***Take your medication as instructed by your doctor!***
Suddenly dropping your medication without warning can result in disastrous mood crashes: most antidepressants take over a fortnight to have some effect. Be safe: keep taking what you've been given as you've been told.
The most common form of antidepressants are SSRIs. SSRIs, in essence, prevent the neurotransmitter serotonin from being reabsorbed by the brain. A neurotransmitter is a chemical used to transfer information within the brain.
Anti-depressants such as SSTIs have a range of side-effects. These normally persist for 1-4 weeks as the body adjusts to the drug, and generally ease off afterwards. Some of the more common side effects include:
- Sickness
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Headaches
- A dry mouth
- Erectile dysfunction
Antidepressant medication is, if taken as prescribed, is very safe, despite the initial side effects. These will wear off within a month.
It's best to ask your doctor. They'll be able to diagnose your symptoms and make an informed decision.
It's nothing of the sort! In the same way you wouldn't shun antibiotics for a bacterial infection you shouldn't shun antidepressants. Clinical depression is a serious disorder, and antidepressants have shown time and time again that they can help people enormously.
The best piece of advice that can be given is to understand everything you can about your medication. Know what the side effects are, how often you should take it, and how long you'll have to wait to see the effects. If you're unsure about anything ask your doctor: they're there to help!
