Some of these negative effects may be quite mild while others may be more severe. 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. If you’re concerned about any particular side effect, such as weight gain or nausea, tell your doctor. Another effect of the brain pushing back against antidepressants is that the pushback can cause a relapse when you stop taking the drug. In addition, hyponatremia has the potential to lead to coma or death. Most people need to take National Institute of Mental Health: “Questions and Answers about the NIMH Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) Study—Background,” “What medications are used to treat depression?”Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: “Antidepressant Medicines - A Guide for Adults With Depression.”Family Doctor: “Depression: How Medicine Can Help.”Eric Endlich, PhD, clinical psychologist, Newton, Mass.Differences between feeling depressed and feeling blue.Famous people who've struggled with persistent sadness.WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Side effects are quite common for people who take antidepressants. 6. An antidepressant suppresses the symptoms of depression in a way that is similar to compressing the spring with your hand. In more severe cases, people may also experience such symptoms as listlessness and fatigue, disorientation, agitation, psychosis, and seizures. Seizures involve such symptoms as uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, staring spells, confusion, abnormal sensations and loss of consciousness. We’ll go over and compare the common side effects associated with different types of antidepressants. "Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome." Some of the more common negative effects that many patients experience with antidepressants include dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision, sexual side effects, weight gain, These symptoms include electric shock sensations, tingling, A 2019 UK study of the effects of sertraline (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI) found no effect on the symptoms of depression within 6 weeks, and just a minor effect … Certain antidepressants can increase a person's risk of having a seizure. Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved Many side effects last only for a few days or weeks and then get better. Antidepressants work by balancing chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions. But the current study is a necessary first step, Saveanu said, because it looked at how one antidepressant dose affects Now some questions are, how do depressed people's brains respond? You should be aware that when you're first starting an antidepressant, you may experience a temporary worsening of your depression and potentially even increased thoughts of suicide. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Some of the most common include:Some antidepressants are more likely than others to cause certain side effects. It’s just a matter of sticking with it and letting your doctor know how you’re feeling.”Like all medications, antidepressants can have side effects. By using Verywell Mind, you accept our 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. Most antidepressants do not increase seizure risk, although Wellbutrin (bupropion) is the antidepressant that is most likely to trigger one. 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. al. People who experience even mild symptoms of hyponatremia should seek immediate medical care. If you stop it suddenly, you may feel sick or have This depends on your depression. Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reservedHow Moderate Depression Differs From Mild and Severe DepressionWhat Are the Side Effects of Wellbutrin (Bupropion)?How You Can Ease Your Anxiety When Taking AntidepressantsPatients Should Be Aware of the Side Effects From Taking TrintellixHow to Help Someone Who Has Overdosed From AntidepressantsEverything You Need to Know About Antidepressant WithdrawalWhat Side Effects of Zoloft Should I Be Worried About?Antidepressants Can Cause Blurred Vision and Dryness in the EyesDoes St. John's Wort Have Any Drug Interactions With Antidepressants?What Are Prozac's Potential Side Effects in Children?Tips for Coping With Nausea While on Antidepressants Older people may be especially prone to hyponatremia. Many studies confirm that the brain attempts to compensate for the impact of the SSRIs by reducing the brain's capacity to respond to serotonin. Any antidepressant may lose its effect after months or years, sometimes because the brain has become less responsive to the drug (tolerance). All rights reserved.It has been apparent for many years that chronic exposure to SSRI antidepressants frequently makes people feel apathetic or less engaged in their lives, and ultimately more depressed.Peter R. Breggin, MD, has been called “The Conscience of Psychiatry” for his many decades of successful efforts to reform the mental health field.