by Jennifer Kirkman

Created on: April 05, 2010

Antidepressant medications help people that are unable to cope with their depression symptoms and have a hard time living their life because of it. One of the first classes of antidepressant drugs is known as SSRIs. That stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin in the brain is a type of neurotransmitter that balances out our minds in order that we may not have depression symptoms. If this chemical is lacking from the brain, then we need something by which helps make the chemical active. In turn, the depression symptoms will improve within a number of weeks after taking these medications.

Example of SSRIs are Zoloft, Sarafem, Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro, and Celexa. All of these medications can have their share of side effects to a person. One of the things right off, is that if you've been taking an MAOI inhibitor medication, you will need to stop that drug for at least 2 weeks before taking an antidepressant medication in the SSRI category.

SSRIs may also cause you to have the reverse side effect, and cause suicidal behavior or thinking. This side effect tends to happen in the younger group, (younger then age 24,) then in people that are older and taking this medication. It is important that this sisde effect be reported to the doctor if it occurs with these medications.

Your treating doctor also needs your entire medical history and all medicines you are currently taking. These drugs are capable of causing an allergic reaction, or they are also possibly harmful to anyone with liver disease. People that have epileptic seizures, kidney disease, bipolar disorder, or have had a history of drug abuse really need to tell their treating doctor if they don't already know.

This drug has also shown to be harmful in unborn babies and may cause serious birth defects. It can also pass on into breastmilk. If you think you are planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important that you and your doctor discuss this issue before taking these antidepressant medicines.

You need to take your antidepressant medication exactly as the doctor tells you to. DO NOT change the dosage, double up if you miss a dose, or vary the times taken. Always take your antidepressant pill at the same time each day.

Serious side effects of any antidepressant drug in the SSRI category are, feeling very stiff muscles, heart beats are not regular, bad headaches and trouble thinking, nausea, fever, seizures, and fainting, see your doctor at once. These side effects are nothing to take lightly.

The lesser effects of these drugs are those like feeling drowsy or dizzy, trouble in sleeping, and drowsiness. Even though these are not as serious as the others, it is important to let your doctor know if they become bothersome to you.

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