What are side effects of antidepressants?

Side effects of antidepressants include the following:

Common side effects: These include nausea and heartburn; energized or anxious feelings (this typically subsides within one to two weeks); headaches; sedation (primarily with Remeron and Desyrel); difficulty falling asleep (often subsides in a few weeks); muscle tremor; rash; and sexual dysfunction. Note that depression itself can significantly reduce sex drive, and not all forms of sexual dysfunction among depressed people are caused by antidepressants. Occasionally antidepressants may decrease sex drive, but the most common sexual side effect is inorgasmia, or difficulty achieving an orgasm despite adequate arousal. Drug-induced inorgasmia can occur in 25 to 30 percent of people treated with antidepressants (sexual side effects are very rare with Wellbutrin). Antidepressants do not cause erectile dysfunction (i.e., impotency). Weight gain is another side effect common with antidepressants, especially with Remeron and Paxil (with other antidepressants, weight gain can occur in up to 10 percent of people, but the weight gain typically does not occur until the person has been taking the drug longer than six months).

Rare side effects: Rare, potentially serious side effects of antidepressants include soreness of mouth, throat, or gums; severe rash; seizures; unusual bruising or bleeding; severe nausea, vomiting, and flu-like symptoms; severe agitation or restlessness; a yellow tinge to skin or eyes; dark-colored urine; a rapid shift into mania or hypomania; and racing thoughts. If these effects occur, contact your doctor immediately.