As a psychologist that specializes in dependence and alcoholism, I treat numerous depressed college students with antidepressants. This age group will experimentation with alcohol and drugs. I've seen over the years of my practice, the antidepressants I urge don't appear to be effective in somebody who's using alcohol or marijuana even when the usage is infrequent. Listed below are just two cases I've treated that exemplify this point.
Case 1: I handled a 19 year-old school boy for depression and anxiety. He didn't respond to two distinct antidepressants I prescribed within the span of 12 weeks. I advised him that his alcohol and marijuana usage on the week-ends may be interfering with all the drugs effectiveness. He consented to proceed without alcohol or marijuana for a month. Sure enough, his social stress began to diminish although I hadn't altered the dose of his antidepressant or included any new drugs. He underwent significantly reduced depression and anxiety and hasn't returned to alcohol or marijuana. He reported visiting social functions, with a fantastic time, and feeling much more self confident than when he came to see me.
Case 2: I handled a 21 year-old school girl for melancholy that could go out with her friends drinking week-ends. I prescribed the exact same antidepressant she'd done well on if she was 14 years old. But after 6 months on a curative dose she stayed miserable. At 14, she wasn't drinking alcohol. I requested her to stop drinking and allow the drugs do its own job. She consented to this since her depression had gotten harder over a few months and she felt unhappy. Four months later, she felt considerably less miserable. She reported awaiting the afternoon, finding it a lot easier to stay informed about her job, and engaging in more activities with her friends.
These two instances give anecdotal proof that the antidepressants I urge for depression or stress don't seem to be as successful when my faculty sufferers are actively using marijuana or alcohol. As soon as I place a school student on drugs, I clarify to him it is difficult for me to create sure biochemical changes in the brain together with the drugs I urge when the compounds he/she is utilizing counteract the positive effects of these drugs.
Research on adolescent depression with chemical abuse, has tended to concentrate on adolescent drug abuse or adolescent drinking in the degree of dependence or abuse. There hasn't been much attention on recreational use of alcohol or marijuana within this population. What are the hazards of marijuana and also the hazards of alcohol usage when utilized at a minimal level?
Reduced antidepressant reaction.
The findings of a very recent research, conducted by Dr. Benjamin Goldstein et al in the University of Medicine Pittsburgh Dealing with depressed adolescents that had been using alcohol and marijuana in a recreational level encourage this. The research demonstrated that the antidepressant response was considerably reduced in depressed teens using alcohol or marijuana on a recreational basis. The researchers also discovered that people who quit marijuana/alcohol throughout the analysis demonstrated a great response to antidepressants and people who began using marijuana/alcohol throughout the analysis had a diminished response to antidepressants.
I wouldn't be shocked if the findings summarized in Dr.Goldstein's study seeing adolescent alcohol and marijuana use apply to school kids as well as older adults.
To put it differently, you shed antidepressant reaction. Bear in mind, recreational usage of marijuana and alcohol interferes wIth the antidepressant reaction.
If you would like to feel better, then allow the antidepressants perform their work on mind without blending its consequences with other medications you might want to experiment with. According to the study, antidepressants would be most effective for your age category if you aren't using alcohol or drugs.