Can antidepressants cause long-term damage?
Can antidepressants cause long-term damage?
Long-term antidepressant users are risking permanent damage to their bodies, according to leading medical experts. Dr Tony Kendrick, a professor of primary care at the University of Southampton, says more urgent action needs to be taken to encourage and support long-term users to come off the medication.
Which adverse effect is most likely to occur when newborns were exposed to antidepressants during the third trimester of pregnancy through delivery?
We review the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and perinatal and neonatal complications of the offspring related to in utero exposure to antidepressants. The literature shows that antidepressant exposure is associated with fetal growth changes and shorter gestations, although effects are small.
Do antidepressants have long-term effects on the brain?
Some believe it is unlikely that antidepressants cause any permanent changes to brain chemistry in the long-term. Evidence seems to indicate that these medications cause brain changes which only persist whilst the medication is being taken, or in the weeks following withdrawal.
Are babies affected by antidepressants?
It’s important for a mother and her doctor to know the risks. About 30 percent of babies whose mothers take SSRIs will experience neonatal adaptation syndrome, which can cause increased jitteriness, irritability and respiratory distress (difficulty breathing), among other symptoms.
Do antidepressants cause permanent brain changes?
We know that antipsychotics shrink the brain in a dose-dependent manner (4) and benzodiazepines, antidepressants and ADHD drugs also seem to cause permanent brain damage (5).
How long is too long to be on antidepressants?
Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants. If you’ve had three or more recurrences of depression, make that at least two years.
What is the safest antidepressant during pregnancy?
According to the CDC study data , sertraline (Zoloft) is among the safest antidepressants used during pregnancy. Escitalopram (Lexapro) may also involve lower chances of complications.
Can antidepressants cause brain damage?
How does sertraline affect a newborn?
If you are taking sertraline at the time of delivery, your baby might have irritability, jitteriness, tremors (shivering), constant crying, different sleep patterns, problems with eating and controlling body temperature, and some problems with breathing.