Antidepressants may cause a variety of mild and usually temporary side effects (sometimes referred to as adverse effects) in some people. Typically these are annoying, but not serious. However, patients should be encouraged to immediately report any unusual reactions or side effects. The most common side effects of tricyclic antidepressants are:
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Bladder problems
- Sexual problems
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness as a daytime problem
- Weight gain
The SSRIs and newer antidepressants have somewhat different side effects:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Agitation (feeling jittery)
- Sleep problems
- Sexual problems
Most of the medications that are prescribed to treat depression are usually started at a low dose and then the dose is gradually increased to the full dose. Every medication has side effects, but they usually become tolerated or diminish with time.
Herbal Therapies
In the past few years there has been a lot of interest in the use of alternative treatments for depression and anxiety. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a herb that has been used in Europe to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate depression. However, recent scientific studies conducted on its use have not been encouraging.
The American Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory on February 10, 2000. It stated that St. John's wort appears to affect an important metabolic pathway that may result in a variety of dangerous drug interactions. Therefore, healthcare providers should alert their patients about these potential drug interactions.
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