Unfortunately, currently and due to different factors (including the fact that we are in a difficult time where it is increasingly difficult to find a stable job), the number of cases of people with depression and anxiety has increased. Consequently, the consumption of so-called antidepressants (drugs used to combat depression) has also increased, which function by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. When these levels are increased, the emotional well-being of the person also increases considerably as their mood improves.
However, the positive effects are not noticed until a few days and even weeks after taking it daily and regulated. In this Psychology-Online article, we are going to analyze in detail what is the reason for why antidepressants take time to work. We will explain the effects of antidepressants in the first few days and how long it takes for the body to eliminate antidepressants from the body.
First of all, it is necessary to mention that not all people react the same to antidepressants because each body is different and has different levels of adaptation. This is also why there are different types of antidepressants, which should only be diagnosed by a professional so that they can prescribe the one that best suits your needs. Despite this, sometimes you have to try different types to know which one gives you the desired effect and the least possible discomfort at the beginning. Some of the side effects that antidepressants can cause in the first days of consumption are the following:
- Decreased sexual appetite ()
- Constipation
- Dizziness and in rare cases may be accompanied by vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Headache (mild)
- Some degree of anxiety and restlessness
It is necessary to mention that all these symptoms can be normal to a certain extent since if they occur in an exaggerated manner and persist for a long time, you should consult with your doctor since probably, as I mentioned before, another type of treatment should be tried. antidepressant.
When we start a pharmacological treatment to combat depression, it is necessary to follow it to the letter and always have the advice of a professional, since if it is not well administered it will not have the desired effect and, on the contrary, can reverse the results.
Generally, when this pharmacological treatment is started, it takes several days, even weeks, to take effect and this is often a cause of frustration and despair for some people.
The medications used to combat depression are (SSRIs) which means selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Among which we find: paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram. But how do they act on our brain?
Effects of antidepressants on the nervous system
To explain in a simple and summary way how antidepressants act in our brain, we will begin by mentioning that one of the many functions of neurons is to capture serotonin from a space called synaptic.
What happens with drugs for depression is that they prevent the neuron from picking up what is in the synaptic space again in order to increase the amount of serotonin between the neurons themselves. Therefore, they cause the amount of serotonin to rise excessively from one moment to the next. Apart from the fact that serotonin is responsible for increasing mood, it is also responsible for regulating the sleep cycle, sexual desire, appetite, vomiting, among other things.
Therefore, it is normal that at the beginning of treatment, when Serotonin levels in our brain are altered Some annoying side effects may suddenly appear, such as alterations in sleep, appetite, decreased sexual desire, vomiting, dizziness, etc.
Once our serotonin levels are finally regulated we can experience the benefits of consuming these drugs. This explains why antidepressants can take a long time to take effect on our brain, since although our body has a great capacity to adapt to changes, it does not do so immediately and needs some time to achieve it. Generally, the time required for antidepressants to take effect in our body is about 2 to 3 weeks.
According to psychiatrist Josep M. Giralt Coll, the half-life of the antidepressant Escitaloplam is 30 hours. The expert assures that in a few days this drug is completely eliminated from the body. However, other antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, which has a long half-life, can remain in the body longer.
On the other hand, psychiatrist Víctor Guasch Aparicio explains that it is a poorly researched topic and that, in the case of Sertaline, after a year there should be no trace of the medication or its effects.
Let’s see the half-life of some antidepressant drugs:
- Fluvoxamine: 12-15 hours
- Imipramine: 10-20 hours
- Amitriptyline: 20-30 hours
- Sertraline and Paroxetine: 24 hours
- Citalopram: 35 hours
- Fluoxetine: 2-4 days