Antidepressant Side Effects

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Antidepressant Side Effects

One of the main reasons for people stopping a course of depression medication is the antidepressant side effects. Though it is becoming clear that anti depressants are far from benign drugs, the combination of depression and medication creates fear and despair among the people who take it. Antidepressant side effects can react very badly to most of the people whilst for others they may be mild. The side effects can themselves be very depressing at certain times. As no anti depressant is proved to be better than the other, the choice of antidepressant often depends on the different side effects caused by them. All the antidepressant side effects can be considered as a side effect that usually occurs by taking a pill. Lack of knowledge about antidepressants and depression is the main reason for antidepressant side effects. It is quite natural that bombarding the delicate and balanced system with external chemicals may result in unpleasant side effects. Very often changing the mood of the person by giving anti depressant seems to be a desired side effect.

Some of the general anti depressant side effects can be the following:

• Urinary retention

• Blurred vision

• Constipation

• Sedation (can interfere with driving or operating machinery)

• Sleep disorders

• Weight gain

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Vomiting

• Dry mouth

• Light headedness

• Sexual problems

• Sweating

• Agitation

Anxiety and IrritabilityAntidepressant side effects depend on the type of the antidepressant consumed. It may be severe and mild depending on the chemicals added along with the anti depressants. Very often the antidepressants are found to cause unpleasant side effects. Some of the anti depressant side effects last for a week or so and then go away on their own. Sometimes the side effects are so severe that they need medical attention as quick as possible.

Antidepressants are generally taken to get relief from the symptoms of depression.

As of now there are four major types of anti depressants available. They are the following:

• Tricyclics

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs)

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs)

• Serotonin and Noradrenalin

• Reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs)

We always think that antidepressants work by increasing the activity of certain chemicals in our brains. Such chemicals that are thought to be more involved in depression are Serotonin and Noradrenalin. Anti depressants are generally used for severe anxiety and panic attacks, eating disorders, chronic pain. Obsessive compulsive disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. Antidepressant side effects can be the following in detail:

Tricyclic anti depressants:

Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants include the following:

• Dry mouth

• Blurred vision

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness

• Sexual problems

• Skin rash

• Weight gain or loss

• Slight Tremor

• Fast heartbeat

• Constipation

All these antidepressant side effects are common among all. In older people the antidepressants may cause confusion, faintness through low blood pressure and also tremor. People with heart trouble are not advised to take such type of antidepressants. Antidepressant side effects are most prominent in men. They may experience difficulty in getting or keeping an erection, or delayed ejaculation. If taken as overdose, tricyclic anti depressants like Dothiepin, amitriptyline and Imiprimine are always dangerous.

SSRIs:

Side effects caused by SSRIs anti depressants are many. The person may feel sick and more anxious during the first couple of weeks of taking them. Some of the anti depressant tablets produce nasty indigestion but it can be prevented by taking along with food. Very rarely there have been also reports of aggression. Most of the side effects caused by the antidepressants are listed along with them itself. Mild side effects faced by most of the people wear off within a couple of weeks when the body gets used to the medication. To recognize the side effects caused by them it is good to know the list when they come along with the medication.

Sometimes the antidepressant side effects are quite serious. Common among healthy, younger and middle aged people are problems with urinating, difficulty in remembering, confusion. More serious case is that people often get a thought of harming or killing themselves. Whenever the depression is severe, suicidal thoughts seem to arise and it is necessary to take medical help as soon as possible. Other side effects of SSRIs could be :

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Headache

• Sexual side effects

Sexual side effects are very common with SSRIs such as loss of libido, failure to reach orgasm and erectile problems. Another serious antidepressant side effect could be Seratonergic syndrome. It is quite a worrying condition associated with the use of SSRIs.

SNRIs:

The side effects of SNRIs are quite similar to that caused by SSNIs. People who have heart disorder are advised not to take these anti depressants because they contain Venlafaxine and it is capable of increasing the blood pressure. Also such anti depressants tend to have fewer and different side effects like nausea, nervousness, insomnia, diarrhea, skin rash, agitation and also sexual side effects. In addition to the other dangers caused by SNRIs there is also an established link between suicide and violent behavior and the use of SNRIs.

MAOIs:

Such anti depressants are prescribed very rarely these days. Since Anti depressant side effects have become very common in recent days, care must be taken to avoid them if the side effect is persisting for many days. MAOIs are capable of creating high blood pressure if it is taken along with the food containing a substance called tyramine. Individuals taking MAOIs have to be careful about consuming certain smoked, fermented or pickled foods, drinking certain beverages and also taking other medications. These antidepressants are capable of causing blood pressure when combined with any of the above food stuffs. Apart from this less serious side effect may also occur like weight gain, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, head ache, drowsiness, and even sexual side effects. Some of the rare side effects of MAOIs like phenelzine and tranylcypromine include serious problems like liver inflammation, heart stroke and seizures.

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