Know what supports are available to you and who you can call. This reaction to antidepressants is thought to occur in about four per cent of people who take them, with the risk being highest in the first few weeks of treatment.īefore starting treatment, prepare for the possibility of feeling worse before you feel better. Some people may become suicidal or violent. These feelings may resemble symptoms of anxiety and may add to, rather than relieve, feelings of hopelessness and despair. Some antidepressants can also cause feelings of agitation, restlessness and detachment. In other words, antidepressants may give some people the energy to act on their suicidal thoughts. One possible explanation is that it may be related to the increase in energy that comes early in treatment, before improvement in mood. Most cases of increased risk of suicide were observed in adolescents and young people. When starting medication treatment for depression, people may be at an increased risk of suicide. getting up slowly from a sitting or lying position to help prevent dizziness.ĭo antidepressants increase the risk of suicide?.using sugarless candy or gum, drinking water and brushing your teeth regularly to increase salivation and ease dry mouth.getting regular exercise and eating a low-fat, low-sugar, high-fibre diet (e.g., bran, fruits and vegetables) to help prevent weight gain and constipation.You can help to control possible side-effects on your own by: More information on side-effects is included for each type of types of antidepressant. Side-effects vary depending on the type of medication. stop medication treatment and suggest a different type of treatment approach.prescribe other medications to help control side-effects.suggest you take the medication at a different time of day.encourage you to wait a little longer for the side-effects to fade.If side-effects are not mild and tolerable, it is best to continue taking your medication as prescribed but let your doctor know as soon as possible. If you are experiencing side effects, check the information given to you by your doctor or pharmacist on the specific effects of any drug you have been prescribed. The ideal dose is one that provides the greatest benefit with minimum side-effects. Treatment is usually started at a low dose, to minimize side-effects, and then slowly increased until the ideal dose is found. In most cases, side-effects lessen as treatment continues. Others may find the side-effects distressing. Side effects of Antidepressant MedicationsĪll medications can have side-effects. This rate is even higher when people who don’t get relief with one type of antidepressant try a second type. We do know that these drugs help to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety in up to 70 per cent of people who try them. However, the brain is a very complex organ and the reasons why these drugs work are not yet fully understood. Increasing the activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine seems to help lessen the symptoms of depression and anxiety. What do Antidepressant Medications do?Īntidepressant medications increase the activity of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain. Peer support, school and job counselling, and housing and employment supports can also help to deal with problems that may trigger or worsen depression or anxiety. Talk therapies, such as interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy , can be just as effective. Medications are only one way of treating depression and anxiety. Antidepressants alone can cause some people to switch from depression into mania. Mood stabilizer medications may be more suited to your needs, either on their own or in combination with antidepressants. Early treatment can help to ensure treatment success.īe sure your doctor knows if you have had times where you felt a reduced need for sleep in combination with an unusual amount of energy, or where your mood changed from feeling depressed to feeling unusually happy or irritable. If you are distressed for more than two weeks by feelings of sadness, despair and hopelessness, or by excessive worry that is hard to control, see a doctor for an assessment of your symptoms and situation and to discuss treatment and support options. Early signs that the medication is working include improved sleep, appetite and energy. They often work best when they are combined with talk therapy, support from family and friends and self-care (e.g., regular exercise, a nutritious diet and getting enough sleep).Īntidepressants can take up to several weeks to be fully effective. Even when they do work well, they can only do so much. They are also used to help with other conditions such as bulimia and chronic pain.Īntidepressants help many people. Antidepressant medications are most commonly used to help relieve the distress of depression or anxiety.
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