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Fact Sheet 8
What’s the deal with antidepressants?
Is there a chemical cause of depression?
There are many, many complex causes of depression,
and it varies from person to person. However,
research shows that severe depression is often linked
to changes in the chemical systems in your body
which carry messages to your brain.
In the diagram here, you can see two pictures of
nerve cells. Nerves convey messages within the body,
and the brain is one of the main parts of the body
where this message-passing takes place. You can see
here how, when someone’s depressed, there are less
brain chemicals available and also less receptor sites
in the nerve cells which makes it more difficult for
the messages to be passed on through.
Anti-depressant medication is designed to correct
the imbalances in this system.
In this way, anti-depressant medication can relieve
symptoms for depression, such as poor sleep,
anxiety, tiredness, poor appetite, poor concentration
and grumpiness.
Some other facts to know about antidepressants:
• They don’t change your personality.
• They usually take several weeks to have their full
effect.
• They are usually prescribed for some time after your
symptoms have stopped (perhaps around 6 to 12
months to prevent the symptoms coming back.
However, for mild or moderate depression, psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy
(see the getting things sorted factsheet), should be your choice of treatment.
In Australia, anti-depressant medications are
not formally approved for the treatment of
depression in children and adolescents.
However, a doctor may recommend
anti-depressant medication if:
• Your depression is severe.
• You have a strong family history of severe
depression or bipolar disorder.
• Your energy levels are so low that you’re finding
it difficult to function in everyday life.
• You’re at risk of suicide or you’re thinking about
suicide.
• You’re experiencing both depression and anxiety.
• You’re experiencing depression and
obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
www.ybblue.com.au Page 1 of 3
Fact Sheet 8
What’s the deal with antidepressants?
What you need to know What your doctor needs to know
• If medication is considered necessary to treat • Serious physical and psychological problems can
your depression, both you and your GP should occur if certain drugs/medications are taken
agree on that on its use and management. If together. Therefore, it’s important that you tell
possible, this should be supported by your family your doctor if you’re taking:
and friends. • any other anti-depressant or anti-anxiety
• It’s usually helpful to receive psychological medication
treatment (such as cognitive behavioural • any medication to help you sleep
therapy) in addition to taking anti-depressant • any heart or chest medication
medication. • any over-the-counter cough, cold,
• If you forget to take your medicine, tell your hayfever or pain relief dugs
doctor straight away and ask how to make up for • any anti-nausea tables
this. • alcohol or other illegal/recreation drugs
• Make sure you feel comfortable with the (eg. marijuana, ecstasy, etc).
treatment. Ask your doctor any questions you • You also need to tell your doctor if you’re taking
have about side effects, the importance of taking any herbal remedies or natural treatments,
the medicine as you’ve been told and the impact especially St John’s Wort (which is often used for
that other substances might have (eg. other mild depression).
medicines and drugs).
• Once you start taking antidepressants, it’s
• Anti-depressant medication can have harmful
important to check with your doctor or a
effects when mixed with drugs and/or alcohol. pharmacist before starting on any new
• You should have regular follow-up appointments medication.
and keep your family and friends informed about
your treatment. Keeping check on symptoms and side-effects
• You shouldn’t stop taking antidepressants
suddenly or without discussing it with your It’s important to monitor how your symptoms of
doctor. depression change as a result of taking the
• You should discuss contraception with your antidepressants, and any side-effects that you might
doctor as your current method may not work be having. You might want to use the chart on the
properly when combined with antidepressants. next page to help you keep track of this. The
• It’s very important to tell your doctor if you information that you write down will help your
become pregnant. Also, if you you’re doctor to monitor your progress and make changes
breastfeeding, you must inform your doctor. to your medication if these are needed.
• If you have severe or ongoing depression that
doesn’t seem to be responding to the anti- Possible side-effects that you need to be aware of
depressant medication, you should book an include:
appointment at a child and adolescent mental • suicidal thinking
health service or see your doctor as soon as • insomnia (not sleeping)
possible. • agitation
• headaches
Source • nausea
• difficulties with sex
Whittington, C. J. et al. (2004). Selective serotonin • low blood pressure/giddiness.
reuptake indicators in childhood depression:
Systematic review of published vs unpublished data.
Remember, all antidepressants take a few weeks to
The Lancet.
take effect. Some positive effects, such as better
sleep or decreased anxiety might occur sooner.
Hickie et al. (2000). Educational Health Solutions.
Meanwhile side-effects might occur early in the
Reproduced with permission. treatment, but usually calm down or stop
[www.spheregp.com.au]
after
Ybblue is a youth program of beyondblue: the national depression initiative. For more information about
depression and anxiety, as well as antidepressants and side-effects see www.beyondblue.org.au.
www.ybblue.com.au Page 2 of 3
Fact Sheet 8
What’s the deal with antidepressants?
Daily progress and side effect chart
Day Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Medication
Taken
Not Taken
Any benefits? (Tick if YES)
Improved mood
Sleeping better
Less anxious
Less tired
Concentrating better
Less thoughts of
self-harm
Enjoying things more
Feeling less worthless/hopeless
Other (specify)
Any side-effects?*
Use the following scale to rate the severity of your side-effects:
none mild moderate severe extreme
0 1 2 3 4
Suicidal thinking
Nausea
Headaches
Blurred vision
Trouble Sleeping
Anxiety
Diarrhoea
Urinary difficulties
Dizziness
Tremors
Aches and pains
Sexual difficulties
Constipation
Other (specify)
* If you are having severe or extreme side-effects, it’s essential that you contact the GP
who prescribed the medication you’re taking. Take your chart with you and explain how
the medication is making you feel.
www.ybblue.com.au Page 3 of 3
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