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Side Effects of Antidepressants and how to tackle them
Antidepressants may cause mild and usually temporary side effects in some people. Typically these are annoying? but not serious. However, unusual side effects or those that interfere with functioning should be reported to your doctor.
The most common side effects usually associated with tricyclic antidepressants and ways to deal with them, are:
| Side Effect |
How to handle it? |
| Dry mouth |
drink lots of water; chew sugarless gum; clean teeth daily. |
| Constipation |
eat bran cereals, prunes, fruit and vegetables. |
| Bladder problems |
emptying your bladder may be troublesome and your urine stream may not be as strong as usual; call your doctor if there is any pain. |
| Sexual problems |
sexual functioning may change; if worrisome, discuss with your doctor. |
| Blurred vision |
this will pass soon; do not get new glasses. |
| Dizziness |
rise from bed or chair slowly. |
| Drowsiness |
this will pass soon; do not drive or operate heavy equipment if feeling drowsy or sedated. |
The newer antidepressants have different types of side effects:
| Side Effect |
How to handle it? |
| Headache |
this will usually go away. |
| Nausea |
even when it occurs, it is transient after each dose. |
| Nervousness and insomnia |
these may occur during the first few weeks; dosage reductions or time will usually resolve them. |
| Agitation |
if this happens for the first time after the drug is taken and is more than transient, consult your doctor. |
Sexual side effects of antidepressants
Both lowered sexual desire and difficulties having an orgasm, in both
men and women, are particularly a problem with the selective
serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Luvox), and
the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Nardil and Parnate). There is no
treatment for decreased sexual interest except lowering the dose or
switching to a drug that does not have sexual side effects such as
bupropion (Wellbutrin). Difficulty having orgasms may be treated by a
number of medications. Among those medications are: Periactin, Urecholine, and Symmetrel. None of these are over-the-counter drugs
and they must be prescribed by a physician. Unfortunately, many
psychiatrists are not familiar with using these medications to treat
the sexual side-effects of antidepressants.
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