Antidepressant Side Effects
My friends at paxilprogress helped me come up with this list of common side effects associated with antidepressants (especially SSRIs). I actually had a lot of these problems when I was on meds and never once considered that they were coming from the Paxil. Dr. Peter Breggin uses the word spellbound to describe how people on antidepressants tend to ignore the horrific side effects while believing that they have to have the meds in order to function (as in the old “chemical imbalance” theory).
Physical
1. anorgasmia
2. hypomania
3. whooshes
4. profuse sweating (night sweats)
5. recurrent sinus headaches
6. migraine headaches
7. weight gain
8. zaps
9. itchiness
10. insomnia
11. shooting/stinging pains
12. joint pain
13. body soreness & aches
14. tingling hands & feet
15. recurrent low grade fever
16. sleepy feeling
17. constipation
18. diarrhea
19. hallucinations
20. akathesia
21. burning sensations
22. lack of libido
23. blurry vision
24. severe acid reflux
25. burning throat
26. sensitivity to sunlight
27. premature ejaculation
28. vertigo
29. swollen ankles
30. cold hands and feet (poor circulation)
31. difficulty swallowing
32. cystic acne
33. tinnitus and “phantom” sounds
34. difficulty driving
35. facial hair
36. dry, brittle hair
37. hair loss
38. teeth grinding
39. must snack frequently to avoid nausea
40. lethargic
41. hot flashes
42. bloating
43. electric shock sensations
44. dry skin (mainly on arms and legs)
45. facial numbness
46. numb/burning mouth and tongue
47. stabbing pain in eyes
48. constant thirst
49. heart palpatations
50. chest pains
51. vomitting
52. unusual food cravings
53. stiff neck
54. debilitating menstrual cramps
55. overeating (never feeling full)
56. eye twitches
57. unexplainable rashes
58. shuffling feet (difficulty walking)
59. oily skin on face
Emotional/Mental
60. disturbing (evil) thoughts
61. derealization
62. detachment from family and friends
63. Tourette’s Syndrome like behavior
64. bursts of rage
65. depression
66. homicidal thoughts
67. nightmares
68. suicidal thoughts
69. short term memory loss
70. inability to concentrate
71. unable to cry when appropriate
72. lack of inhibition
73. emotional sensitivity/overreacting
74. cognitive impairment
75. sudden inability to spell
76. poor comprehension
77. self-loathing thoughts and behavior
78. uncontrollable crying (during poop-out)
79. agitation
80. loss of sense of self
81. depersonalization
82. feelings of terror and/or impending doom
83. agoraphobia
84. fear of doctors
85. spending money rashly
86. extremely flirty behavior
87. OCD like behavior
88. extreme moodiness
89. social phobia
90. alcoholism
91. addictive behavior (drugs, sex, gambling, etc.)
92. anxiety attacks
93. mental fog
94. open with people about personal life
95. constant need for change
96. frequent thoughts of death and dying
97. irrational fears
98. hoarding behavior
99. uncharacteristic behavior
and the one that we might never put behind us (and I don’t think that we should)
100. almost irrepressible desire to b*tch slap your idiot doctor (thanks Terra for that one)
People on Psychotropic Meds
- Stop blindly trusting your doctor. Ultimately you are in the one that is in control of your health. If your doctor does not take the time to answer your questions or dismissed your concerns then find another doctor who will listen.
- Research the medications that your doctor prescribes for you. Are there other alternatives? Would lifestyle changes be just as effective? What are the side effects of this particular medication? Is the “cure” worse than the “disease”?
- Recognize side effects for what they are. I had horrible side effects for years that I never once attributed to the Paxil. I was so brain washed that I believed that it was helping me so I looked past what it was really doing to my body and mind.
- Tell people that you are taking these meds so that they can monitor you for any adverse side effects. These types of medications cause drastic changes in brain function and are known for resulting in very bizarre thoughts. You do not have the luxury of being embarrassed about taking a pill any longer.
- Realize that these meds are very addictive and are only a temporary fix (at best). The underlying issues will still be there when the pills either stop working or you stop taking them.
- Find a good talk therapist who doesn’t push pills as a solution. If they want to write you a prescription then RUN !!!
- Realize that these meds (especially SSRIs) will eventually stop working for you and you will have withdrawal side effects even though you never changed your dose.
- Realize that tapering off of these meds is the only safe way to being drug free. A 10% cut in dose every 3-6 weeks is recommended but you also have to listen to your body and if a cut is too large then you have to adjust it.
- Realize that it is a long journey but with love and patience, you will come through it.
