Effects of Antidepressant Addiction and Abuse
Antidepressant addiction is not as common as some addictions to other substances such as heroin and alcohol, but a physical dependence on them can be developed, leading a person to abuse other substances. These prescription medications are often used to treat depression and OCD, and come as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Antidepressants typically come in the form of capsules and oral tablets, with Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor, Zoloft, and Paxil being the most common types.
Side Effects of Antidepressant Addiction and Abuse
Doctors often suggest antidepressants as a safer choice than benzodiazepines because they’re less addictive. Although they do not get a person high, antidepressants affect an individual’s mood and people tend to think taking more of them will indeed lead to them feeling high. Antidepressants are effective over a period of time and affect the brain, as they do not work instantly and that leads people to take more of them because they feel either the drug isn’t working or not working fast enough. This, subsequently, can lead to a person overdosing on antidepressants.
Effects of an Antidepressant Overdose Include:
- Dizziness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Confusion
- Coordination issues
- Fainting
At times, people can get impatient while waiting for antidepressants to start working properly. They’ll then start to abuse opiates and marijuana, as well as drink alcohol. Doing so can lead to an extreme increase in blood pressure, anxiety, and extraordinary sedation.
Treatment for Antidepressant Addiction
If you’ve developed a physical dependence on antidepressants, it may be because of other issues, namely depression. This likely means you may have a co-occurring disorder, and need special treatment and care. The staff at The Discovery House takes pride in helping those with co-occurring disorders and can help you achieve long-term recovery.
Our luxury rehab facilities in Los Angeles are among the best drug and alcohol centers in America. The addiction treatment programs we have at our long term treatment centers for addiction can be personalized to meet the needs of any client struggling with any kind of addiction.
For more information on our services and programs, please call us today at 818.452.1676 or fill out our form.