How to Cope With Anxiety Caused by Antidepressants

How to Cope With Anxiety Caused by Antidepressants Depression Treatment Medication Print How to Cope With Anxiety Caused by Antidepressants By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial policy Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on December 06, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Credit: Troels Graugaard/Getty Images Almost all classes of antidepressants can potentially cause anxiety, especially during the initiation of treatment. The reason this occurs is probably related to the effects of a neurotransmitter called serotonin.  Low serotonin in the brain is thought to play an important role in causing both depression and anxiety.  It is also believed that fluctuating serotonin levels during the early days of treatment might be the reason that some people feel anxiety as an antidepressant side effect. In addition to feeling jittery or anxious, people may also experience such symptoms as sleeplessness, irritability, aggressiveness, agitation, restlessness, and impulsiveness.  There also appears to be a complex relationship between the presence of these symptoms and certain other rarely-occurring symptoms, such as mania, worsening depression, and suicidal thoughts.  Children, teens, and young adults appear to be most prone to the latter type of symptoms.  In 2004, the FDA added a black box warning to all antidepressant labels describing these potentially serious side effects. Generally, however, any anxiety that you feel while taking an antidepressant will be mild.  In addition, it will most likely dissipate in time as your body become adjusted to the medication. Some Measures to Take for Helping Your Anxiety Getting vigorous exercise, such as jogging, biking or aerobics.Practicing deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation.Talking with your doctor about switching to another antidepressant.Talking with your doctor about lowering your dose and gradually increasing it to the needed amount.Talking with your doctor about temporarily using an anti-anxiety medicine, such as a benzodiazepine (such as Ativan, Klonopin) or BuSpar (buspirone). If you find that your anxiety is unbearably strong or is not getting better â€" especially if you are experiencing certain other symptoms like mania, worsening depression or suicidal thoughts â€" do not hesitate to contact your physician or seek emergency help if necessary. You should not, however, stop taking your medication without first consulting with your doctor.  Rapidly stopping your antidepressant without first going through a tapering off period may result in symptoms like muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue.  Your doctor can best advise you on what to do in order to avoid this problem. The 7 Best Online Anxiety Support Groups