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If Depression Goes Untreated, What Happens?
Tolu Ajiboye
Medically reviewed on 11/13/2020 by
Dr. Steven Harvey
St. Louis Regional Medical Director
For some people, finding the right treatment for depression can be challenging. Although antidepressants and talk therapy work for many, they provide little to no relief for others. If you fall into the latter category, it's possible that you've wondered what happens if depression goes untreated. Will it go away, or will it get worse?
If you've found your antidepressants to be ineffective or produce too many unpleasant side effects, you may also be wondering what happens if you stop taking your antidepressants. Plus, you may be feeling discouraged with depression treatments in general and wonder if there's any point continuing the search. Is there any depression treatment out there that could be effective for you? The answer to that final question is a resounding "yes." There is always another option to try, even if medication and talk therapy haven't worked for you in the past. Let's take a look at why it's so important to treat depression, and what you can do if past treatments haven't been successful.
Progression of Untreated Depression
Depression (and the distressing feelings it can cause) often becomes more intense when it's left untreated. It can even become chronic and last for years or a lifetime. Depression doesn't only affect mood and emotions, either. Depression also causes physical symptoms such as nausea, chronic pain, fatigue, and headaches. And when it isn't treated, these symptoms persist. Sleep is affected, as well. Many people with untreated depression suffer insomnia and find it difficult to sleep. Others feel excessively tired and find it necessary to sleep more.
Some researchers believe that depression is connected to the immune system, so untreated depression may also impact your overall health or ability to recover from illnesses. Your personal, family, and work life could be impacted, too. For instance, if depression goes untreated, there's an increased likelihood of work performance decline and absenteeism.
Further, untreated depression has been found to increase a person's risk of developing drug or alcohol addiction. So, although it may be tempting to stop the search for treatment altogether, the negative consequences aren't worth it. In the long run, continuing to seek treatment will have the most positive results, even if it seems like a difficult road.
Stopping Antidepressants
If you've found no relief from antidepressants, or if your antidepressants have had unpleasant side effects, you may be wondering, what happens if I stop taking my antidepressants? You may think it makes sense to stop taking something that just isn't working, but suddenly going off an antidepressant can have adverse outcomes. How? Put simply, antidepressants impact your brain chemistry. They work by changing the way certain brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, affect your mood and emotion. Eventually, messenger cells in your brain get accustomed to receiving increased levels of neurotransmitters.
If you abruptly stop taking your antidepressants, you could experience serious symptoms of withdrawal—especially if you've taken the medication(s) for more than a month. Some of the withdrawal symptoms include nausea, anxiety, restlessness, trouble sleeping, nightmares, sweating, and electric shock-like feelings in your head. Altogether, these symptoms are also known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms typically occur within a few days of stopping antidepressant medication. Generally, they can last for up to six weeks. In some cases, however, the withdrawal symptoms are more severe and can last for many months.
If you want to stop taking your antidepressant medication, you should speak to your physician first. Any reduction of your antidepressants will probably be gradual—over several weeks. This way, your body can adapt better to the changes in your neurotransmitter levels.
A Different Kind of Treatment
If you've tried multiple antidepressant medications and feel like they aren't working, there's a chance you might have treatment-resistant depression. You're not alone, though: about one-third of people with depression still have symptoms even after trying two medications. It's also possible that the antidepressant you're on works well but has intolerable side effects. The search for the right treatment can take some time, but there are other options out there that have worked for many people.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is one such option you may want to consider. It's a safe, non-invasive treatment that is used to effectively treat major depressive disorder. TMS therapy uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions involved in mood regulation. It has successfully treated depression for many people who did not have much success with antidepressants and talk therapy. You can learn more about TMS therapy from patients reporting their positive outcomes. Whatever path you choose, remember to stay hopeful on your journey. You deserve to feel like yourself again.
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A recent study compared the effects of TMS therapy and Antidepressants. TMS therapy provided more relief from patients depressive symptoms compared to Antidepressants.
You may feel isolated and alone when you have clinical depression, and depression also affects your relationships with family and friends. While the primary focus of your treatment is to improve your mental health, it’s also essential to understand your loved ones may experience their own issues as they try to support you. An understanding of how depression affects relationships can help everyone maintain healthy connections and navigate problems. Here are some of the ways depression may affect the people in your support network.
We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
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