People who are currently taking anti-depressants are being warned by the NHS that they need to be cautious. On their official website, they say that there are “several important things to consider when taking antidepressants”.
Urging people to “discuss these with a GP or mental health professional”, the NHS says that taking other medication alongside it could be disastrous. It may also affect your plans when you meet up with your friends or family.
It continues: “Antidepressants can react unpredictably with other medicines, including some over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if there are any other medicines you should avoid.”
They also note that you even need to be careful when it comes to what you drink, warning: “You should be wary of drinking alcohol if you’re taking antidepressants, as alcohol is itself a depressant and drinking alcohol can make your symptoms worse.”
If you drink alcohol while taking antidepressants called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), they say “you may become drowsy and dizzy.”
Despite being “less likely to experience unpleasant or unpredictable effects” whilst drinking alcohol while taking an SSRI or a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant, they still caution that it could be dangerous noting that “avoiding alcohol is often still recommended.”
If you have suicidal thoughts
In rare instances, some individuals may have suicidal thoughts or urges to self-harm when starting antidepressants, with those under 25 appearing to be at higher risk.
The NHS urges: “Contact your GP, or go to A&E immediately, if you have thoughts of killing or harming yourself at any time while taking antidepressants.
“It may be useful to tell a relative or close friend if you’ve started taking antidepressants and ask them to read the leaflet that comes with your medicines. You should then ask them to tell you if they think your symptoms are getting worse, or if they’re worried about changes in your behaviour.”
If you’re struggling with your mental health, call Samaritans on 116 123. They say: “You do not need to have any credit or call allowance on your plan to call.”