How to Manage Antidepressant Side Effects

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1Educating Yourself About Antidepressants

2Using Antidepressants Appropriately

3Maintaining Your Overall Health

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Tips and Warnings

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References

Many people successfully use antidepressants to help them cope with their depressive symptoms. However, some people also experience side effects from their antidepressants ranging from insomnia to dry mouth to sexual problems. You may feel overwhelmed trying to manage your depression and trying to manage your antidepressant side effects, as well. You can manage antidepressant side effects, however. You just need to educate yourself about antidepressants, use them appropriately, and maintain your overall health.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Educating Yourself About Antidepressants

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   Talk to a professional. There are several antidepressants available today and educating yourself about all of them would be a huge undertaking. Instead, talk to your physician, mental health professional, or pharmacist about the specific antidepressant you are or will be taking and it’s side effects.

   • Ask your doctor for information about the antidepressant when they are prescribing it. You might say something like, “Could you tell me more about this medication?”
   • Ask your pharmacist about the antidepressant when you are getting your prescription filled. For instance, you could say, “This is a new prescription for me. Could you tell me about this medication?”
   • Don’t hesitate to call your physician, mental health professional, or pharmacist any time you have a question about your antidepressant.
   • Try asking your doctor for a pamphlet or article on the medication so that you can read up on the side effects and learn to manage them better.
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   Read the labels. Once you have your antidepressant prescription filled, you should read the label and paperwork that comes along with your medication carefully. Important warnings, suggestions, possible side effects, and other information are included that can help you manage antidepressant side effects.

   • Pay special attention to the portion describing possible side effects. Often the label will group the side effects according to how common or rare they are or how severe.
   • Look at the warnings for taking the antidepressant. Some antidepressants should not be taken when operating heavy machinery or in other situations.
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   Make a list of possible side effects. This can be useful if you take more than one medication, whether they are antidepressants or not. Often medications will have some of the same side effects and knowing this can help you manage these side effects. Your list will help you know what you are likely to experience while taking the antidepressant.

   • If you take medications that have the same side effects, you can highlight them on the list. For example, if your heart medication and your antidepressant both list drowsiness as a side effect, you could circle that side effect on your list.
   • Indicate which side effects are severe or require you to seek medical attention. For instance, if a side effect of your antidepressant is suicidal thoughts, you should put a star by that side effect on your list.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Antidepressants Appropriately

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   Take antidepressants as prescribed. One of the best ways to manage antidepressants side effects is to take your antidepressants just as they have been prescribed. Doing this will decrease the chances of you having any unexpected side effects. This is true for any medication that you take and may prevent adverse reactions to the antidepressant.

   • Follow the instructions for what to do if you miss a dose. Some medications suggest skipping a missed dose, while others suggest taking it as soon as possible.
   • Only take the dose prescribed and only take it as often as prescribed.
   • Do not alter your dose or stop taking your antidepressant on your own. Always consult a professional first.
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   Be patient. Antidepressants do not work overnight and cannot make your depressive symptoms immediately disappear. It takes about six weeks for antidepressants to begin to affect your emotions and behavior. Being patient will help you manage your antidepressant side effects by giving you time to see if you have any side effects or if your side effects get better over time.

   • Mark it on your calendar when you start your antidepressant so that you can keep track of how long you have been taking it.
   • You may also want to make a note on the calendar showing when the six-week mark will be.
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   Be self-aware. In order to manage antidepressant side effects you’ve got to be able to tell if you feel any of the side effects. You have to know what you feel like without the antidepressant and notice and changes in how you feel. Being aware of changes in your body physically, as well as emotional and mental changes will help you manage antidepressant side effects.

   • Take a time out occasionally during the day to scan your body from head to toe. Notice any strange, uncomfortable, or pleasant sensations.
   • Pay attention to your thoughts. Check in with yourself to see if you are focused, anxious, or having depressive or suicidal thoughts.
   • Monitor your emotions. Make a note of any mood swings or extreme emotions that you’re feeling. Also pay attention to any feelings you may have that are inappropriate for the situation like laughing at something sad.
   • Ask a family member or close friend to pay attention to any changes in you. You might say, “I’m taking a new antidepressant. Could you keep an eye out for any changes in me that concern you?”
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   Keep a medication journal. This gives you a way to keep track of taking your antidepressant and any effects it is having on you. This helps you manage antidepressant side effects by documenting any changes or patterns in the way your antidepressant is affecting you.

   • Write down the date, time, and dose of each antidepressant when you take it.
   • Write about any changes you notice in yourself after taking the antidepressant. For instance, you might write that you notice you’re feeling more energetic.
   • Make a note of any special situations. For example, if you notice that you don’t feel nauseous when you take your antidepressant with food.
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   Change antidepressants if you need to. Talk to your physician or mental health professional if you have given your antidepressant time to work and still don’t see a change in your depressive symptoms. You may have to try more than one antidepressant before you find the one that works best for you with the least side effects.

   • Use the information you have been writing in your medication to support your feelings that you need to change antidepressants.
   • You might say to your healthcare provider, “Could we talk about a different antidepressant for me? The side effects haven’t gotten any better.”
   • There are many antidepressants out there and each one has a different side effect profile. Keep trying different medications until you feel a decrease in your depression with the least amount of adverse effects.
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   Avoid alcohol and substance abuse. Although it may seem that your symptoms get better when you drink or use illegal drugs, doing this actually makes things worse. You may make your depression harder to treat or end up with a substance abuse problem on top of your depression. In addition, mixing alcohol and other substances with your antidepressants may cause serious negative side effects.

   • If you feel like you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, you are not alone. There are treatment facilities available to help you kick your addiction.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Overall Health

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   Attend your regular health appointments. Going to your check-ups and appointments will help you manage your antidepressant side effects. Doing this will keep the lines of communication between you and your healthcare provider open. It will also give you and your healthcare provider the opportunity to identify any general health issues or side effects of your antidepressant that you may not have noticed.

   • Attend your annual check-up and any other regularly scheduled health appointments that you have.
   • Use this time to talk about how your antidepressant is working and about any side effects.
   • Establishing a good physician-patient relationship is key in the course of your treatment and for helping to identify any side effects that you experience.
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   Participate in regular physical activity. You can manage many of the side effects of your antidepressant by being physically active on a regular basis. For example, exercise can you help you manage side effects such as insomnia, weight gain, and drowsiness.

   • Start taking yoga, zumba, or martial arts classes. The social aspect will give you a chance to meet new people while you are managing your antidepressant side effects.
   • Start or end your day with a walk. It doesn’t have to be long and can be as brisk or as leisurely as you like.
   • According to the President’s Recommendations it is important to get 30 minutes of exercise five days per week for a total of 150 minutes a week. Exercise can be broken up into 5 to 10 minute intervals.
   • Exercise causes the release of endorphins, which may help you with depression.
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   Make healthy meal and snack choices. Nausea, constipation, and diarrhea are some of the common side effects of antidepressants. Maintaining a healthy diet will help you manage these antidepressant side effects by reducing the chances that you will have other digestive issues complicating the situation.

   • Drink plenty of water throughout the day to remain hydrated. Try and get 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day.
   • Eat plenty of fiber by including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet.
   • Try to avoid foods that normally cause you to have upset stomach, gas, or indigestion.
   • Short term therapy with antidepressants usually does not cause weight gain. However, long term therapy does. Make sure you keep track of what you are eating and try to eat a well-balanced diet.
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   Get enough sleep each night. Feeling tired in general can make it difficult to navigate the day. Add the drowsiness or fatigue that may be a side effect of your antidepressant and you may find that it’s a challenge to get anything done. You can manage some of your antidepressant side effects by making sure that you are getting adequate rest.

   • Set a regular bedtime for yourself that will allow you to get 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep.
   • Remove any distractions or anything that might disturb yourself. Turn the TV off and put your phone on vibrate.
   • Make sure that you are waking at a regular time each day, as well.
   • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, or smoking before bedtime.
   • Resolve concerns or worries before you go to bed.
   • Do not exercise right before you go to sleep, but try to get 30 minutes of exercise a day.
   • Practice good sleep hygiene in general.
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Tips

• Talk with your physician, pharmacist, or mental health professional about any questions or concerns you have about your antidepressant or its side effects.
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Warnings

• Never change your dose or stop taking antidepressants without consulting your physician or mental health provider first.
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