The Negative Side Effects of Antidepressants

When you find a medication that helps treat your depression and makes you feel happier, there is no denying the sense of hope that this can restore in your life. Yet, that hope can dwindle before too long if you start experiencing a new set of equally destructive and unwanted symptoms.

Some of the negative side effects of antidepressants can lead to entirely new health issues that now also require your attention or treatment. From weight gain to sexual problems, determining how to proceed with caring for your depression can be just as tormenting as the depression itself.

Unfortunately, many antidepressant medications have failed to help people altogether, and even those who do experience some positive mental health effects, it is also common for them to experience the following:

Weight gain

Weight gain is a common side effect of many antidepressant medications. It is worth noting that in some cases, the drug itself is not what causes weight gain but rather improves your mood, which can increase your appetite. In other cases, however, long-term use of antidepressants is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, increasing the risk of severe health complications like heart disease and stroke.

Sexual dysfunction

Both women and men can experience sexual side effects from antidepressants. Most of these medications are SSRIs, which raise serotonin levels in the body to help you experience less anxiety. Yet, this increase in calm, unfortunately, can cause a decrease in libido. Women on these medications can experience a reduced desire for sex, while men may have trouble getting or maintaining an erection.

Hair loss

It is normal for people to notice more and more hair coming out of their scalp while in the shower or brushing their hair after starting antidepressant medication. This can be particularly troubling for adults and especially men who are already experiencing male-pattern hair loss. The antidepressants can cause hair follicles to enter a resting stage, and the more hairs there are in this stage, the more strands are shed. This is the same type of hair loss (called telogen effluvium) people experience during highly stressful events such as illness, surgery, and childbirth.

TMS Therapy as an antidepressant alternative

The negative side effects of antidepressants such as the ones mentioned above can range from mild to severe, which means that if they occur for someone, they are only tolerable at best. But you do not have to settle for tolerable – you can overcome your depression and thrive.

You are not alone if you are experiencing unwanted symptoms from your antidepressants or no positive mental health side effects. TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Therapy is an alternative treatment for depression that can help you get better and stay better.

TMS Therapy uses a magnetic field intended to stimulate specific nerve cells in the brain with precision. Because it only impacts those particular cells, it cannot cause negative side effects. Instead, TMS Therapy is a cause for hope for people struggling to fight depression. If you are ready to not only take your life back but live it fully, talk to your doctor to find out if you are a candidate for this treatment.