Antidepressants are prescription medications primarily used to manage mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. These medications balance brain chemistry over time, alleviating distressing symptoms. Antidepressants do not produce a “high” or euphoric sensation like recreational drugs. Their action is therapeutic and gradual, designed to restore normalcy rather than induce intoxication.
How Antidepressants Work
Antidepressants modulate specific chemical messengers in the brain, known as neurotransmitters. These include serotonin, norepinephrine, and sometimes dopamine, which regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and energy. By influencing their availability, antidepressants help restore a more balanced brain chemistry.
For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) work by blocking the reabsorption, or “reuptake,” of serotonin and norepinephrine by nerve cells. This action increases the concentration of these neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft, the space between neurons, allowing for more effective communication. The effects of antidepressants are not immediate; they typically take several weeks to build up in the system for noticeable changes to occur. This gradual adjustment in brain chemistry differs fundamentally from the rapid, intense effects associated with recreational drug use.
Understanding Antidepressant Effects
When antidepressants begin to work, changes are therapeutic and typically unfold gradually over several weeks. Individuals may notice improved mood, reduced anxiety, and a return of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Other positive effects can include improved sleep patterns, increased energy, and better concentration. These beneficial changes reflect the medication alleviating symptoms of depression or anxiety.
In contrast, a “high” typically involves euphoria, altered perception, loss of inhibition, or a sense of detachment, which are not effects produced by antidepressants. While some initial side effects might feel unusual, they are distinct from intoxication. Common temporary side effects can include nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, or agitation. These sensations usually subside as the body adjusts to the medication.
Risks of Misuse and Overdose
Misusing antidepressants, such as taking higher doses than prescribed, combining them with other substances, or using someone else’s medication, does not lead to a “high.” Instead, it can result in dangerous and potentially life-threatening adverse effects. Overdosing can cause severe drowsiness, confusion, seizures, or coma. Cardiac issues, such as an increased heart rate or irregular heart rhythms, and low blood pressure are also possible.
A serious condition from excessive serotonin levels, often due to combining medications, is Serotonin Syndrome. Symptoms can develop within hours and range from agitation, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure to more severe manifestations like muscle rigidity, fever, and confusion. Serotonin Syndrome is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
When to Seek Medical Help
Contact a healthcare provider immediately if severe or worsening side effects are experienced after starting or changing an antidepressant. If you experience symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome, urgent medical evaluation is warranted. Any concerning or unusual reactions should also be reported promptly.
Never adjust the dosage or stop taking an antidepressant without explicit medical advice, as this can lead to uncomfortable withdrawal-like symptoms or a return of original symptoms. Sharing prescription medication is dangerous and should be avoided. Consulting a healthcare professional for any questions or concerns is always the safest approach.