Sometimes antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide, however. This is a commonly enumerated side effect in their advice leaflets. One theory of depression is that it's evolved to take away our motivation to kill ourselves in the face of extreme adversity.
In no way do I want to diminish how serious these drugs are. They can have a profound effect on a person's behavior that occurs in a very short period.
Finding a medication regimen that works for a person is a serious undertaking. It often takes years. A person may have to taper on and off dozens of different regimens to find a good effect while minimizing side effects. The constant personal changes a person experiences through this process can strain relationships, ruin careers and much worse.
