Antidepressants in Children – Major Adverse Side Effects

You are here: / / Antidepressants in Children – Major Adverse Side Effects

  • Antidepressants in Children Horrific Adverse Side Effects

READ BEFORE ENTERING; This website is for information purposes only; we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any disease or medical condition by providing the information contained herein. Before beginning any natural, integrative or conventional treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.

Antidepressants in Children Horrific Adverse Events

Let’s start with the fact that the mechanism of action in antidepressants is unknown. What that means is no one knows why they work—but do they work? Studies show that the placebo effect happens up to 85% of the time.

The side effects of the SSRIs are horrendous. Suicide, suicidality, and suicidal thoughts are by far, of course, among the worst.

Children are especially prone to psychiatric adverse events of SSRIs compared to adults. SSRI Induced Activation Syndrome is a group of emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with taking SSRIs.  The characteristics,  prevalence, and implications of Activation syndrome have not been systematically examined in the pediatric population.

Though initially intended for adults, SSRIs are now widely prescribed to children and adolescents. Adverse side effects for the younger individuals include mania, hypomania, elevated mood, aggravation of depression, crying, irritability, anger, hypersensitivity agitation, akathisia, restlessness, nervousness, hyperactivity apathy, tremor, and “feeling spacy” odd behavior, and paranoia or other psychotic symptoms

There is a clear and considerable risk of excessive arousal or activation, and even hypomania or mania, in children and adolescents treated with SSRIs. The rates of these symptoms, even those diagnosed as mania or hypomania, are much higher than in adults with anxiety and depression.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40501-015-0034-9

Antidepressant Side Effects

Seratonin Syndrome:

  • Confusion
  • Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure
  • Dilated pupils
  • Loss of muscle coordination or twitching muscles
  • Muscle rigidity
  • Heavy sweating
  • Diarrhea
  • Agitation
  • Muscle twitching
  • Shivering
  • Very high fever
  • Seizures
  • Unconsciousness

Hyponatremia:

If the sodium in your blood is too low, you have a condition called hyponatremia.

  • Nausea 
  • Fatigue
  • Headache 
  • Confusion
  • Muscle Spasms
  • Seizures
  • Weakness
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle cramps 
  • Irritability

 Antidepressant Induced Mania

  • Excess energy
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • Abnormal and excessive mood elevation.
  • Abnormally upbeat, jumpy, or wired.
  • Increased agitation.
  • An exaggerated sense of well-being
  • An exaggerated self-confidence (euphoria)
  • Unusual talkativeness.
  • Racing thoughts.
  • Distractibility.

Seizures

The current use of SSRIs or SNRIs was associated with a twofold increased risk of first-time seizures compared with non-use, while the current use of TCAs (mostly low dose) was not associated with seizures. Treatment initiation in SSRI and SNRI users was associated with a higher risk of seizures than longer-term treatment.

This website is for information purposes only; we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any disease or medical condition by providing the information contained herein. Before beginning any natural, integrative or conventional treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.