Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

Cartwright, 2016 Long-term antidepressant use: patient perspectives of benefits and adverse effects.


Altostrata

Recommended Posts

  • Administrator

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2016 Jul 28;10:1401-7. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S110632. eCollection 2016.
Long-term antidepressant use: patient perspectives of benefits and adverse effects.
Cartwright C1, Gibson K1, Read J2, Cowan O1, Dehar T1.
 
Abstract and free full text at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27528803

Long-term antidepressant treatment has increased and there is evidence of adverse effects; however, little is known about patients' experiences and views of this form of treatment. This study used mixed methods to examine patients' views and experiences of long-term antidepressant treatment, including benefits and concerns. Data from 180 patients, who were long-term users of antidepressants (3-15 years), were extracted from an anonymous online survey of patients' experiences of antidepressants in New Zealand. Participants had completed rating scales about the effectiveness of antidepressants, levels of depression before and during antidepressant use, quality of life, and perceived adverse effects. Two open-ended questions allowed participants to comment on personal experiences. The majority (89.4%) reported that antidepressants had improved their depression although 30% reported moderate-to-severe depression on antidepressants. Common adverse effects included withdrawal effects (73.5%), sexual problems (71.8%), and weight gain (65.3%). Adverse emotional effects, such as feeling emotionally numb (64.5%) and addicted (43%), were also common. While the majority of patients were pleased with the benefits of antidepressant treatment, many were concerned about these adverse effects. Some expressed a need for more information about long-term risks and increased information and support to discontinue.
 
 
From the full text:
 

....
Discussion

The majority of patients in this study believed that antidepressants alleviated their depression and improved their quality of life to some degree, although 30% reported moderate-to-severe depression while using antidepressants. As reported in 2013, experiences of adverse effects were common.12 However, Bet et al’s study12 did not examine the adverse emotional effects reported in this study nor did it examine the patients’ reports of withdrawal symptoms.

 

Some patients in this study were particularly concerned about severe withdrawal symptoms that undermined their confidence to discontinue should they wish to and therefore limited their choices. In line with this, 45% patients also believed that they had some level of addiction to the antidepressant. Some patients were also critical of the lack of information given by prescribers with regard to adverse effects, including withdrawal symptoms. Some also expressed disappointment or frustration with the perceived lack of support available to them in managing withdrawal.

 

A previous study of patients’ beliefs regarding adherence to antidepressant maintenance treatment (75 weeks) found that adherence was highest when the perceived need exceeded concerns about safety and lowest when concerns exceeded perceived need.20 In this study, some patients reported adhering to treatment because of safety concerns linked to withdrawal symptoms rather than a perceived need for the antidepressant per se. Finally, approximately 25% participants wrote about the alternative activities and treatments that they believed could aid recovery. One in six wrote about their perceptions of the importance of therapy or counseling either as an alternative to, or in combination with, antidepressant medication.

....

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for posting

 

Interesting that this is a NZ study.

"While the majority of patients were pleased with the benefits of antidepressant treatment.... "

I wonder if this so called 'majority' are people who are still on the drug...and hooked in by stealth.

 

I don't think you would find long termers who are drug free and would agree they were pleased with what they went through.I know one who wasn't.

 

Why cant they give a specific %  to the word 'some'. They must surely know it.

 

nz11

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy