Side effects of antidepressants
One of the main reasons why people stop taking antidepressant medication is that they may cause a range of unpleasant side effects.
However, like all drugs, different people will experience different side effects and some people will have no troublesome side effects. The most common side effects are:
Tricyclic antidepressants side effects:
Dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness, weight gain or loss, skin rash, constipation.
SSRI’s side effects:
Headache, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhoea, abdominal pain, inability to achieve an erection, inability to achieve an orgasm (men and women), loss of libido.
Tricyclic antidepressants side effects:
Dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness, weight gain or loss, skin rash, constipation.
SSRI’s side effects:
Headache, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhoea, abdominal pain, inability to achieve an erection, inability to achieve an orgasm (men and women), loss of libido.
The patient information leaflet you get with the medication you are on should tell you all the possible side effects you may experience.
If you experience any of the above or what you think may be side effects of the medication you should contact your GP or psychiatrist. They may be able to reduce the dosage until the side effects lessen or change your medication for one with fewer side effects.
