There are dozens of medications used to treat depression that fall under the category of antidepressants, doctors at the Mayo Clinic report. The symptoms of depression are best treated with a combination of antidepressants and talk therapy. Antidepressants work to change the chemicals in the brain that affect moods. A blood test can help identify which type of antidepressant will work best. Many times, a patient must work through a trial and error period of drugs because of various side effects to find the right medication for his condition.
Suicidal Thoughts
The Food and Drug Administration requires antidepressants to carry a black box warning label, which is the highest warning level available because of the severe side effects that can arise from their use. Children and young adults from the ages of 18 to 24 are at risk for developing thoughts of suicide while taking antidepressants. These tendencies are especially prevalent when the patient first begins taking the drug or when the dosage has been changed.
Physical Effects
Common side effects that usually recede after a couple of weeks include nausea, fatigue and weight gain due to increased appetite. Some people experience sexual dysfunctions such as a lowered libido, erectile dysfunction or delayed orgasm. Because antidepressants are meant to give patients a boost in energy, many find that they have trouble sleeping and become tired during the day. Dry mouth and blurred vision are other side effects that may be caused by antidepressants. Some antidepressants have been found to cause serious physical complications such as liver failure or extreme drops in white blood cell levels. Pregnant women and nursing mothers can pass on health risks to their babies.
Withdrawal
Antidepressants can be difficult to discontinue because of the withdrawal symptoms that may occur. Reports by Helpguide, a nonprofit online resource reviewed by doctors and other professionals, say that people who take antidepressants should discontinue their use under direction from a physician who can gradually take them off the medication. Withdrawal symptoms can include unprovoked crying spells and unusual restlessness. Dizziness, fatigue and nausea can develop during what is called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Depression and anxiety return as well when the drugs are discontinued, sometimes more aggressively than before taking the medicine. The withdrawal symptom is often seen as a return of the original depression, and the patient returns to taking the pills instead of giving the chemicals time to flush from the body. After a period of taking antidepressants combined with talk therapy, patients should expect to get better and alleviate the need for additional medication.
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