10 Antidepressant Side Effects You May Not Have Been Warned About

Yawning is a known side effect of some antidepressants. But it's considered less common, so your doctor may not mention it. Experts aren't sure why it happens. But it's likely due to how these drugs affect brain chemicals that help control alertness and wakefulness. In some cases, lowering the dose may stop the yawning while still helping treat depression.

Some antidepressants, especially SSRIs, can make your feelings less intense – both highs and lows. You may feel less joy, have trouble sharing in other people's happiness or sadness, or find that you can't cry even when you want to. Some people say they feel almost nothing at all or their emotions seem more like thoughts than feelings. Tell your doctor if this happens. A dose change or switch to a different kind of medication may bring your spark back.

It's common to get a short-term mild headache at the start of treatment. But if you already live with migraine or chronic tension headaches, some meds can make them worse, especially SNRIs, bupropion, and higher doses of tricyclics (TCAs). That may be because these drugs affect brain chemicals that control blood flow. If your headaches are very bad, new, or keep happening, call your doctor. They'll want to make sure something more serious isn't going on.

Dry mouth is a common antidepressant side effect. But the same process can affect vaginal tissue. You may notice dryness, irritation, or pain with sex. SSRIs, SNRIs, and TCAs are most often linked to this, and dryness can show up weeks after starting treatment or raising your dose. It happens because some meds can alter nerve signals and brain chemicals that affect blood flow. Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can help.

SSRIs, SNRIs, and some antipsychotics affect brain signals that control muscle fibers. So if you notice a jumpy eyelid or finger, your meds might be to blame. Minor twitches are usually harmless and often fade as your body adjusts. But if they're constant, come on quickly, or make you sore, tell your doctor. Rarely, larger jerks may need emergency care.

Antidepressants can make it harder to get turned on or climax. Rarely, the opposite happens. You may feel a strong, constant urge to orgasm that doesn't go away, even after you do. Doctors call this persistent genital arousal disorder, and it's usually uncomfortable. Tell your doctor if this happens. A medication change may help. If you have an erection that lasts more than four hours, get medical care right away.

Some antidepressants and antipsychotics can make it hard to pee. You may feel the urge but have trouble starting the stream, or feel like your bladder won't fully empty. This happens when the drug affects nerves that help the bladder relax and squeeze. A dose change or different drug may fix it, but call your doctor right away if you can't pee at all. 

You might notice blurry vision, trouble focusing, dry eyes, or sensitivity to light. That's because some antidepressants can change how the eye muscles focus or affect tear production. For many people, vision clears as the body adjusts. Tell your doctor if the changes last more than a few weeks or make it hard to see clearly. Seek care right away if you have sudden vision loss of severe eye pain.

Some antidepressants can change sleep or dreaming. You might have more vivid dreams, more nightmares, or remember your dreams more often. That's likely because these drugs affect REM sleep, the stage where most dreaming happens. SSRIs, SNRIs, and some TCAs are most commonly linked to this. For some people, the change is mild. But if dreams become disturbing or hurt sleep, tell your doctor.

Some people get "activation" when starting or raising an antidepressant dose. You may feel restless, jittery, or more anxious than before. Symptoms usually show up in the first days or weeks, as serotonin or norepinephrine levels change. It usually eases over time, but starting at a high dose can raise the odds. If you feel very uncomfortable, suddenly worse, or suicidal, tell your doctor.

Most antidepressant side effects are mild and fade with time, often a couple of days or weeks after starting a new drug or changing the dose. But some symptoms warrant a call to the doctor, including any that disrupt your daily life. Get medical help right away if you have a fast heart rate, confusion, a fever, swelling, a rash, or breathing trouble. Those could be signs of serotonin syndrome or a serious allergic reaction.