The most frequently experienced adverse effects, according to a recent survey in 225 primary care patients using different types of antidepressants, are shown in the Jitteriness is a poorly defined syndrome of early worsening of anxiety, agitation, and irritability. A person may say or do things that are out of character or that may be deemed inappropriate. Jan 1, 2016 #1 Hey everyone! It is important to distinguish adverse effects from depression symptoms, such as fatigue and carbohydrate craving. Fainting. Treatment decisions based on identifying risk factors, carefully reviewing all appropriate antidepressants, and patient preferences, as well as careful monitoring, will help keep adverse effects to a minimum (Clinicians will be confronted with bothersome and sometimes severe adverse effects in their patients when prescribing antidepressants. You must log in or register to reply here. In any case, patients with a high risk of weight gain should be advised to avoid low-volume, high-calorie foods when they begin treatment with an antidepressant.The addition of sildenafil or tadalafil is an effective strategy for men with antidepressant-induced erectile dysfunction.A dose-related and reversible decrease in motivation and emotional responsivity or detachment, also referred to as apathy or emotional blunting, has been reported, mainly in case reports and predominantly associated with the use of SSRIs.A final hurdle to overcome is the discontinuation syndrome, which develops in some patients (5% to 86%) 1 to 7 days following dose reduction or discontinuation of an SSRI or SNRI.This syndrome has been linked to the half-life of a given SSRI; paroxetine has been involved more often than other SSRIs.Maria, who is 58, was treated for depression and anxiety. I have been on and off SNRIs the last few years until i finally made the switch from Pristiq to Mirtazapine, it has changed my life. She has been referred by her primary care physician because her symptoms relapsed during tapering of venlafaxine. Antidepressants & Emotional Blunting. Either reducing the dose or adjusting the dosing schedule can be tried before switching to another antidepressant. It is estimated to occur in up to 65% of patients immediately after starting therapy with a serotonergic or noradrenergic antidepressant.Peter is 36, is depressed, and suffers from panic attacks. There was extreme emotional blunting noticed by everyone around me. This deliriant effect did feel slightly like being high, but in a weird/uncomfortable way. Constipation, an adverse effect described as bothersome in about 5% of patients, can be managed by physical activity, fluid and fiber intake, or laxatives.Various strategies are suggested, such as nutritional counseling and physical exercise, but most often, antidepressants need to be switched. Would you rather have a libido or get sectioned? In some cases, emotional blunting can result in disinhibited behavior. Gave me some emotional blunting, but only modest. A dose-related and reversible decrease in motivation and emotional responsivity or detachment, also referred to as apathy or emotional blunting, has been reported, mainly in case reports and predominantly associated with the use of SSRIs. 2004) and has been found in young adults and adolescents (Hoehn-Saric et al. Eventually he consented to try another SSRI, which was started at the lowest dose and slowly titrated.Diarrhea develops in about 15% of patients. If a switch is not an option, the addition of bupropion or a psychostimulant can be considered. Venlafaxine - emotional blunting + severe weight loss. 14 In these cases, reducing the dose or switching to another antidepressant, preferably bupropion, may help. Before the initiation of antidepressant treatment, patients should be informed about potential adverse effects and encouraged to contact the physician with any concerns, so that these can be managed adequately. As a rule, begin with an antidepressant that has shown better tolerance at the lowest dose, then titrate slowly.Careful monitoring should focus on tolerance as well as on symptom alleviation. It made everything worse.” Even after his physician explained that these effects were likely temporary, Peter refused to continue taking the medication. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Should bothersome adverse effects emerge, watchful waiting is often a reasonable option, since most adverse effects diminish over time. He is referred by his primary care physician because “things got worse” after starting therapy with escitalopram. JavaScript is disabled. Both in Europe and the US, 6% to 10% of the population are treated with antidepressant medications.Modern antidepressants held the promise of reducing the adverse-effect burden of the older TCAs. Tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs and mirtazapine all lower blood pressure.

I've been on 45mg Mirtazapine for well over a year now. Joined May 22, 2013 Messages 62 Location London. I had to discontinue it due to suicidal ideation. Citalopram - emotional blunting + absence of motivation. Fluoxetine is then gradually tapered, but about 2 weeks after the final dose, Maria experiences mild discontinuation symptoms (“feeling nervous”). Although depression is associated with the metabolic syndrome and some antidepressants may induce weight gain, there may not necessarily be a correlation between the two. She reports, “Two days after tapering, I felt electrical twitches in my head; I have headaches and feel nervous and agitated. I think I am relapsing and will have to take my pills forever.”Maria is experiencing discontinuation symptoms. Antidiarrheal agents may be helpful, although in patients in whom diarrhea persists, a switch to another agent should be considered.