Dealing
with
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Antidepressant
Side Effects
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Ian Lloyd
Pharmacist
Peoples Pharmacy |
.....Depression can be a concern for many people these days. Surveys done by Health Canada have shown that approximately 8% of adult Canadians will experience a major depression at some point in their lives. As awareness of this disease increases, more people are seeking medical care. There are several treatment options for depression; lifestyle modifications, talk therapy and medications. Perhaps the most often used option is antidepressant medications. While these medications can be very effective, they can cause side effects in some people. This should not deter people from seeking medical care. This condition is not a sign of personal weakness; it is a valid medical condition. Most side effects are generally temporary and manageable. This article will discuss most of the side effects experienced with antidepressants and how you can cope with them.
.....The exact cause of depression is not known, but it known that people who suffer from depression tend to have lower levels of certain brain chemicals. These include serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine. Most
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newer antidepressants, such as the SSRI's, prevent your body from removing these chemicals from circulation in your brain. An increased level of these brain chemicals usually causes an improvement in mood and relieves the symptoms of depression. However, these chemicals are not
 isolated to your brain and mood. For example, serotonin is associated with regulation of body temperature, digestion, and sleep. It is thought that these other effects of serotonin, and other related brain chemicals, are responsible for antidepressant's side effects.
.....There are generally three strategies for dealing with medication side effects. The first is to wait it out. With most medications, side effects are more
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apparent when you first begin therapy. If you wait a little while, the side effects might subside or become manageable. The second option is to change the strength or timing of the dose. Sometimes lowering the dose will reduce side effects; the dose can then perhaps be raised later and not cause the same amount of side effects. A third option is to try another type of antidepressant. Sometimes a change of medication will produce the same desired results but with fewer side effects. Another option is to take another medication to deal with the side effects. While it is not generally recommended to take a medication for the treatment of a side effect, it might sometimes be the best option. This is true if the medication is working well to treat the depression and lowering the dose or switching medications is not favourable. Talk with you Doctor or Peoples Pharmacist if you have any questions about your medications.
.....The most common side effects associated with antidepressants are changes in sleep patterns and energy levels. Side effects of insomnia and daytime sedation are not uncommon with antidepressants. This might be |
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