Anti-Depressants Not Addictive

Why do some drugs carry the danger of addiction while others can be taken for long periods without withdrawal symptoms?

With all the talk in the news of prescription addiction being on the rise, it can be scary for anyone who takes regular medication, even when it’s prescribed by a doctor and taken as directed. As your physician can tell you, though, some substances are much more dangerous than others, and they carry a much greater risk of addiction.

Antidepressants are Safe

Of the 2.4 billion drugs prescribed by doctors and hospitals in 2005, 118 million were anti-depressants, but those taking Prozac and similar pills don’t need to worry about developing an addiction to their medication. Recent findings by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that those taking anti-depressants can breathe a big sigh of relief.

While some users report symptoms when they tried to stop taking the drug, which might indicate addiction, once the drug is taken again the symptoms disappear. In this case, the real culprit isn’t addiction at all, experts say, but the result of quitting the drug “cold turkey.” According to The American Family Physician: Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome occurs in approximately 20 percent of patients after abrupt discontinuation of an anti-depressant medication that was taken for at least six weeks.

To further support the claim that antidepressants aren’t addictive, the Journal of Psychopharmacology determined, after an extensive literature review, that antidepressants do not have a clinically significant liability to cause addiction.

Drug Addiction Help

If you or a family member is struggling with an addiction as well as depression or another mental health issue, call La Paloma at our toll-free number, 877-345-1887. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, our co-occurring disorders approach, financing or insurance.