Antidepressants

Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents:
Information for Parents and Caregivers

Antidepressants are prescribed in most cases of clinical depression and are essential
for the treatment of severe cases of depression. If you take an antidepressant medication,
you may start to see some minor improvement in one to two weeks
but you probably will not feel the full effects of the drug for four to six weeks.

Patients often wish for medication with absolutely no side effects. No such drugs exist for the
treatment of any medical condition and definitely not for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Precautions

When taking antidepressants, it is important to tell all doctors (and dentists) being seen-not just the one who is treating the depression-about all medications being used, including over-the-counter preparations and alcohol. Antidepressants should be taken only in the amount prescribed. When used with proper care, following doctors' instructions, antidepressants are extremely useful medications that can reverse the misery of a depression and help a person feel like himself again.

MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
- Nardil (phenelzine sulfate)
- Parnate (tranylcypromine sulfate)

Newer Antidepressants
- Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide)
- Desyrel (trazodone)
- Effexor (venlafaxine)
- Remeron (mirtazapine)
- Serzone (nefazodone)
- Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride)

SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
- Luvox (fluvoxamine)
- Paxil (paroxetine)
- Prozac (fluoxetine)
- Zoloft (sertraline)

Other Meds
- St. John's Wort (non prescription)
Amitriptyline
Depakote
Xanax
Buspar
Klonopin (Clonazepam)
Risperdal
Lithium
Adderal

More Information on Antidepressants

Most Common Antidepressant Side Effects

For each antidepressant, we've listed the most common side effects people have. Whether or not you will have these or any other side effects cannot be known ahead of time. We each have a different response to medicine. If you have side effects, tell your prescriber so your medicine can be adjusted in a way that will make you more comfortable.

Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Sleepiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a delay in urinating,
weight gain, sweating, worsening of heart disease, dizziness when you first stand up

Amoxapine (Asendin)
Worsening of heart disease, sleepiness, agitation, trouble sleeping, anxiety

Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
Agitation, dry mouth, trouble sleeping, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, tremor

Citalopram (Celexa)
Anxiety, sleepiness, nausea, headache, trouble sleeping

Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Dry mouth, sleepiness, tremor, weight gain, sweating, dizziness when you
first stand up, blurred vision, constipation, delayed orgasm, delay in urinating, nausea

Desipramine (Norpramin)
Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a delay in urinating, weight gain, sweating, dizziness when you first stand up

Doxepin (Sinequan)
Sleepiness, sweating, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a delay in urinating,
worsening of heart disease, weight gain, dizziness when you first stand up.

Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Agitation, anxiety, trouble sleeping, sleepiness, tremor, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, delayed orgasm

Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
Sleepiness, trouble sleeping, anxiety, tremor, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, sweating, delayed orgasm, diarrhea

Imipramine (Tofranil)
Sleepiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a delay in urinating,
dizziness when you first stand up, worsening of heart disease, weight gain, sweating

Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
Sleepiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a delay in urinating,
worsening of heart disease, dizziness when you first stand up, weight gain

Mirtazapine (Remeron)
Sleepiness, increased appetite, weight gain, dizziness

Nefazodone (Serzone)
Sleepiness, dizziness when you first stand up, nausea, headache

Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Sleepiness, dry mouth, a delay in urinating, constipation, blurred vision, weight gain

Paroxetine (Paxil)
Nausea, sleepiness, fatigue, dizziness, trouble sleeping, sweating, tremor, loss of appetite, anxiety, delayed orgasm

Protriptyline (Vivactil)
Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a delay in urinating, worsening
of heart disease, dizziness when you first stand up, trouble sleeping, anxiety

Sertraline (Zoloft)
Nausea, diarrhea, tremor, dizziness, trouble sleeping, sleepiness, sweating, dry mouth, delayed orgasm

Trazodone (Desyrel)
Sleepiness, worsening of heart disease, dizziness when you first stand up, nausea, vomiting

Trimipramine (Surmontil)
Sleepiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a delay in urinating,
dizziness when you first stand up, worsening of heart disease, weight gain, sweating

Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Sedation, nausea, sweating, dry mouth, dizziness, weakness, constipation,
decreased appetite, vomiting, anxiety, tremor, blurred vision, delayed orgasm, headache