Every antidepressant has possible side effects. These vary between the different types of antidepressant, and between each individual drug. This page covers:

Which side effects may be caused by each type of antidepressant?
How might these side effects affect me?
Some of the side effects listed below are quite common, but others are rare. You may not experience many of these effects. You may also experience some side effects when you first start taking antidepressants, but feel them less after a few weeks.

It's up to you to decide whether or not the antidepressant has more benefits for you than any negative side effects. Your doctor should be able to help where can i buy nortriptyline you with this decision. Our pages on coping with side effects and receiving the right medication may also help.

You can also find out about the side effects for individual antidepressants from the British National Formulary (BNF) A-Z list of drugs. Or you can speak to your doctor or pharmacist with any questions or concerns you have about side effects.

"It took me a long time to take an SSRI, mainly as I was terrified of the side effects listed, but my doctor finally convinced me that my depression was much worse [than the side effects]."

What side effects may be caused by each type of antidepressant?
These are the side effects that each type of antidepressant may cause. The lists go from the most common at the top to the least common at the bottom for each type of antidepressant, with links to more information below:

SSRIs and SNRIs
decreased alertness
headaches
nausea (feeling sick)
sexual problems
tooth decay and oral health
diabetes
SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion)
gastrointestinal bleeding
serotonin syndrome
suicidal feelings
neuroleptic malignant syndrome
hypomania or mania
Tricyclic and tricyclic-related antidepressants
antimuscarinic effects
tooth decay and oral health
decreased alertness
suicidal feelings
serotonin syndrome
SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion)
diabetes
neuroleptic malignant syndrome
hypomania or mania
MAOIs
decreased alertness
SIADH erythromycin 500 mg cost (Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion)
serotonin syndrome
diabetes
suicidal feelings
neuroleptic malignant syndrome
How might these side effects affect me?
This section gives information explaining how each of the side effects listed above might affect you and your body.

Antimuscarinic effects
Antimuscarinic effects are side effects caused by changes to the level of the chemical acetylcholine in your body. These effects are sometimes called anticholinergic effects.

If your level of acetylcholine changes, this can have effects all over the body. These effects include:

blurred vision
confusion and agitation
constipation, which may become life-threatening if not treated
difficulty urinating
drowsiness
dry mouth, which can cause tooth decay in the long term
erectile dysfunction
hallucinations
hot or dry skin, and decreased sweating
increased pressure in the eye
low blood pressure (taking hot baths increases this risk)
nausea (feeling sick)
rapid heartbeat and disturbed heart rhythm.
Decreased alertness
Antidepressants can make you feel less alert or able to concentrate. This can happen especially when you first start taking them. This may affect your ability to drive and to do other skilled tasks.

Diabetes
Long-term use of antidepressants over several years may increase your risk of diabetes. This is especially in people who are:

over the age of 30
taking SSRIs or tricyclics.
Gastrointestinal bleeding
A rare side effect of some SSRI antidepressants is atarax price bleeding inside your gastrointestinal system, which includes your stomach and intestines.

The risk of gastrointestinal bleeding is higher for older people, especially those aged over 80. If you are over 80, your doctor may prescribe you a different antidepressant to avoid this risk.


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