Antidepressants: Side Effects, Benefits and How to Use Antidepressants

What Are Antidepressants?

Antidepressants are medications that psychiatrists can prescribe to treat depression and other mental disorders. They help improve mood, energy, and interest in daily activities for individuals with depression.

Antidepressants work by regulating the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine, which can affect a person’s mood.

Although they can be used to treat depression, they cannot cure depression. Antidepressants only help control emotions or moods that can trigger depression.

In addition, the use of this drug may only be used based on a psychiatrist’s prescription.

Benefits of Antidepressants

Antidepressants have the ability to treat depression and various other mental disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder ( OCD ), post-traumatic stress ( PTSD ), anxiety disorders, and phobias.

Not only mental health, this drug can also be used to treat skin problems, relieve pain, and overcome premature ejaculation.

Antidepressant Drug Trademarks

There are several brands of antidepressant drugs that are usually prescribed by psychiatrists, such as:

1. Sertraline 50 mg Tablet. An SSRI drug that works by inhibiting the presynaptic reuptake of serotonin. Can be used to treat symptoms of depression with or without a history of mania.

2. Sandepril 50 mg Tablet. Contains Maprotiline HCL 50 mg to treat major depression, minor depression (dysthymia, covert depression, somatogenic, organic depression, neuropathic pain), Insomnia (patients who require sedation), and functional dyspepsia.

3. Fridep 50 mg 10 Tablets. Contains Sertraline (SSRI) which can be used to treat symptoms of depression with or without a history of mania, panic attacks, OCD, PTSD, and social anxiety disorder.

4. Brintellix 10 mg. An antidepressant containing Vortioxetine, to treat severe depression. And other symptoms of depression including sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, inner tension, feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest, and decreased appetite.

5. Xiety 10 mg 10 Tablets. Anxioselective drug containing Buspirone HCL to treat generalized anxiety disorders, and non-specific anxiety symptoms with depression.

6. Kalxetin 10 mg 10 Capsules. SSRI antidepressant containing fluoxetine, to treat depression, OCD, bulimia nervosa, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

7. Depram 10 mg Tablet. SSRI antidepressant containing Escitalopram Oxalate, to treat major depression, and anxiety disorders (panic disorder with or without agoraphobia).

8. Serenade 50 mg 10 Tablets. Contains Sertraline 50 mg, to treat mild to severe depression, excessive panic, premenstrual syndrome, OCD, and balance disorders. Sertraline also works to balance serotonin in the brain.

Antidepressant Dosage

The dosage of antidepressant drugs can vary depending on mental condition, health condition, and the type of drug used and prescribed by the doctor.

Therefore, it is important to always consult a psychiatrist regarding the dosage of this drug.

In addition, the use of antidepressant drugs according to the dosage and medical recommendations will not cause dependency, so they are safe to use.

How to Use Antidepressants

Just like dosage, how to use antidepressants depends on the type of drug used.

Most antidepressants can be taken orally. However, there are also antidepressants that can be applied topically.

In addition, there are several things that must be considered when using antidepressant drugs, namely:

· Follow the doctor’s advice or instructions.

· Use the medicine according to the recommended time.

· Pay attention to the use of medication, such as using it before or after eating.

· Do not stop suddenly before consulting a doctor.

· Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages while using antidepressant medication.

· Use antidepressant medication according to the recommended dosage.

· Be aware of interactions between antidepressant drugs and other medications.

Cautions in Using Antidepressants

Before using this medicine, there are several things you need to pay attention to, namely:

· This medicine is not recommended if you have allergies to various components in the medicine.

· If you have a history of or are currently suffering from liver disorders, glaucoma, hypertension, thyroid disease, bleeding disorders, diabetes, porphyria, heart disease, epilepsy, or kidney disorders, consult a doctor first before using this drug.

· If you are under 18 years old, consult a doctor first to prevent unwanted side effects.

· While undergoing treatment with antidepressants, avoid consuming alcoholic beverages.

· Avoid activities that may pose a safety risk after using antidepressants, such as driving.

· Do not stop taking this medication suddenly without first consulting a psychiatrist. This can cause symptoms that have previously improved to become worse. It can also cause withdrawal symptoms, such as dizziness, headache, muscle pain, chills, nausea, or an electric shock-like sensation.

·  Consult and inform your doctor if you have a history of drug use or are dependent on alcohol.

·  It is not recommended for pregnant women to take this drug, especially in early pregnancy.

·  Breastfeeding mothers are advised to consult a doctor first regarding the benefits and risks of taking this drug while breastfeeding.

Antidepressant Side Effects

The side effects that may arise from the use of antidepressants vary greatly, depending on the dose of the drug and the health condition of the user.

Following are some of the side effects of antidepressants:

· The appearance of a headache.

· My head feels dizzy.

· Dry mouth.

· Loss of interest or desire for sexual intercourse.

· Having difficulty sleeping or insomnia.

· The emergence of digestive disorders, such as diarrhea and constipation.

· Tremors.

· Easily tired.

These side effects depend on the type of antidepressant used. In addition, some antidepressants can also increase the risk of diabetes.

In some rare cases, use of this drug can also trigger serious and potentially fatal side effects, such as:

·  Serotonin syndrome. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, seizures, and fainting.

·  Neuroleptic malignant syndrome. This condition is characterized by the appearance of symptoms, such as high fever, excessive salivation and sweating, difficulty breathing, muscle stiffness, and an unstable heart rate.

·  Hyponatremia. This condition causes sufferers to experience headaches, muscle pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, seizures, and coma.

Therefore, this drug can only be used based on a doctor’s or psychiatrist’s prescription. Likewise, the dosage must be in accordance with medical advice.

Avoid using antidepressant drugs without first consulting a doctor, to prevent unwanted effects.

Antidepressant Interactions

Antidepressants can react unpredictably with other medications, including some over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen.

Always make sure to read the information on the medicine packaging, to see if there are other medicines that should be avoided.

If you are still in doubt, make sure to consult a doctor.

Contraindications of Antidepressants

Antidepressants are not recommended for people who suffer from:

· Allergy to various components in the drug.

· Women who are currently pregnant.

· Some types of antidepressants can be dangerous for people with kidney failure.

Specifically, the prohibition depends on the type of drug used, namely:

1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

The use of this type of antidepressant medication is not recommended if you have:

· Bipolar disorder.

· Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

· Epilepsy.

· Kidney failure.

2. Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

The use of SNRI antidepressants is not recommended if you have a history of heart disease and hypertension.

3. Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

This medicine is not recommended if you have:

· History of heart disease.

· Liver disease.

· Blood disorders, namely porphyria.

· Bipolar disorder.

· Schizophrenia.

· Enlarged prostate gland.

· Pheochromocytoma .

· Glaucoma.

· Epilepsy.