Coping with Side Effects

There are things we can do to cope with the side effects of antidepressants. Here are some ideas:

Side effect	What we can do about it
Feel sick or being sick	Take your antidepressant after food or at bedtime.
Sleep problems	Take antidepressant in the morning or as early in the day as you can.
Feeling drowsy	Take it at bedtime. Avoid driving or working machinery. Avoid alcohol
Sex problems	Take it after sex. Speak to your doctor.
Constipation	Eat more fruit and fibre. Drink more water
Dry mouth	Suck sugar-free sweets. Drink more water. Chew sugar-free gum. Cut down on alcohol and caffeine. Nicotine in cigarettes will also add to dry mouth. Suck ice cubes.
Weight gain	Eat a healthy diet. Exercise.
Feel dizzy when  standing up	Don't stand up too quickly. Avoid very hot baths and showers.
Sore head	Can happen if not taking antidepressant regularly. Take pain killers such as paracetamol if needed.
Feeling restless/on edge	Wear loose-fitting clothes. Try to relax. Take slow, calm breaths.

Contact your GP as soon as possible if you notice any of the following: