Anti-depressants are medications used to treat major depressive disorders, some anxiety disorders, certain chronic conditions, and to help manage some addictions.

Anti-depressants are the most commonly prescribed drug class for treating depression. 

Research shows that anti-depressants usually need to be taken for one or two weeks (without missing a dose) before the benefits start to show. It’s important not to stop taking them if you get some mild side effects early on, as these effects usually wear off quickly.

Although anti-depressants were first developed in the 1950s, their use has become progressively more common in the last 20 years.

According to Dr Janvier Yubahwe, a psychiatrist at Huye Isange Rehabilitation Center, antidepressants are mainly used to favourably modify or to normalise someone’s mood. They are scientifically known as thymolepetics.

Side effects

Dr Sylvain Habarurema, a consultant in Internal Medicine at University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), says that some of the side effects of anti-depressants are nausea for some people, to others, they cause increased appetite, hence, weight gain.

He adds that sometimes decreased libido or erectile dysfunction, drowsiness, insomnia (lack of sleep), and dry lips, are a result of anti-depressants.

Habarurema explains that such effects can last a few days but if they persist, someone has to see the doctor, or if those side effects are not tolerable, the patient has to stop the drug first, then see the doctor for advice.

Yubahwe says that any type of medication is associated with a certain number of side effects. However, not all persons on a particular medication will develop those side effects, and if developed, they are most of the time few compared to those described.

He says, anti-depressants like any other type of medication, are also associated with some side effects which mainly depend on the class they belong to. The most common include constipation and headache, among others.

Classification of anti-depressants

Yubahwe says anti-depressants are categorised into a number of types, for instance, tricyclic anti-depressants, such as imipramine (tofranil), nortriptyline (pamelor), amitriptyline, doxepin and desipramine (norpramin), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine.

Other types, he says, include serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Examples of SNRI medications include Effexor XR.

Who needs anti-depressants?

"Anti-depressants are used for the treatment of persons suffering from some mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and somatoform disorder. They can also, in some cases, be combined with mood stabilisers in the treatment of people with bipolar disorder, when depressive episodes are the most predominant,” Yubahwe says.

Coping with side effects

Yubahwe further notes that the best way to help someone cope with these side effects is always trying to keep in touch with the treating physician, as they will assess their severity and advise on what to do going forward—either managing strategies, or changing the antidepressant. 

WebMD states that some general things can help you ease side effects when taking anti-depressants, for example, by eating small, more frequent meals throughout the day to help deal with digestion, drinking plenty of water, cutting back on sweets and saturated fats.

Also, eat plenty of veggies and fruits, keep a food diary to check if eating is affecting you, practice relaxation methods like deep breathing or yoga and get regular exercise.

Research suggests that anti-depressants can be helpful to people with moderate or severe depression. They are not usually recommended for mild depression, unless other treatments like therapy have not helped. A course of treatment usually lasts at least six months.

Some people with recurrent depression may be advised to take them indefinitely. Doctors advise that if you take an anti-depressant for four weeks without feeling any better, speak to a general practitioner or mental health specialist. They may recommend increasing your dose or trying a different medicine.