Even if anti-depressants are very commonly prescribed to treat depression, it is hard to argue with the fact that they are not completely safe. You have to take into consideration that mixing drugs with a mental illness is something that is very volatile.
These drugs are not naïve; they are very strong and will have a significant effect on your mental health. Combining depression with such power drugs can lead to problems. That is why treating depression with drugs is often a game of trial and error.
It is important to figure out what drug reacts best with the person’s depression, and this is something that is not standard for every person. It is a long and careful process and people who are depressed and begin taking drugs for it must know that there could be some possible side effects on the horizon for them.
There are some people who react poorly to anti-depressants, and of course, the gravity of the side effects is different from one person to another. The biggest problem is that there are so many different anti-depressants on the market, and they essentially perform the same task.
When you take this into consideration, many people believe that you choose a drug not according to how much it helps you, but according to which drugs cause the least number of side effects and the least stressful and volatile ones.
The most popular drugs for treating depression are the so-called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). They are the most popular because they are said to be safe, but only when compared to other drugs that are much more toxic when used improperly.
Tricyclic drugs such as Dothiepin and Amitriptyline can lead to an overdose and death more commonly than SSRIs, because these drugs are far more toxic.
However, SSRIs are not completely safe either. In fact, in studies, a definite link has been established between these drugs and suicide, along with violent behaviour as well.
Most Common Side Effects
These are the most serious side effects of anti-depressives, and they usually occur when a person takes too much of a drug. However, there are also common side effects, and they are plentiful, that occur when you are taking the drugs regularly and the way you are supposed to take them.
Some of these common side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, weight gain, headaches, nausea, sedation, anxiety, loss of libido and the inability to achieve an erection in men.
These are the most common side effects of anti-depressants in general, but SSRIs on their own have a long list of possible side effects as well, despite being the safest pharmaceutical treatment option. The most common side effects of SSRIs include nausea, diarrhoea and headaches. Many men who use SSRIs are also unable to achieve an erection, unable to reach a climax or orgasm, and sometimes completely lose their libidos and do not even have the desire to have sex any longer. This, in turn, can be a side effect that affects a person’s relationship and can eventually lead to further personal problems and deeper depression.