What sort of side-effects might occur if I am taking SSRIs?

Use the information in the table below to find out about side effects associated with Specific serotonin re-uptake inhibitors or SSRIs.

Side effect

What happens

What to do about it

COMMON

Nausea and vomiting

Feeling sick and being sick.

Take your medicine after food. If you are sick for more than a day, contact your doctor. This tends to wear off after a few days or a week or so.

Insomnia

Not being able to get to sleep at night.

Discuss with your doctor. He or she may change the time of your dose, or reduce the dose a little to start with.

Sexual dysfunction

Finding it hard to have an orgasm. No desire for sex.

Discuss with your doctor. See also a separate question in this section.

LESS COMMON

Drowsiness

Feeling sleepy or sluggish. It can last for a few hours after taking your dose.

Don't drive or use machinery. Ask your doctor if you can take your SSRI at a different time of day.

Headache

Your head is pounding and painful.

Try aspirin or paracetamol. Your pharmacist will be able to advise if these are safe to take with any other drugs you may be taking.

Loss of appetite

Not feeling hungry. You may lose weight.

If this is a problem, contact your doctor or chemist for advice.

Diarrhoea

Going to the toilet more than usual and passing loose, watery stools.

Drink plenty of water. Get advice from your pharmacist. If it lasts for more than a day, contact your doctor.

UNCOMMON

Restlessness or anxiety

Being more on edge. You may sweat a lot more.

Try and relax by taking deep breaths. Wear loose fitting clothes. This often happens early on in treatment and should gradually ease off over several weeks. A lower starting dose may help sometimes.

RARE

Rashes and pruritis

Rashes anywhere on the skin. These may be itchy.

Stop taking and contact your doctor now.

Dry mouth

Not much saliva or spit.

Suck sugar-free boiled sweets. If it is bad, your doctor may be able to give you a mouth spray.

Skin rashes

Blotches seen anywhere.

Stop taking and contact your doctor now. This is a particular problem with fluoxetine (Prozac)

Tremors and dystonias

Feeling shaky. You may get a twitch or feel stiff.

It is not dangerous. If it troubles you, contact your doctor.

Table adapted from UK Psychiatric Pharmacy Group leaflets, with kind permission www.ukppg.org.uk

Do not be worried by this list of side effects. You may get none at all. There are other rare side-effects. If you develop any unusual symptoms ask your doctor about them next time you meet.