When reviewing the effects of antidepressant drugs, it is important to consider both their positive effects and their negative effects. Medical professionals dub this the risk-benefit profile. Patients who are prescribed antidepressants should look out for not only the adverse effects, but the positive effects on mood, anxiety levels and quality of life, and then to be sure to communicate this to the prescribing physician.
Brain Effects
Antidepressants regulate mood by modifying levels of various chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters that have been implicated in depression include dopamine, norepinepherine and serotonin. By preventing the reuptake of the neurotransmitters back into the nerve cell, these drugs cause them to remain in the synaptic gap where they are more likely to activate associated neurons and, in effect, improve the symptoms of depression and other nervous system disorders.
Effects on Mood, Anxiety, and Quality of Life
In general, antidepressants have been universally notable for two major effects on the nervous system: improving mood and relieving the feeling of anxiety. Although scientists have theorized how antidepressants regulate mood and anxiety by modifying neurotransmitters, their exact action and effects are uncertain, a subject of current and future research. It must be understood that each antidepressant can have a slightly different action on the brain and nervous system. Each has a different adverse effect profile and sometimes very different rates of effectiveness on both of these behavioral characteristics. Ultimately, improvements in both of these areas are thought to improve quality of life.
Adverse Effects
Minor adverse effects reported with most antidepressants include dizziness, drowsiness, lethargy, nervousness, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and dry mouth. Some antidepressants such as sertraline (Zoloft) and other SSRIs may have sexual side effects that include a decrease in libido. Most antidepressants have been reported to suppress or disrupt sleeping patterns. Furthermore, research of most antidepressants has been found to be slightly to modestly associated with weight gain, though not to the extent that atypical antipsychotics are linked. And although suicide has been reported as a serious adverse effect of antidepressants, particularly in children, overall, antidepressants are believed to reduce the risk of suicide.
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