Patients taking antidepressants often have concerns about side effects. Many medications pose the risk of side effects; some patients may experience the effects and others may not. The side effects may subside when the body readjusts to the medication, and readjusting the dosage can work for patients. Antidepressants help treat patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Some antidepressants have been shown to result in fewer side effects than others.
SSRIs
Doctors commonly prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, the most popular types of antidepressants, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The newer class of antidepressants causes fewer side effects than older antidepressants. Doctors do not know exactly how SSRIs work. But research suggests the drugs increase levels of serotonin, involved with emotions, by blocking the reabsorption or reuptake of serotonin by nerve cells in the brain, leaving more serotonin available to improve moods of patients. Side effects do occur as with other medications. Symptoms include headaches and nausea, which usually subside after a few days of use. Sleeplessness or drowsiness may occur, but disappear after a few weeks. Other side effects include agitation and sexual problems, such as reduced sex drive or sexual dysfunction, for men and women. Readjusting dosage or adding a second antidepressant that does not cause sexual difficulty may ease the problems. Doctors may prescribe fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine or sertraline.
SNRIs
Closely related to SSRIs, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, work the same way on serotonin and norepinephrine, involved with adrenaline. SNRIs, also a newer class of antidepressants, have similar side effects to SSRIs. Doctors may prescribe venlafaxine when other antidepressants do not work. The drug may also raise blood pressure and have dangerous or fatal consequences when overdosed, MayoClinic.com notes. Desvenlafaxine, related to venlafaxine, may pose less of a risk for sexual side effects, but research continues. Duloxetine may result in dry mouth and constipation in addition to the other side effects of SNRIs for some patients. Doctors may not prescribe the drug for people with liver problems.
Bupropion
For people concerned about risks of sexual problems, bupropion has fewer sexual side effects than all other antidepressants, according to MayoClinic.com. Doctors may prescribe bupropion as a second antidepressant if sexual problems exist for patients using SSRIs or SNRIs. The drug had the lowest rate of sexual dysfunction when compared with other antidepressants in a 2001 study by researchers at the University of Virginia. Bupropion may increase levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, another chemical compound involved with adrenaline, to improve moods. The medication may cause headaches, nausea, agitation, loss of appetite and insomnia.
