Depression: Dealing with medicine side effects

Why should you keep taking an antidepressant if it causes side effects?
Most antidepressants cause minor side effects that go away or improve in the first few weeks of treatment. If you keep taking your medicine, there is a good chance that you will start to feel less depressed and the side effects will decrease. Most people feel that the benefits of antidepressants are well worth the price of living with some side effects.
If the side effects continue to bother you, talk to your doctor. You might be able to try a different dosage or a different medicine.
Even if you are going to change medicines, you should not suddenly quit taking your current antidepressant. That could cause withdrawal symptoms or make your depression come back. Work with your doctor to make the switch safely. This may require slowly reducing the dose of the old medicine before you start the new medicine.
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Author:	Lila Havens	Last Updated: October 29, 2007
Medical Review:	Catherine D. Serio, PhD - Behavioral Health Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
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