She’s now able to do her usual activities and is motivated to go back to work — something she has struggled to do for a while. Despite her improvement, antidepressant side effects have emerged and are bothersome. Maria begins to consider discontinuing her medications prematurely.

Antidepressant side effects are real and negatively affect patient’s compliance. Many patients like Maria consider stopping medication even at risk of relapse because of distressing side effects.

How do you deal with some of common antidepressant side effects?

Insomnia Some antidepressants e.g. SSRIs (serotonin-reuptake inhibitor) are highly stimulating that they cause insomnia when taken in afternoon or at bedtime. Take this type of medication in morning. Discuss with your physician use of a sedating medication such as trazodone or sedative-hypnotic drug along with antidepressant. If you want to take only one pill, talk to your doctor about switching to a sedating antidepressant such as mirtazapine.

Moreover, sleep hygiene should be practiced. Avoid naps and intake of caffeinated drinks such as coffee and soda in afternoon and evening. Involve in regular exercise and physical activities during day. Moreover, use bedroom only for sleep and sex and not for recreational activities.

Weight gain

Regular exercise is weight gain’s antidote. If no medical contraindication, you may consider jogging, walking, or swimming. To reduce some excess and unwanted fat, keep yourself busy with physical and recreational activities.

How about diet? Diet has always been a part of any weight control regimen. Monitor your carbohydrate intake. Ice cream, chocolates, and other high-caloric foods should be reduced. If none of above works, talk to your doctor about switching pills.

Sexual dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction happens too often but is rarely asked or discussed in clinic. Some physicians and patients feel embarrassed about this subject. When you have concerns, be open to your physician. Discuss possibility of switching medication to an antidepressant (such as bupropion or mirtazapine) that doesn’t significantly impair sexual functioning. Also, talk to your doctor about adding another drug such as bupropion, yohimbine, or even mirtazapine to counteract sexual side effect.

We often think that something that feels good can’t possibly be good for us. Now it’s time to think again.

Sex in a loving, intimate relationship has numerous health benefits. In women, for example, sexual act triggers release of oxytocin. Oxytocin promotes feelings of affection and triggers that nurturing instinct. In men, sex encourages flow of testosterone, which strengthens bones and muscles and helps transport DHEA, a hormone that may be important in function of body’s immune system.

Paul Pearsall, Ph.D., author of Superimmunity, also maintains that sex in a loving relationship helps immune system by increasing flow of certain chemicals in body.