I'm Still Human: Understanding Depression With Kindness (Expanded Edition - 2021)

antidepressants take a minimum of 2-3 weeks to work. So, even if
you are on antidepressants, there are many things that you need to
do now, while waiting for the antidepressant to work.
5. Will I get side effects?
If you take antidepressants according to
your doctor’s recommendations with proper
monitoring, you’ll be SAFE. You will NOT get brain
damage, kidney failure, liver failure, heart attack. If you still worry
(understandable), we can do regular medical check-ups and blood
tests to ensure your physical fitness. With this arrangement, you’re
very likely to be healthier than those in the general population
(who may not be so health conscious).
Some may get mild side-effects like nausea, gastric problems,
headaches, sweating and giddiness, etc. It’s usually transient, not
dangerous and easily resolved - there’s no need to be overly
worried. If you have concerns over any particular side effect (which
is perfectly understandable, e.g. weight gain, dry mouth, sedation),
feel free to discuss with your psychiatrist for options: dose
reduction, change the type of antidepressant, reduce the number of
medicines, or even a trial of non-medication treatment plan.
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