Side Effects of Pills for Depression
There are a number of different medications that are used to treat depression. Antidepressants are grouped into classes according to how they function. There are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants) and MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). As with all medications, there are a number of side effects attributed.
Significance
Side effects of antidepressants are generally mild and considered to be tolerable. However, the degree and severity of potential side effects depends on the individual, the precise medication and the dosage.
General Side Effects
Common side effects of various depression medications include abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, constipation, decreased libido, dry mouth, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, sedation, sleep disturbances and weight fluctuation.
SSRIs and SNRIs
Frequently prescribed SSRIs include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft). Commonly prescribed SNRIs include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR). Although the above side effects are attributed to these two classes, they're considered to cause the least amount of side effects.
TCAs
Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil, Tofranil-PM), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil) and trimipramine (Surmontil) may be more likely to cause side effects like blurred vision, tremors, sedation and skin disturbances.
MAOIs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are not as frequently administered as the other classes due to their potential risks. When taking a MAOI like isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Emsam) or tranylcypromin (Parnate), strict diet and medication restrictions must be followed, as the interaction between tyramine--found in aged cheeses and fermented foods--with MAOIs can result in serious blood pressure increases that can lead to a stroke.
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