Depression Symptoms Vs Antidepressant Side Effects: Is There a Difference?

The array of antidepressants available is mind boggling. Sufferers of depression are presented with a synthetic smorgasbord from which they have to decide which one is right for them. A tough task, considering indecision is common amongst those with depression.

Even more mind boggling than the choice of depression drugs available, is that if you read what the side effects of these drugs are, you will see that they can be just as worse as the condition of depression itself. 

Excuse the pun, but that sounds crazy, right? Let's compare depression symptoms with antidepressant side effects.

Here is a list of common depression symptoms:

• anxiety
• agitation
• headaches
• nausea/stomach pain
• changes in sleeping and eating patterns
• a lack of energy
• feeling hopeless or helpless
• losing interest in activities previously enjoyed
• tearfulness
• high use of alcohol or other drugs
• social withdrawal
• feeling empty

Now let's take a look at some of the common side effects of antidepressants:

• anxiety 
• agitation 
• headaches
• nausea/stomach pain
• sleep disruption
• sedation (can interfere with driving or operating machinery)
• dry mouth
• constipation
• urinary retention 
• blurred vision
• weight gain
• gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhea
• inability to achieve an erection
• inability to achieve an orgasm (men and women)
• loss of libido

Do you see what I mean?

If you ask me, the list for antidepressant side effects looks worse (and longer) than the list for the very condition it is trying to solve! Plus, an antidepressant can cause the very same things that depression can. For example, anxiety and agitation are two very common symptoms of depression, but then they are also two very common side effects of anti depressants. 

It appears that the antidepressant takes the psychological symptom of depression and just replaces it with a similar (if not identical) physiological one. 

It just doesn't make sense.

Don't get me wrong. I think antidepressants certainly have their place. For example, those who suffer with severe clinical depression with suicidal ideation are certainly in the appropriate category of 'needing medication'.


This being said, I believe antidepressants are being prescribed too readily in today's society. People seem to have forgotten that life is a roller coaster. Any sign of an upset and we run to our doctor screaming for pills. It's as if we are being slowly conditioned by the drug companies that our brains can't cope with feeling blue.


There will inevitably be down times as well as up times in life, and this is completely normal. The brain is very well equipped to deal with minor lows and sometimes more deep and longer lows. But it's when the deeper and longer lasting lows start to impact on our daily functioning that we need help. This is where I believe antidepressants are effective; to pull someone from a deep low onto a level where they can start to get better. Let's face it, sometimes we need a little help along the way.

This being said, I don't believe antidepressants to be an effective long-term solution either.

In my next post I will discuss some natural ways to fight depression. Ones that are accessible, won't cost the earth, and which will help to achieve long-term results rather than the short-term fix of prescribed antidepressants.


Is there anyone out there who has taken or is currently taking antidepressant medication? I'd love to hear your views on the matter, so leave a comment!