Do antidepressant medications have side effects? (Antidepressant Side Effects) - Know these things without panicking

Are you being treated for depression? When you take the medication your doctor prescribes, do you sometimes think, "Oh, this medicine is making me sick?" You may feel nauseous, sleepy, or have some other new discomfort. In fact, these kinds of side effects are something that can sometimes occur with medication for depression. Many people stop taking their treatment because of these side effects. But don't worry. Let's talk about everything today.

Why is it important to continue taking the medication without stopping?

Simply put, side effects are the main reason why many people stop taking antidepressants. One survey found that about 65% of people taking antidepressants stop taking them, and half of them do so because they can't tolerate the side effects.

But the most important thing we need to understand is that this medicine is supposed to help you get over depression. Doctors recommend that you continue taking the medicine for at least four to five months after the first episode of depression. Do you know why? If you don't, the disease is more likely to relapse. If you have had depression several times in the past, your doctor may advise you to take the medicine for even longer, perhaps even for the rest of your life.

Medications for depression and their side effects

There are new medications that doctors are now prescribing more often, such as SSRIs (e.g., Zoloft, Lexapro) and SNRIs (e.g., Cymbalta, Pristiq). These have fewer side effects than older medications (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants).

But no matter what medication you take, the side effects can vary from person to person. Let's take a look at some of the most common side effects.

Things to be a little careful about

In addition to these common side effects, we should also be aware of rare but serious side effects . These medications have been found to increase suicidal thoughts, especially in children and young people. So if your child is taking these medications, be very careful about any changes in their behavior. Talk to your doctor about any such changes right away.

Let's also learn about old medicines.

Although medications such as MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) used in the past (e.g. Parnate) were very effective for depression, they had serious side effects. They can react with certain foods (e.g. aged cheese, aged meat, soy sauce) and other medications (e.g. decongestants like Sudafed) and can cause dangerously high blood pressure . As a result, these medications are now used much less frequently.

What do we do if side effects occur?

Okay, so what do you do if you get a side effect like this? The most important thing is that you and your doctor work together to find a solution. It's like a balance. On one side, the benefits of the medicine, and on the other, the discomfort of the side effects. You need to balance the two.

The first thing to understand is that you may experience more side effects in the first few weeks of taking the medication. As your body gets used to the new medication, these side effects often go away on their own . So if the side effects aren't too severe, your doctor may tell you to be patient.

Here are some things you can do to manage side effects:

• If you have an upset stomach: Ask your doctor whether it is best to take the medicine with food or on an empty stomach. Sometimes taking it with food can help reduce this discomfort.
• Drowsiness or insomnia: If you are sleepy during the day, it may be best to take your medication before going to bed at night. Also, if you are having trouble sleeping at night, taking your medication in the morning can help. Talk to your doctor about this as well to determine the best time to take it.
• Alcohol is a no-no: Avoid alcohol completely while taking medication for depression. Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of the medication and make your depression worse.

Talk to the doctor.

If you can't stand the side effects, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor right away . He or she can:

1. Reduce your dose a little.

2. Switch to another medication that suits you and has fewer side effects.

If at times it seems like your doctor doesn't really care what you say, once again, clearly state your discomfort. Don't be afraid to say, "Doctor, this is really bothering me. Let's find a solution for this."

Don't ignore the side effects or suffer through them. Work with your doctor to find solutions. This will increase your chances of recovering from depression quickly.