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Now that you've started taking medication to
treat your depression, are you feeling worse than
you were before? Were you expecting that your
antidepressant would whisk away the symptoms of
depression overnight, but instead, you're feeling
so nauseous and tired that you can't see straight?
Or is that blurred vision actually yet another
side effect?
If you've recently started taking antidepressants,
the physical effects that come along with it may
be enough to make you feel even more depressed.
But there is good news. Though there are a number
of unpleasant side effects associated with using
antidepressants, most are mild and most are temporary.
While researchers don't know exactly how antidepressants
work to ease the symptoms of depression, they
do know these medications affect brain chemistry
by changing the levels of neurotransmitters - chemicals
which nerve cells in the brain use to communicate
- that are associated with mood. In particular,
there are three types of neurotransmitters associated
with depression - serotonin, norepinephrine and
possibly dopamine - and it is believed people
suffering with depression have decreased levels of
at least one of the three.
There are many antidepressants available
by prescription, and they can affect neurotransmitters
by different mechanisms. While most have a
similar level of effectiveness, it may take 2-4 weeks to see positive effects.
Unfortunately, during that time, you may also
experience a number of side effects, including:
- blurred vision
- constipation
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- fatigue
- feeling agitated and anxious
- increased appetite or weight gain
- insomnia
- low sex drive
These effects may vary from person to person.
But before you let them get you down (or consider
stop taking your meds), you should know that the
side effects associated with antidepressants tend
to be most pronounced at the beginning of treatment
and then ease.
Until then, there are ways you can manage these
effects.
Nausea, a common side effect, typically goes
away on its own within a few weeks of starting
on antidepressants. But because this feeling can
be so intolerable, it is one of the most common
reasons why people tend to stop taking their medication.
Like other side effects, this feeling can be minimized:
Make sure to always take your medication with
food and consider taking an antacid or bismuth
subsalicylate to ease stomach irritation. If nausea
persists, you may also want to talk to your doctor
or pharmacist about a slow-release form of your
antidepressant or a dosage change.
Eating a well-balanced diet with lots of fruit,
vegetables and whole grains and drinking plenty
of water can help you keep weight off and ease
constipation. As well, regular exercise will not
only help you manage those two issues, but a mild
workout can also keep you more alert during the
day, ease anxiety and help fight insomnia. If
you suffer from anxiety, insomnia or dizziness,
it's a good idea to limit your intake of foods
and beverages that contain caffeine.
Dry mouth is common in people who use antidepressants
that block the action of the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine, but there are a number of things
that can help restore moisture. If this is a problem,
sip water or suck on ice chips throughout the
day and chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless
candy to promote extra saliva. You should also
try to breathe through your noise rather than
your mouth.
Keep track of your side effects and speak to
your doctor as some may require a dose adjustment
or switching to another medication to help. For
example, if you are experiencing insomnia, your
doctor may prescribe a mild sedative to take at
bedtime. If blurred vision is a problem, you may
want to get an eye exam to rule out other problems,
or your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend
eye drops that can relieve dryness.
As well, some antidepressants have been more
closely linked to some side effects than others.
For example, bupropion and certain selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are less likely to
cause weight gain. Bupropion and mirtazapine are
also less likely to have sexual side effects.
So pay close attention to how your antidepressant
makes you feel. Not only will side effects vary
from person to person, but so will a drug's effectiveness.
If after six to eight weeks, your side effects
aren't easing or you don't feel less depressed
than before you started your medication, you may
want to talk to your doctor about trying a different
antidepressant.
But you should never stop taking your antidepressants
or change your dosage without talking to your
doctor first. Some antidepressants may cause serious
withdrawal symptoms and other effects if you stop
taking them abruptly.
Just remember: you chose to go on antidepressants
so you would feel better. And with some strategies
for managing your side effects, and communication
with your doctor and pharmacist if any issues
arise, you soon should feel better!
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