Tablets for depression - Do antidepressants help? | DW Documentary

Although antidepressants are prescribed with increasing frequency, their efficacy is the subject of debate. It’s known that placebos can be just as effective in cases of mild-to-moderate depression. Nevertheless, in Germany you’re now eight times more likely to be prescribed the medication than in the 1990s.

A large-scale study from 2008 shows that in cases of mild and moderate depression, a placebo was just as effective as the real thing. But still, every year doctors prescribe enough antidepressants to supply 80 million people in Germany for more than two weeks.

So, what’s the impact on patients? How can such controversial medication be so successful?

"For many years, the tablets have been my loyal companions in the process of coping with my depression." Christine (52) lost her job because of her depression, attended psychiatric clinics seven times and says today: "I don’t care what the studies say, I sense that my medication is working."

Most antidepressants alter the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, in particular serotonin. Although for a long time it was thought depression was triggered by lowered serotonin concentration, this theory has now been disproved. Doctors and scientists still don’t really understand what happens in the brain during depression - but this has done nothing to dent the successful sales march of antidepressant medication.

Mary (42) curses the day she began taking antidepressants: "They haven’t improved my life, they’ve actually made it much worse," she says. Mary’s been gradually reducing her dose for four years, but her body is rebelling. "Up to now, these weaning problems have been totally under-estimated," says Professor Tom Bschor, one of the leading experts on antidepressants in Germany.

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[rosalieo]

I've been on medications for depression and anxiety for over a decade. What I needed was environmental change and emotional support. I didn't need these medications to numb out my feelings and creativity. Anti depressants have stole something huge from me I am now fighting to get back.

[failallistakenf]

One thing I am shocked by is how little many people are told about side effects and potential dangers of the medication they are prescribed. I mean sure, medication comes with a whole manual on what it is, what it does, how to use it etc but doctors and pharmacists can't expect anyone to read it. These things need to be discussed and patients should be encouraged to ask questions about the effects.

[chopsticksforlegs]

I had depression for 20 years which i didnt treat with medicine. I was constantly on trh brink of death, severe anger issues, severe eratic emotions, constant migraine s, feeling unable to enjoy life and always being on the brink of exploding. Since taking antidepressants for the last 2 years, my life has completely changed for the better. I will absolutely take it until i die. The life i had before was a life of existence, not living.

[TheXangelus]

After 10 years of fighting a severe chronic illness without medication I finally gave up the struggle of not taking antidepressants. I was always said that you should try to avoid antidepressants because it’s a cheap way of not dealing with your feelings. This year my depression got worse due to the constant pain and I told the people around me that if they loved me they wouldn’t care if I take them. I’ve tried for 10 year and was miserable all that time and they should want me to be happy and have a life instead of sitting at home or sleeping. After about 5 weeks I noticed a difference. I started laughing at funny things on tv again. I slept better and felt like taking a shower daily. I also started making more healthy home cooked meals for myself. After 4 months of taking them I’ve become a completely different person and even though I’m in pain I can manage and started socializing more outside of my house with my best friend. It really saved my life because I was thinking of just giving up. What I mean with my story is that antidepressants shouldn’t be given out like candy and people should learn to deal with their feelings instead of instantly reaching for them. But for cases like myself antidepressants should be given from the start and not looked down upon.

[annielynn]

Personally, they helped me more than I can say. It was like the constant feeling of impending doom was lifted and I didn’t dissolve into tears over the slightest issue. I have more energy and feel like I can do more without being mentally exhausted from doing nothing but sit and stress.

I’m sure they’re overprescribed, but they really help a lot of people. It was the stigma like this comment section that kept me from seeking help for so long.

[jessicakruger]

Agreed, minor depression should have alternative treatments but for people suffering from anxiety, PTSD and depression as a result of years of trauma, this is their normal. This is how they get a chance to live within society. Childhood trauma has a significant effect on the brain structure physically as well. The question as well is are you down or depressed? There is a difference between feeling down and been depressed to a point of a black hole.

[hiatusinc]

I'm a doctor and I've seen antidepressants work wonders for some patients, do absolutely nothing for some, and in a few cases make things worse. It's not a panacea. There are multitudes of factors that influence how they work, their effectiveness and the likelihood of unwanted side effects, their severity, duration, etc. It is a tool in the arsenal we have as clinicians to improve people's lives but I do agree it is overused.

[Qw]

Up until losing my husband to cancer at the age of 34 I never used any antidepressants. I had chronic depression for decades due to childhood trauma and some difficulties, but I tried to cope with it in various ways, including meditation, working out, eating healthy and balanced diet, etc. Nothing helped. I was suicidal after my husband's death so I said enough is enough and give it a shot.
I wish I seek help a decade ago, my life would've been different for sure. I feel peaceful at last after a year on antidepressants. They saved my life.

[JimiHL]

People need to ask why there are increasing numbers of people with depression. I would posit that it has a a lot to do with our cultural climate: bad food, lack of exercise, social media, shitty jobs, 24 hr news cycles, twitter, environmental problems and other crises. I think we all need to remind ourselves that we are all feeling similarly and that we should be kind to ourselves and to others. Kindness and compassion to all is something we can strive for.

[sandyclaflin]

I stopped taking Anti-depressants in September of 2021. I didn't expect to get better, in fact, I thought I might get worse. To my surprise, after I went through the withdrawals, and they were bad, I got better. I wasn't told about the withdrawals. In fact, I think most people don't know that there are withdrawals from Anti-depressants. I am doing a lot better, and I don't think I will ever go back on them.

I just wanted to say that this documentary helped me understand what I went through, and the withdrawal symptoms are going to take a while to clear up. Thank you for the information. It is a good thing to know.

[mariavienna]

Medication helped me from severe depression after burnout and divorce. I wasn't able to help myself to get better. Without medication, I wouldn't be here anymore. Then, the psychotherapy started and helped me to live my life with joy again. After I stopped using medication, the side effects took 2-3 weeks, and after that, it was ok again. I felt dizzy and sick. Still, for me it was worth it. It gave me a fresh Start.

[Draegoron]

I used to have bad panic attacks daily. Ever since starting on antidepressants, they've completely gone away. The torture i went through for years is gone. No side effects that i can notice, either.

[nancykleck]

Lexapro and Welbutrin have given me the best life ever. I am 67. My paternal grandmother committed suicide on the 5th try. I inherited her creattivity, curly hair and likely eye color. My father was bi-polar though never formally diagnosed. My mother had a personality disorder, formerly diagnosed in her 60's. Family life was horrible . Her biologocal father was an alcoholic. I was finally diagnosed with depression at 12. Have lived with it like a dull ache in your foot. Finally 5 years ago I got the RX mix I have now. Will never stop, and I thank God I have them.

[nelsonv]

I am 70, and have seen enough articles and documentaries over the last 20 years to be very skeptical about using depressants. I lost my wife to Cancer in '19, and my other 2 family members in February of '21 to Covid which almost took me too. I had lots of cause to be very depressed and meds were offered but I refused. I avoided seeking any sort of "Professional" help due to the above. Once I was able, I started going to the gym every day and I did an intense sweaty session on the treadmill. There is an immense amount of research in the area of Exercise Science showing a variety of physical AND mental benefits to this type of activity. I made it through the worst of all that in the 24 months since. I continue to do my Treadmill session each day. No Drugs, no Psychiatrists, no Group Therapies, just my daily workouts. So at 70, I still miss all of them every single day, but I am in very good shape physically and mentally. I feel that I made the right decision.

[sohnez]

This video is depressing. I'll keep taking my medication thank you.

[chandpal]

I want to see a therapist since I am very hesitant to start taking medicine. My subconscious mind keeps telling me to commit suicide. It came to feel like an ongoing conflict. I should be joyful when I see beautiful things, but instead I start to cry because I realize how pointless my life is. After a few years of resistance, i eventually consent to taking antidepressants. I had no idea that life was so realistic, and I feel as like a significant barrier has been lifted. I spend quality time with my family. Regardless of what people may say, this helps me thrive.

I wish I start taking it at least 10 years ago. Need more awareness and less taboo about taking this medication .

[Rasytojas]

They stabilize the mood and allow you to make changes. But you have to do the work changing your thought patterns, routine, food, social circle, working conditions…

[yvonnesmith]

I worked as a Clinical Research Associate for over 15 years and have coordinated many antidepressant trials. In my experience, the clinically significant range is usually within 3-5% difference between antidepressants vs placebo.
In my first investigator meeting, I was shocked to hear that NO ONE knows HOW these antidepressants work. We would only know if we would measure the serotonin in the cerebrospinal fluid via spinal tap….and in all the different trials, that has never been a test (very invasive)
I have taken Cymbalta and it almost killed me trying to get off. Weirdly enough, I was put on it for pain (I was not depressed at all) but once I tried to stop taking this medication, I developed debilitating depression and inability to concentrate.
Antidepressant are toxic for me and I’m glad that I’m off after many years of trying.

[SeanConnery-jb]

Antidepressants ruined my life. I was prescribed an SSRI because I was withdrawn for a summer as a teenager. The SSRI made me irritable, which then led to a false diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Type 2. I was then prescribed more drugs which kept me in a drug-induced haze which ruined my life. Eventually, I discovered the book Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker and other critical psychiatry books and realized what was happening to me, so I slowly tapered off the psych drugs. I lost years of wages and a social life to these drugs. There has been no justice for what was done to me. Psychiatry and pharma are overdue for a reckoning.

[Dan-qpel]

I suffer from major depression since childhood. My divorce was devastating, and started an antidepressant. I am thankful for its help.