Antidepressants and their side effects
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31365)
Denmark
July 16, 2010 6:52am CST
Since 1998 I have had several depressions. I am on antidepressants (Mirtazapin and Fontex), they don't prevent new depressions completely, but they my depressions have become less severe since I started taking the antidepressants.
My problem is that Mirtazapin makes me very, very sleepy, and it is hard for me to focus on my work and my studies when I get so sleepy. I have tried other antidepressants, and they have had other side effects like dizziness, chest pain etc. The chest pain was the worst side effect that I have had.
Do you take antidepressants? What is your experience? Does your medicine also have a lot annoying side effects? Or do you prefer to avoid medicine?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@syankee525 (6249)
• United States
16 Jul 10
you need to talk with your doctor about this. one thing i stress to people tell your doctor if your meds is making you feel weird or you dont like it. i know when i was on meds it took a few times to get the right one.
but my side efficts sucked. it cause me to gain wieght, mess up my teeth. so yeah talk to your doctor see if they can change it, or if you can that one at night instead.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
16 Jul 10
Thanks for your advice. I am going to get a new psychiatrist very soon, and I guess it would be a good idea to discuss this topic. I take Mirtazapin at night before I go to bed, but I still get sleepy during the day. You mentioned weight gain and teeth problems, unfortuneately I have experienced that kinds of problems as well. My dentist told me that my teeth problems were caused by directly the medicine 
@syankee525 (6249)
• United States
16 Jul 10
now the one you are taking at night time, how long you've been on it? because sometime you have to give it time and it wont make you feel sleepy in the morning. i know the med i was on for pain was like that. or ask your doctor if you can cut it in half..
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@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
16 Jul 10
I have been on it for a year or something like that. I take 45 mg, in the beginnning I only took 30 mg, but it wasn't enough to cure my depression, and my doctor changed it to 45 mg. It helps me, but the side effects are annoying.
@Thumb86 (287)
•
24 Jul 10
Its pretty much a guarantee that with these types of medicines you will experience side effects. I have had cycles of depression and mania for years but only recently started taking medication...I never wanted to be on these meds but it got to the point where I felt ill all the time. I take 20mg of citalopram..It was suggested to me tht I shold also be on a mood stabilizer but I said no to that. I have been on this SSRI for nearly three months..At first..for the first few weeks I experienced a lot of side effects but they were pretty mild..here is a list of what I experienced:
-Lightheadedness
-Agitation
-Restlessness
-Anxiety and Depression
-Teeth Grinding
-Postural Hypotension
-Nausea
-Problems Concentrating
-Blurred Vision
-Migraine
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
25 Jul 10
That is a lot of side effects, I don't think that I have ever had that many side effects at the same time, but I have tried different types of medicine and I have experienced some of the same side effects as you especially lightheadedness and nausea. Did your side effects disappear after the first few weeks, or do you still have some of them? I usually get rid of some of the side effects after a while, but not all of them.
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
16 Jul 10
Sometimes I feel depressed. But I don't take any medicine. Medicines Have many side effects. Practice Yoga and concentrate your mind for a particular goal of your life.
Read novels. Recite poems. Think for the distressed people. You will find that you are lucky enough than many people. Don't be depressed for nothing. Cheers.
1 person likes this
@qianyun6 (2066)
• China
16 Jul 10
I think I'm suffering from depression, but I'm not sure. I haven't had any antidepressants till now.
And the most annoying side effect I had ever experienced was a blood vessel pain caused by erythrocin intravenous drip. The linear pain from my hand to my shoulder almost made me mad. I gave up the drip finally because I couldn't endure anymore.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
16 Jul 10
That sounds really painful, and I understand why you chose to give up the drip 
The first time when I had a depression, I wasn't on antidepressants either. I didn't see a doctor and I didn't get any kind of treatment, but 5 years ago I took antidrepressants for the first time.
The first time when I had a depression, I wasn't on antidepressants either. I didn't see a doctor and I didn't get any kind of treatment, but 5 years ago I took antidrepressants for the first time.
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
16 Jul 10
Yes, they all have different side effects, some of those side effects are worse than other though. It is important to find the right dose. I once had a doctor who gave me than 3 times more medicine than I was supposed to get, and the side effects made me very ill...
