Like any medication, antidepressants can cause side effects. The specific problems vary from drug to drug -- and from person to person.
In fact, side effects are one of the main reasons that people with depression stop taking their medicine during their recovery. One study found that 65% of the 1,000 people surveyed said they had stopped taking their medicine, and half of those people cited side effects as the reason.
Yet it's important to keep in mind that antidepressants can help you recover. The American Psychiatric Association recommends that people keep taking their medicine at least for four to five months after they recover from a first depressive episode -- in order to reduce the risk of relapse. And for people who have had multiple previous episodes, the recommendation is often longer (or sometimes even to continue indefinitely).
Antidepressants such as SSRIs (Zoloft, Lexapro), SNRIs (Cymbalta, Fetzima, Pristiq), and other medications such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), vilazodone (Viibryd), and vortioxetine (Trintellix - formerly called Brintellix) generally have fewer and less severe side effects than older drugs (for instance, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or imipramine (Tofranil). The side effects vary depending on the drug but can include:
Other more serious side effects are rare but possible. Antidepressants have been linked to an increase in suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents. Talk to your doctor about symptoms to watch for during your depression recovery.
Some of the older monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) can have severe side effects or cause dangerous interactions with other drugs or foods. They can cause blurred vision and fatigue. They may not be safe for people with heart problems. High doses can be toxic and potentially life-threatening. For these reasons, tricyclic antidepressants are less often used for the treatment of depression.
MAOIs such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (EMSAM), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), are among the most effective of all known antidepressants. But they can cause serious interactions with some foods -- like aged meats and cheeses, fermented products like soy sauce, and broad flat beans -- as well as other medicines. For instance, they can be hazardous when combined with medicines such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) that can raise blood pressure, and the interactions can lead to such effects as high blood pressure that is potentially fatal. They can also be dangerous with most other antidepressants, which can then raise levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin excessively.
The FDA has also approved l-methylfolate (Deplin) in treatment of depression. Referred to as a medical food, l-methylfolate is a prescription strength form of folate. Folate is also known as vitamin B9 and is one of the essential B vitamins. It helps regulate all three of the brain’s monoamine neurotransmitters associated with moods. Side effects include hives, swelling, nausea and bloating.
What to Do About Antidepressant Side Effects
With any medication, you have to weigh the benefits with the side effects. You and your doctor should work together to figure out the right balance. Some side effects may not bother you. Others may be so severe that you will have to stop taking the medicine or consider adding an additional medicine that might help counteract the side effects of the antidepressant.
Keep in mind that many side effects might be worse when you first start a medicine or when you increase the dose. They may get better as your body adjusts. So if your side effects are mild, your doctor may want you to stick with your depression medicine to see if the side effects go away on their own.
Here are some tips for dealing with minor side effects of antidepressant medication.
- If your medicine upsets your stomach, ask your doctor if you should take it with a meal or if the risk may be less with a brand rather than a generic form of a drug.
- If your depression medicine makes you sleepy during the day or keeps you awake at night, ask your doctor what time of day you should take it. By taking your medicine first thing in the morning or right before bed, you might diminish some of the unwanted effects.
- Don't take depression medicine with alcohol. Alcohol can affect how well the medicine works, cause sedation, and possibly worsen depression.
Don't stop taking your medication on your own if you don't like the side effects. Stopping your medicine suddenly can make your symptoms get worse and cause a relapse of your depression.
Instead, talk with your doctor about what to do. Trying your medication at a lower dose might still give you benefits while reducing side effects. Or you could try a new one altogether. There are many effective drugs to choose from.
If your doctor doesn't take your side effects seriously at first, be more clear about needing a plan to address them.
Whatever you do, don't ignore side effects. And don't just accept them, either. Work with your doctor to resolve them so you have a better chance of recovery from your depression.
