Tarhan: “There is a significant increase in the antidepressant use”

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan gave an interview on “Antidepressant Use and the Harms” to TV100. Expressing that the fact that antidepressant use became common is a global reality, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan highlighted that medication is a chemical weapon. Tarhan said that “At the end of the day, drugs are chemical weapons. They are useful when they are used in the right time and amount; however, it can hit the wrong places like all weapons when it is used randomly and irregularly, and it can yield incorrect results.”.

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan made remarks on “Antidepressant Use and the Harms”.

“There is a significant increase in the antidepressant use”

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan made remarks on antidepressant use and the harms. Pointing out that drugs are chemical weapons, Tarhan expressed that the wrong and irregular use of antidepressants can yield incorrect results like all chemical weapons. Tarhan said that “The fact that antidepressants are used a lot is a global reality, and even, this has become measurable in wastewater, especially in all the cities in the world. The welfare level of humans has increased; however, the level of psychological welfare did not increase in parallel to that, and people are not successful in stress management. They have to get help from medication. Drugs make people insensitive to some problems. It makes them reduce some of their reactions, but drugs are chemical weapons at the end of the day. They are useful when they are used in the right time and amount; however, it can hit the wrong places like all weapons when it is used randomly and irregularly, and it can yield incorrect results. Therefore, antidepressant use has been used a a lot lately and it is even said that it has increased over 57% in the last 10 years when it is compared to the previous decade. And, it will increase even more for the next decade. It seems in that way; however, the antidepressants prevent many suicide incidents, skill training of people when it is used correctly because the main characteristics of depression is that it makes a person dysfunctional, having lack of energy, unable to work and unproductive. In antidepressant use, a person can see the world from a more positive perspective if a person goes through the treatment consciously but antidepressant never treats on its own. Generally, use of antidepressants together with therapy is much more important however we are experiencing the outcome of modernism. In other words, one of the complications brought by modernism is the fact that antidepressants are used a lot. That is, a pleasure based system has emerged and it surprasses the satisfaction obtained from religion.”.

The most common side effect of antidepressant: Mania

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan informed on the side effects of antidepressants and underlined that they must be used under the control of a specialist. Tarhan said that “When antidepressants are used in the right amount and time consciously under the control of a specialist, side effects can be controlled even if there are side effects.

The most commonly seen side effects of antidepressants is that it causes mania. If a person has a genetic inclination or it runs in the family, that person suddenly starts to talk a lot, to spend money a lot, to fall in love quickly to somebody who showed affection to them and to behave in a way not complying to their fundamental values. We see many examples regarding this. Mania is the exact opposite of depression. A person gains extreme self-confidence, takes extreme risks and spends money excessively. They can do things that they were not doing before. This is one of the risks we encounter. Another risk is that it has a blood thinning effect. Thus, insensible use of antidepressants can lead to many bleeding, internal bleeding. Another side effect occurs in uncontrolled use of antidepressants. It can affect a person’s quality of life. It can make a person reckless, insensitive and carefree. A person avoiding responsibility occurs. And, this is one of the most commonly seen side effects.”

“It is necessary to use antidepressants consciously”

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that the most important thing that can be done to reduce the random use of antidepressants is to inform the society about it. Tarhan said that “Someone with depression, with clinical depression… What we mean by depression is important here. A depressed mood for 3 days is not considered depression. If the person is depressed, not enjoying something, thoughts of death, stagnation, lack of joy, loss of sleep-appetite continue for more than 3 days, it should be taken seriously. After 15 days, it is called clinical depression. You definitely need expert help. In such cases, it is extremely dangerous to give medication to a depressed person with the advice of a spouse or friend. In fact, even aspirin, even though it is an over-the-counter drug, causes stomach bleeding. We come across cases in which the heart rhythm is disturbed due to antidepressants. For this reason, we look at the liver at certain intervals in those who use antidepressants at high doses and use them for a long time. If there is a deterioration in the heart rhythm, whether there is a deterioration in some rhythm intervals of the rhythm in the heart, these are checked. If a person uses it without considering these, it can be seen that one can die of a heart attack while using antidepressants. When you check it, there are antidepressants with cardiotoxicity that actually affect the heart. There are antidepressants which raise blood pressure if you take them randomly. When you give this to a patient with blood pressure , they can have a brain hemorrhage from high blood pressure. Due to such situations, it is necessary to use antidepressants consciously. It should not be used randomly, but it has become very common. People also use it because it is good for them. The most important thing to do as a precaution against this is to inform the society about it. It is the dose that makes the medicine medicine. In some cases, the difference between the poison and the drug is the dose. Therefore, the use of antidepressants at the inappropriate dose, in the inappropriate time, and with the inappropriate method will do more harm than good in antidepressants, as in any drug.”.

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)