, much like other sentient beings, have always had the tendency to be affected by depression, but as science has progressed alongside mental health awareness, efficient medications have come to be, too. Antidepressants are a depression medication, and while in a study, 89% of those undergoing this treatment cited positive changes, about 30% of them did suggest that there is a case of moderate to, in some cases, severe depression, as part of the side effects of antidepressants that they have come to know.

Antidepressant treatment can be viewed in two ways: short-term and long-term treatment and their characteristic aspects correspond accordingly. The longer the treatment goes, the higher the chances are of the development of antidepressants’ addiction and other negative side effects of antidepressants.

Are Antidepressants Addictive?

Antidepressants are not intended to be addictive, but there is a growing trend—still relatively small in sample size—that, indeed, people with a history of substance abuse can very well abuse antidepressants in a way that is rewarding to the pleasure centers of their brains. Some of those who are addicted to antidepressants obtain the medication in illicit ways like the black market, for example, and others in other questionable ways such as getting the medication from ‘partners’ who have prescriptions from doctors for said medication. Non-medical usage of antidepressants, therefore, is a growing cause for concern.

Adversely Negative Side Effects Of Antidepressants

Those who’ve used antidepressants for prolonged periods of time and are in an undeniable state of addiction to antidepressants are prone to experiencing unpleasant effects that are both mental and physical in their nature. Some of the symptoms so typical of the most addictive antidepressants are—as reported by anonymous sources: