Episode Summary
In today’s episode I share what I’ve discovered about the side effects of antidepressants. I also relate my own experiences of taking them 10 years ago and once again reiterate why I am looking for natural alternatives.
Episode Show Notes
00:15 – Todays episode focuses on the question “What are the side effects to taking antidepressants?”.
00:35 – I have aimed to use credible medical sources for the information I discuss in this episode (see links to the sources at the bottom of this page).
01:14 – There appears to be a list of general side effects that is fairly consistent across the sources I reviewed:
- insomnia
- skin rashes
- headaches
- joint pains
- muscle pains
- stomach upsets
- diarrhea
01:36 – not every depressant has every side effect and not everyone taking antidepressants will experience side effects.
01:57 – There are some alarming potential side effects:
- Reduced blood clot capacity
- Sexual problems
- Problems if you are taking other drugs that are metabolised in the same way.
- Serotonin Syndrome
03:19 – One article talked about not taking SSRI antidepressants with St John’s Wort. I took note of this as a potential alternative to explore.
03:55 – The medical community like to call the side effects that occur when you stop taking antidepressants after a long time as “discontinuation syndrome” and not a “withdrawal reaction” which implies addiction.
04:27 – The most alarming potential side effect is that of increased risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts.
04:49 – Other potential side effects include:
- Increased risk of diabetes.
- Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion.
- Tooth decay.
05:54 – My own experience of antidepressant side effects from 10 years ago included very dry mouth and excessive sweating and cold flushes at night.
06:26 – There is lots of evidence that antidepressants do help. I am just sharing my reasons for wanting alternatives.
07:25 – Even though the medical community claim that brain chemistry is too simplistic a cause, they still seek it as the first port of call for treating it.
08:08 – I now intend to start investigating natural alternatives to help achieve the same result as antidepressants.
Sources Used To Compile The Information Discussed In This Episode
[1] Coping With Side Effects of Depression Treatment – (WebMD.com)
[2] What Are the Side Effects of Antidepressants? – (WebMD.com)
[3] Side effects-Antidepressants – (www.nhs.uk)
[4] What side effects can antidepressants cause? – (www.mind.org.uk)
[5] What are the real risks of antidepressants? – (Harvard Medical School)
