Negative Side Effects of Antidepressants

Negative Side Effects of Antidepressants Depression Treatment Medication Print Negative Effects of Antidepressants By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 13, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 24, 2020 Depression Overview Types Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Coping ADA & Your Rights Depression in Kids Joe Raedle / Staff / Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Coping With Side Effects Consult Your Doctor Common Side Effects Serious Side Effects When to Call 911 View All All medications, including antidepressants, can produce unwanted negative effects that we refer to as side effects. How to Deal With Side Effects Some of these negative effects may be quite mild while others may be more severe. In addition, they may go away or become less severe in time. If you experience problems with side effects, you should mention these to your doctor as he or she may be able to either give you strategies for coping with the side effects or prescribe a different antidepressant for you that has fewer or more tolerable side effects. Consult Your Doctor Keep in mind, however, that it is never a good idea to stop taking your antidepressant without first discussing it with your doctor. An unpleasant set of symptoms known as discontinuation syndrome may occur if you stop taking your medication too abruptly. These symptoms include electric shock sensations, tingling, vivid dreams, hallucinations, sweating, muscle pain, blurred vision, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, agitation, upset stomach, and fatigue.?? Its always best to taper off of your antidepressant very slowly with your doctors guidance. This gives your brain time to get used to the changes and you will notice fewer effects if you stick with your doctors plan. Common Side Effects Some of the more common negative effects that many patients experience with antidepressants include dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision, sexual side effects, weight gain, constipation, insomnia, dry mouth, nausea, feeling numb, and anxiety.?? Your doctor will be able  to offer you appropriate coping strategies for many of these or may also be able to make changes in your dose or transition you to a different medication that you can better tolerate. Serious Side Effects While many of the most common side effects are not cause for excessive concern, there are certainly rare, but more serious side effects, that you should be aware of. Among these are: Serotonin Syndrome This side effect is linked to the use of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors  (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).  Serotonin syndrome occurs when a neurochemical in the brain called serotonin reaches dangerously high levels. It is generally triggered when an SSRI or SNRI medication is used in combination with a second medication that also affects serotonin levels, such as another antidepressant.?? Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include confusion, agitation, muscle twitching, sweating, shivering, and diarrhea.  In addition, severe cases may include symptoms such as a very high fever, seizures, irregular heartbeat, and unconsciousness. If a person begins to exhibit any of the above symptoms, medical care should be sought immediately as this condition can be life-threatening. Hyponatremia Hyponatremia is a condition in which the sodium, or salt, levels in the blood fall to abnormally low levels. When this happens, dangerous amounts of fluid can build up inside the bodys cells. This side effect can occur with SSRIs because these drugs can potentially impact the effects of a hormone involved in regulating sodium and fluid levels within the body. Older people may be especially prone to hyponatremia.?? Mild cases of hyponatremia can cause symptoms such as feeling ill, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite and confusion. In more severe cases, people may also experience such symptoms as listlessness and fatigue, disorientation, agitation, psychosis, and seizures. In addition, hyponatremia has the potential to lead to coma or death. People who experience even mild symptoms of hyponatremia should seek immediate medical care. Suicidal Thoughts You should be aware that when youre first starting an antidepressant, you may experience a temporary worsening of your depression and potentially even increased thoughts of suicide. Studies indicate that this may be especially true for people younger than age 25.?? If you, or someone you are caring for, experience any worsening of depression, increased thoughts of suicide or death or unusual changes in behavior in the first weeks after starting a new antidepressant, it is important to get medical assistance immediately. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. Allergic Reactions Allergic reactions can occur with antidepressants, either because a person is allergic to the active ingredient of the medication or because he or she is allergic to the dyes, fillers or other inactive ingredients present in the pill or capsule. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include swelling, itchy rash, hives, blisters or difficulty breathing.??   A severe allergic reaction can become life-threatening if it blocks a persons ability to breathe. Medical help should be sought for an allergic reaction, especially if there is swelling in the face or breathing difficulty. Mania In people who are susceptible to bipolar disorder, medications like antidepressants can potentially trigger an episode of mania.?? Symptoms of mania include increased energy and activity, problems with sleeping, racing thoughts, impulsive behavior, grandiose thinking, extreme elevation of mood, irritability, and pressured speech. While mania is not necessarily life-threatening, it will require medical assistance to treat. Seizures Certain antidepressants can increase a persons risk of having a seizure. In some cases, a seizure may be triggered by a person who has never had one before. Most antidepressants do not increase seizure risk, although Wellbutrin (bupropion) is the antidepressant that is most likely to trigger one.?? Certain older antidepressants called tricyclics can increase a persons seizure risk as well.  Generally, the newer antidepressants are less likely to trigger seizures. Seizures involve such symptoms as uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, staring spells, confusion, abnormal sensations and loss of consciousness. All seizures should be reported to a doctor. If it is the first time a person has had a seizure then emergency services should be summoned. When to Call 911 A seizure lasts more than five minutesThe person does not wake upAnother seizure begins immediately afterwardThe seizure occurs in waterThe person is pregnant, injured or has diabetesThere is anything unusual about the seizure compared to others that the person has had before