What is the most important information I should know about antidepressants?
Some of these negative effects may be quite mild, while others may be more severe.
In addition, they may go away or become less severe in time.
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They may also change your dose or transition you to a different medication you could better tolerate.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include confusion, agitation, muscle twitching, sweating, shivering, and diarrhea.
When this happens, dangerous amounts of fluid can build up inside the body’s cells.
Older people may be especially prone to hyponatremia.
In addition, hyponatremia has the potential to lead to coma or death.
People who experience even mild symptoms of hyponatremia should seek immediate medical care.
Studies indicate that this may be especially true for people younger than age 25.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
While mania is not necessarily life-threatening, it requires medical assistance to treat.
Seizures
Certain antidepressants can increase a person’s risk of having a seizure.
In some cases, the seizures may happen in a person who has never had one before.
Certainolder antidepressants called tricyclicscan also increase a person’s seizure risk.
Generally, the newer antidepressants are less likely to trigger seizures.
All seizures should be reported to a doctor.
If it is the first time a person has had a seizure, emergency services should be called.
An unpleasant set of symptoms known asdiscontinuation syndromemay occur if you stop taking your medication too abruptly.
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