Your Mood or Energy Improve Too Much If you're taking antidepressant medication and you either feel unusually elated, or you become very terse with your loved ones, feel noticeably more irritable, or have an uncharacteristic bout of rage, then it's likely that your antidepressant dose is too high.
Sometimes, antidepressant medications can make a depressive episode even worse. Stevens says that if your depression is getting worse, if you are feeling agitated, “uncomfortable in your own skin,” or unable to get out of bed in the morning, you need to see your physician immediately.
Your Depression Worsens
“If your depression symptoms get worse as soon as you start taking an antidepressant, or they get better and then very suddenly get worse, it's a sign that the depression medication isn't working properly, and you should see your healthcare professional right away,” Hullett says.
What are the most common antidepressants? Sertraline hydrochloride, used for multiple mental health and mood disorders, is the most prescribed antidepressant on the list with more than 18 million prescriptions in 2021.
Gail Patrick, Department of Family Medicine, University of Chicago ; Contributor Information. Corresponding author. For most patients, sertraline and escitalopram are more effective and better tolerated than other antidepressants.
Usually, common antidepressant overdose side effects include: Nausea and/or vomiting. Dilated pupils. Vision problems.
Antidepressants can make you feel tired, cause concentration problems, and lead to changes in sleep and appetite. These side effects can make you feel like your depression is getting worse, instead of getting better.
SSRIs release two chemicals in the brain that kick in at different times, causing a period of negative effects on mental health, the authors report. The first chemical is serotonin, which is released very soon after an SSRI is taken but might not lessen depressive symptoms until after a couple of weeks.
On antidepressant medication, it is possible that you might experience a sense of feeling numb and less like yourself. Though the symptoms of depression have decreased, there may be a sense that other emotional responses – laughing or crying, for example – are more difficult to experience.
New stressors. A new stressful situation at home or work can result in a mood response for which the antidepressant can't compensate. Other medications. Interactions between antidepressants and medications for other health conditions can affect how well an antidepressant works.
When first starting antidepressants, you may suddenly find that you don't feel like yourself anymore. Though your depression symptoms may have improved, the overwhelming waves of gloom can sometimes be replaced by an emotional inertness in which are neither able to cry nor share a real belly laugh.
Don't stop taking the medicine until you have spoken with your doctor. It might seem like you don't need the medication anymore, but if you stop taking it, the medicine will leave your body and your symptoms might return. Quitting without consulting your doctor can be life-threatening.
Side effects that interfere with your quality of life, such as changes in sexual desire or response, stomach discomfort, or weight gain, could be a reason to switch medications.
How do I know if my antidepressant works? When you start taking an antidepressant, you should begin to function better in your daily life before you start feeling better, says Dr. Michael McGee. In other words, you should begin sleeping better, eating better, and having more energy.
For example, serotonin syndrome may occur if you take an antidepressant with a migraine medication. It may also occur if you take an antidepressant with an opioid pain medication. Another cause of serotonin syndrome is intentional overdose of antidepressant medications.
Although they're often used to treat anxiety, antidepressants can potentially cause anxiety, especially when people begin taking them for depression.
Agitation, restlessness or anxiety can result from the stimulating effect of certain antidepressants. Although having more energy can be a good thing, it may mean you can't relax or sit still even if you want to.
Serotonin syndrome happens when you have too much serotonin (a normal chemical) in your body. It's usually caused by taking drugs or medications that affect serotonin levels. Stopping the drug(s) or medication(s) causing serotonin syndrome is the main treatment.
Which antidepressants have the mildest side effects? In general, SSRIs are considered the most well-tolerated antidepressants, per the Mayo Clinic; they typically have fewer side effects than other types and can be safely used at higher doses.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
These antidepressants generally cause fewer bothersome side effects and are less likely to cause problems at higher therapeutic doses than other types of antidepressants.
Exercise. Research suggests that regular exercise may be a more effective treatment for mild depression than antidepressants. Exercise helps boost levels of chemicals called serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which can lift your mood.
The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are probably the treatment of choice in treating depression and a gamut of comorbid anxiety disorders. The most used SSRI is escitalopram.