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The question was submitted 15/12/2007

Subject: Can one be on medication for too long/do they lose their effect?

I have been on anti depressants for over 10 years - different types of them.
What I want to know is can they be taken too long and do they lose their effect over a period of time?
Thanks

Answer from DepNet

Hello and thankyou for taking the time to write to us.


In general terms, people may require antidepressant medication for different lengths of time. This varies depending on the severity of the depressive illness, and the contributing factors. Sometimes, different medications need to be tried, or dosages adjusted, to provide the benefits of treatment,and minimal side effects.


Where people have second and third episodes of depression, there is a tendency to extend the period of time over which the treatment is used.


Importantly, it is not so much the duration of treatment, or the dose per se that is significant, but whether the patient is feeling well. Adjusting, ceasing or changing medication should always be supervised by an experienced medical practitioner.

The answer was published on DepNet 14/01/2008