10 Antidepressants Side Effects Your Doctor Never Told You About

By Ivan Menchavez | Feb 08, 2016 | 07:50 AM EST

A lot of people think that it is okay to take antidepressant drugs without any doctor's prescription. What they don't realize is that these drugs have negative side effects that can be really bad for their health, both mentally and physically.

If you believe that you have depression, it is best to see a doctor or a psychiatrist before you take an antidepressant drug that was recommended to you by a friend because it probably worked for him.

Antidepressant drugs are not a "one size fits all" kind of medicine. If it works for some people, it doesn't mean it will work for you. If you take the wrong drug, it may cause side effects.

According to WebMD, here are the 10 antidepressants side effects.

Insomnia

Blurred vision

Nausea

Anxiety

Decreased interest in sex

Suicide

Dry mouth

Weight Gain

Fatigue

Dizziness

Although some of the symptoms mentioned are common occurrences like nausea, fatigue and dizziness, some people may not be able to tolerate them. What will happen is their doctor will provide them another prescription until they find a suitable drug to treat their depression.

According to a new report by Medical Daily, antidepressant or SSRIs may double the risk of suicide in kids and teens. It also increases the aggression level in some of them. According to a new research led by Dr. Tarang Sharma from the University of Copenhagen, most violent people have a history of taking antidepressant drugs.

"Perpetrators of school shootings and similar events have often been reported to be users of antidepressants and the courts have in many cases found them not guilty as a result of drug induced insanity," the researchers said as gathered in a report by Medical Daily.

They have also found out that taking antidepressants can increase the risk of suicidal thinking amongst the people who are constantly taking them. The effect of the drug may provide a person substantial energy to carry out a suicide plan.

Meanwhile, erectile dysfunction is also one of the most common side effects of antidepressant. There have been several studies in the past that linked SSRIs to people's decreasing interest towards sex. According to Bradley N. Gaynes, MD, MPH, from the University of North Carolina, half of the patients who are taking antidepressant have reported some issues with their sexual activities.

Nevertheless, doctors are saying that when people experience these symptoms, they should not stop taking SSRIs without consulting them. Stopping it abruptly may cause serious physical and mental health issues.

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