Do antidepressants cause emotional blunting, memory loss and sexual dysfunction?

Stress could be good and could be bad. Tolerable amount of stress is necessary to push us forward, push us to grow and achieve more things in life. Most importantly, stress can push us towards success. Without stress, mankind will achieve nothing and no new discoveries or achievements. Stress is a problem if we no longer can handle them and instead of pushing us forward, now, it pulls us backwards. Ask questions to specialists to know more about any disease or symptom you are facing.

You need to seek help when you meet certain signs while dealing with stress. The following are the features of acute stress disorder(ASD), post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), and major depressive disorder(MDD):

  • Impaired consciousness
  • Impaired memory
  • Impaired identity
  • Impaired awareness of body, self, or environment
  • Flashbacks
  • Panic attacks
  • Hyperventilation
  • Recurrent and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event
  • Recurrent distressing dreams
  • Persistent inability to experience positive emotions(happy)
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Irritable behaviour and angry outbursts
  • Poor concentration
  • Depressed mood most of the day
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
  • Unexplained weight loss when not dieting or weight gain
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Restlessness or being slowed down
  • Fatigue
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Diminished ability to think
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • More talkative than usual
  • Flight of ideas
  • Distractibility
  • Increase in goal-directed activity
  • Unrestrained buying sprees

Prevention is better than cure. Being religious has proven to have a protective effect to psychological or mental issues. If u have above signs, get medical attention. It’s better late than never! Medications for depression is known as antidepressants. Antidepressants will make you feel better, more able to do tasks, reduce the symptoms of depression, and relieve anxiety. There are a few types of antidepressant and each one of them works differently.

Antidepressants can’t be obtained over the counter and they can only be released with the prescription of a doctor. You have no choice but to see a doctor for evaluation and also prescription. The doctor will decide the best medicine for you. One of the questions will be asked to you are any of your family members is taking that medication and whether they respond well to it. If yes, then that medicine will be taken as considered as the first drug for you.  Most patients are on one antidepressant, but some are on multiple antidepressants.

However, there will still be chances that the first medicine which is given to you will not be effective enough to help you. If that’s the case, do not give up and see a doctor for other alternatives. Some patients even tried a few different medications or different combinations before they find effective medication or medications. Antidepressants usually start working within two weeks from the first day you take them. However, it will take around 4-6 weeks before you get the full effects. If after 6 weeks you haven't experienced any improvement, your doctor might alter the dose of your medication or change to a different antidepressant. Majority of medicines have side effects, but the use of medicines are always within the safe dose and the use of them will consider the fact whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

  The side effects of antidepressants are:

  • Restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Lethargy
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Dry mouth
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Weight gain

The list shows that antidepressants are less likely to cause memory loss or emotional blunting. The only thing is that antidepressants will cause sexual dysfunction. Ask questions to specialists to know more about any disease or symptom you are facing.