Antidepressants have a terrible track record. So if yours isn’t working for you, you’re hardly alone. There are a LOT of folks in that same boat.
It’s not just that antidepressants make very little difference in some cases. For a lot of people, they simply make no difference at all. It’s why they’re a last resort option for many folks.
If you’re ready to kick your antidepressant to the curb… or you simply don’t want to start on one in the first place… I’ll be sharing some proven non-drug options to consider trying in just a moment.
But if you’re getting at least a little bit of relief and aren’t ready to ditch the drugs, I totally get it. Something is better than nothing. (Or maybe you’re just hoping they’ll kick in soon.)
But what if I were to tell you that you might be able to BOOST the effectiveness of that antidepressant with a safe, natural solution? I’m betting you might like to give that a try.
New research offers some insight into why these meds fail so often. Plus, it provides us with a clue of what might work better instead.
Harness the omegas to ease depression
They say misery loves company. And if that’s the case, there are a lot of depressed folks out there popping antidepressant pills and loving life.
Because antidepressants fail to work well so often that it’s typical to not get relief. One study I shared here in Healthier Talk found NO DIFFERENCE in either physical or mental wellbeing up to two years later.
If an antidepressant doesn’t work in two years, I’d call that a sure sign they’re not going to do the job at all. But here’s the puzzling thing. The drugs do work for some people. And the new study finally reveals what could be making the difference. And that’s omega-3 fatty acids.
Folks with lower omega-3 levels have WORSE depression, according to the study. And because they have worse depression, they may be more likely to respond to treatment with medication.
Obviously, this doesn’t mean you want to reduce your omega-3 levels. If anything, it shows just how finicky the drugs really are.
But more importantly, it gives us a hint about how you might be able to avoid taking an antidepressant in the first place. And if you’re already on one, this same insight might help it do a better job.
Better than your antidepressant
Just last year, research revealed that the two primary omega-3 fatty acids can dramatically improve depression on their own… no antidepressant needed.
That study found:
- 3 grams of EPA a day reduced depression symptoms by 64 percent
- 4 grams of DHA a day slashed symptoms by 71 percent
Unfortunately, that study failed to test the two together, which is a shame. I’m willing to bet the results would be even better.
If you’re interested in trying omega-3s for depression relief…with or without an antidepressant… speak to a doctor about the proper dosage for you.
And if your conventional medicine doctor refuses to help you with that decision, make an appointment with a naturopathic or integrative medicine doc for a second opinion.
But omega-3s or an antidepressant aren’t your only options for easing your depression. As I shared the other day, curcumin has been proven to be about as effective as prescription medications in some cases, but without the side effects. Plus, many people also swear by St. John’s wort.
And there’s an even simpler and proven mood-boosting solution that you should add to your depression-fighting routine. Go for a brisk walk every day. Moderate exercise can often help prevent depression if you don’t have it and help reverse it if you do.
For more details, including exactly how much exercise you need a day to drive away depression, see my recent report, “Make THIS move to drive down depression risk.”
Latest posts by Alice Jacob (see all)
- Build muscle strength with ‘PINK POWER’ secret - May 23, 2022
- Common pain meds DOUBLE chance of chronic backache - May 23, 2022
- The REAL reason your UTIs keep coming back - May 22, 2022
