Depression Symptoms Facts:
- While studies generally indicate that about 25 percent of people with cancer have depression, only 2 percent of cancer patients in one study were receiving antidepressant medication.
- Genetics research indicates that risk for depression results from the influence of multiple genes acting together with environmental or other nongenetic factors.
- Genetics research indicates that risk for depression results from the influence of multiple genes acting together with environmental or other nongenetic factors.
Antidepressant Medication Side Effects
Before starting a new medication, ask the doctor to tell you about any side effects you may experience. Antidepressants may cause mild and, usually, temporary side effects (sometimes referred to as adverse effects) in some people. Typically, these are annoying, but not serious. However, any unusual reactions or side effects, or those that interfere with functioning, should be reported to the doctor immediately.
The most common side effects of the newer antidepressants (SSRIs and others) are:
* Headache will usually go away.
* Nausea also temporary, but even when it occurs, it is short lived after each dose.
* Insomnia and nervousness (trouble falling asleep or waking often during the night) may occur during the first few weeks but are usually resolved over time or with a reduction in dosage.
* Agitation (feeling jittery) notify your doctor if this happens for the first time after the drug is taken and is persistent.
* Sexual problems consult your doctor if the problem is persistent or worrisome. Although depression itself can lower libido and impair sexual performance, SSRIs and some other antidepressants can provoke sexual dysfunction. These side effects can affect more than half of adults taking SSRIs. In men, common problems include reduced sexual drive, erectile dysfunction, and delayed ejaculation. For some men, dosage reductions or acquired tolerance to the medication reduce sexual dysfunction symptoms. Although changing from one SSRI to another has generally not been shown to be beneficial, one study showed that citalopram (Celexa) did not seem to cause sexual impairment in patients who had experienced such events with another SSRI.
Some clinicians treating men with antidepressant associated sexual dysfunction report improvement with the addition of bupropion (Wellbutrin) or sildenafil (Viagra) to ongoing treatment. Be sure to discuss the various options with your doctor and inquire about other interventions that can help.
Tricyclic antidepressants have different types of side effects:
* Dry mouth drinking sips of water, chewing sugarless gum, and cleaning teeth daily is helpful.
* Constipation adding bran cereals, prunes, fruit, and vegetables to your diet should help.
* Bladder problems emptying the bladder may be troublesome, and the urine stream may not be as strong as usual; notify your doctor if there is marked difficulty or pain. This side effect may be particularly problematic in older men with enlarged prostate conditions.
* Sexual problems sexual functioning may change; men may experience some loss of interest in sex, difficulty in maintaining an erection or achieving orgasm. If they are worrisome, discuss these side effects youre your doctor.
* Blurred vision will pass soon and will not usually necessitate a new glasses prescription.
* Dizziness rising from the bed or chair slowly is helpful.
* Drowsiness as a daytime problem usually passes soon. If you feel drowsy or sedated you should not drive or operate heavy equipment. The more sedating antidepressants are generally taken at bedtime to help sleep and minimize daytime drowsiness.
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