If you've taken an antidepressant for one month or longer, you may experience withdrawal, otherwise known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome , when you quit. If your antidepressant is causing side effects , remember that many, if not all of them, will go away with time. If the side effects are intolerable, get in touch with your doctor right away.
Finding relief may be as simple as changing the dose, switching to a different antidepressant, or adding a second medication to ease the side effect. Taking an antidepressant needs to be part of a well-thought-out plan with your doctor to maximize its benefits and minimize any potential side effects.
Don't make any changes to your treatment plan without consulting with your doctor first. The recommendations noted above are general and may or may not be applicable to your own unique situation.
Your doctor will be able to provide you with specific recommendations about whether your antidepressant should be taken at a particular time of day for the best results for you. Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression. Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter. Side-effect profile of fluoxetine in comparison with other SSRIs, tricyclic and newer antidepressants; a meta-analysis of clinical trial data.
Effects of antidepressants on sleep. Curr Psychiatry Rep. Toward achieving optimal response: understanding and managing antidepressant side effects. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. Al-Harbi KS. Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions.
Patient Prefer Adherence. Depression: FDA-approved medications may help. Updated December 12, They can help, but they might not be enough on their own. Many people find they feel better faster with a combination of antidepressants and psychological therapy. Antidepressants can help to improve your mood, or if you have lost interest in activities you once enjoyed. They can also help improve sleep , thinking and concentration.
Antidepressants might also help people with anxiety-related disorders like generalised anxiety disorder GAD , eating disorders , obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. They are more likely to help people with moderate or severe depression than those with mild depression.
Side effects differ between antidepressants. Some people have no side effects at all. Some side effects may include:. You may start to feel better weeks after starting an antidepressant but it can take up to weeks to feel the full effect. Many side effects go away after a few weeks, so allow time. If you drink alcohol , cut down or stop.
Alcohol can reduce the benefits of antidepressants and in some cases can be very dangerous. Stopping your antidepressant suddenly can cause problems. Talk to your doctor if you are struggling with side effects, or feel a particular brand of antidepressant is not working. The goal is to find a treatment that works for you. Different antidepressants work differently for every person, so it can take time and patience to find the right treatment. Some people get better with psychological therapy alone.
Others find it best to use a combination of antidepressants and psychological therapy. There are many different psychological therapies. The most common is cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy aims to identify and change your negative thoughts. When prescribing an antidepressant that's likely to work well for you, your doctor may consider:. Certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are associated with depression — particularly serotonin ser-o-TOE-nin , norepinephrine nor-ep-ih-NEF-rin and dopamine DOE-puh-meen.
Most antidepressants relieve depression by affecting these neurotransmitters, sometimes called chemical messengers, which aid in communication between brain cells.
Each type class of antidepressant affects these neurotransmitters in slightly different ways. Most antidepressants are generally safe, but the Food and Drug Administration FDA requires that all antidepressants carry black box warnings, the strictest warnings for prescriptions.
In some cases, children, teenagers and young adults under 25 may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed. Anyone taking an antidepressant should be watched closely for worsening depression or unusual behavior. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts when taking an antidepressant, immediately contact your doctor or get emergency help.
Keep in mind that antidepressants are more likely to reduce suicide risk in the long run by improving mood. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.
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Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Side effects are one reason that people stop taking antidepressants. But talk to your doctor. There are many ways to manage side effects. And lowering the dose or changing medicines may also help. Are you depressed? The symptoms of depression include a loss of interest in daily activities or feeling sad or hopeless and having at least four of the following symptoms: A change in eating patterns that causes either weight gain or weight loss Sleeping too much or not enough Feeling restless and unable to sit still, or feeling that moving takes a great effort Feeling tired all the time Feeling unworthy or guilty without an obvious reason Having problems concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Thinking often about death or suicide.
What are antidepressants? Antidepressants don't change your personality. They help your symptoms. How well do antidepressants work?
What side effects can antidepressants cause? Side effects may vary depending on the medicine you take, but common ones include: Nausea.
Dry mouth. Loss of appetite. Diarrhea or constipation. Sexual problems loss of desire, erection problems. Trouble falling asleep, or waking a lot during the night. Weight gain. Feeling nervous or on edge. Feeling drowsy in the daytime. What are other treatments for depression? Counselling Counselling is an important part of the treatment for depression. The types of counselling most often used for treatment of depression include: Cognitive-behavioural therapy , which teaches you how to become healthier by changing certain thought and behaviour patterns.
Interpersonal therapy , which focuses on your relationships and the problems they may be causing. Problem-solving therapy , which focuses on the problems you are facing and on helping you find solutions.
Family therapy , which involves the entire family. Lifestyle changes There are also lifestyle changes you may be able to make that may help your depression symptoms: Eat healthy foods. Don't drink alcohol. Get regular exercise. Get a good night's sleep. Get social support from family and friends. Try to keep a positive attitude—remember that feeling better takes time, and your mood will improve little by little.
Other treatment choices Besides counselling and lifestyle changes, there are some other treatments you can try: Alternative treatments such as massage therapy and yoga may help you get better faster and make your life better.
You can try relaxation exercises at home to lower your stress. Complementary therapies are sometimes used for depression. Talk to your doctor before taking any of them, because they can interfere with other medicines.
Electroconvulsive therapy may be used to treat severe depression or depression that hasn't responded well to other treatment. It also may be a treatment choice for someone who cannot live with the side effects of antidepressants.
Why might your doctor recommend antidepressants? Your doctor might suggest that you try antidepressants if: You have tried counselling and lifestyle changes, and they haven't worked. Your symptoms are bad enough that they interfere with your daily life.
Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Take antidepressants Don't take antidepressants. Compare Option 2 Take antidepressants Don't take antidepressants. Take antidepressants Take antidepressants You take a pill or liquid medicine one or more times a day for months or sometimes years.
Antidepressants can improve or completely relieve symptoms. Antidepressants usually help when counselling and lifestyle changes haven't worked. It takes weeks, and sometimes months, for the medicine to start working. You may have to keep taking antidepressants for a long time. Side effects—which can include nausea, diarrhea or constipation, sexual problems, weight gain, and trouble sleeping—cause many people to stop taking the medicine. Don't take antidepressants Don't take antidepressants You treat your depression with counselling, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy CBT or interpersonal psychotherapy IPT.
Many studies show that CBT helps mild to moderate depression as much as antidepressants. You may try alternative treatments, such as massage and relaxation techniques. Counselling works well for many people who have depression.
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