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Happy pills: 10 Truth about antidepressants

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are one of the alternatives to treat depression. They are used to cure moderate as well as severe depression. Like most of the medicines anti depressants have side effects. Generally doctors explain their side effects and the pros and cons to people. There are some surprising facts about antidepressants which are normally not known to people. Read on to know the 10 truth about antidepressants:

1. Shrimp act crazy due to antidepressants

When the antidepressants get mixed in public waters and are consumed by shrimps, they act crazy. The reason for this is that Prozac which is an active ingredient of antidepressants boosts the serotonin present in the nervous system of shrimps. Due to this the shrimps move away from dark and safe waters toward light, where the predators devour them.

2. All antidepressants are equally useful

According to the guidelines presented by the American College of Physicians, there is no proof or evidence to show that one antidepressant is better or more effective than the other. So if you doctor insists on taking one particular antidepressant then you need to find out why he is doing so. Though all antidepressants are equally effective they vary in side effects and cost. So you need to consider these factors before taking any antidepressant.

3. Antidepressants vary in cost

Mostly all antidepressants are similar in efficacy but their prices vary extensively. For example duloxetine (Cymbalta) costs about $300 for a month and a generic version of Prozac (fluoxetine) costs about $30 for a month. However according to the guidelines presented by the American College of Physicians, there is no proof or evidence to show that one antidepressant is better or more effective than the other. So there is no evidence that a costly antidepressant will be more effective.

4. Antidepressants can be either good or bad for sex life

Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors cause the libido to decrease. Apart from this the antidepressant also has another side effect which is not known to many people. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are being used for treating men for premature ejaculation as one of the side effect of the antidepressant is to delay ejaculation.

5. Libido in men does not bounce back due to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

It has been reported that people who consume antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors experience side effects like decrease in libido, erectile dysfunction, reduction in genital sensitivity, and trouble in attaining orgasm. Doctors assure people that these side effects will resolve on their own when the patient will stop taking the medicines. But few small studies and people who have been taking these antidepressants state that the effects of these antidepressants can continue indefinitely.

6. Antidepressants may damage sperms

In a study conducted in 2009 it was seen that more than 40 percentage of the 35 participants who consumed SSRI paroxetine for 4 weeks had sperm which had fragmented DNA. These fragmented sperms with fragmented DNA can have an effect on fertility.

Though the sperm became normal in a month after stopping consuming paroxetine, men who are desiring to conceive should consult their doctors regarding the antidepressants.

7. Antidepressants might be bad for the bones

Studies and researchers have shown that SSRIs can lead to low bone density and thus might be the reason for more hip fractures in elder people. So people who consume SSRIs should get regular osteoporosis screenings done.

8. Antidepressants could help patients suffering from fibromyalgia

According to a study which was published in ‘Journal of the American Medical Association’ it has been seen that when people suffering from fibromyalgia use antidepressants like Prozac, tetracyclics and tricyclics they feel less pain and have fewer sleep disturbances.

9. Antidepressants might take weeks to be effective

Some antidepressants have a quick effect. On the other hand it takes approximately eight to nine weeks for SSRIs to become effective to elevate the mood. This delay period is known as ‘Prozac lag’.

So if are taking SSRI and you are not seeing any effects the reason might be that the drug needs more time to be effective.

10. Puppies, cats, polar bears as well as zoo animals are on antidepressants

There are many people who spend a lot to cure behavioral problems in their pets by giving them antidepressants. It is estimated that approximate $15 million per year are spent by Americans on behavioral medication for their pets. Eli Lilly, who is maker of Prozac, manufactured a chewable form of Prozac for dogs and cats to overcome canine separation anxiety. Now in order to treat obsessive compulsive disorder and aggression even zoo animals are given antidepressants.

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