Effects of Antidepressents

Often when people struggle with severe depression, doctors or therapists prescribe antidepressants to help them. These medications work by slowing down the removal of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Although people have been helped by taking antidepressants, they should not be considered a magic bullet, but should be used along with counseling and other therapies. However, as with any medication, antidepressants can cause various side effects and therefore patients taking them should be carefully monitored.

Identification

• Antidepressants are psychiatric medications for improving depression and mood disorders. There are several types of antidepressants, which are grouped by the chemicals in the brain that they affect. They include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Effects of SSRIs

• SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. These drugs help control moods by acting on the chemical in the brain known as serotonin. However, because serotonin also is involved with functions such as digestion, sleep, mental clarity, pain and other bodily roles, SSRIs can lead to various side effects. These may include nausea, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, restlessness, sexual problems, weight gain or loss, sweating, tremors, fatigue, dry mouth, headaches, constipation and diarrhea. Names brands of SSRIs are Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro and Celexa.

Increased Suicidal Thoughts

• Although teenagers and young adults who take SSRI antidepressants are at highest risk for the side effect of suicidal thoughts, anyone using SSRIs is at risk. Any suicidal thoughts should be immediately reported to the doctor or therapist who prescribes the drug. Also, bipolar disorder patients are at significant risk for provoking mania or extreme anxiety when taking SSRIs.

Atypical Antidepressants

• Atypical antidepressants are more recent drugs designed to target other neutransmitters. They can do this either by themselves or as an addition to serotonin. Some of the name brands of the atypical antidepressants include Wellbutrin, Effexor, Cymbalta, Remeron, Desyrell and Serzone. Although different drugs have various effects, some of the most common side effects of atypical drugs include fatigue, nausea, sleepiness, weight gain, dry mouth, nervousness and blurred vision.

Tricyclics

• Tricyclics, which are older types of antidepressants, have more serious side effects than newer ones. Therefore, they're given only as a final resort when other medications and treatments have failed. Doctors may hesitate to prescribe tricyclics to patients struggling with suicidal thoughts because many of them are highly toxic, with overdoses which can be fatal. Side effects from tricylics may include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, urination problems, glaucoma complications, fatigue, impaired thinking, irregular heart rate and high blood pressure.

MAOIs

• Less commonly used than other antidepressants, Monaine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are another older category of antidepressants. Because MAOIs can react with particular medications and foods and endanger your health it's important to discuss which medicines and food to avoid with your doctor if you take them. Weakness, headaches, dizziness and trembling are some of their severe side effects.

Warnings

• If you decide to stop taking antidepressants, wean yourself off them gradually. Dizziness, and other withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, stomach cramps and flu-like symptoms can result if you abruptly stop. In other words, diminish your dose by allowing about a one to two-week period between dosages. Also, cutting a pill in half is another way of tapering off your dosage.