When Side Effects Occur or You Don’t Feel Well – Cerebral

If you are having an extreme adverse reaction such as trouble breathing after taking your medication, please call 911 (UK: 999) or go to your nearest hospital, especially if your difficulty breathing is accompanied by hives, swelling, or the feeling of your throat constricting.

If you’re not experiencing the above symptoms, but rather are noticing that your behavioral symptoms are worsening, or you are experiencing nausea, dizziness, rash (not accompanied by hives), difficulty breathing, substantial drowsiness, or any other symptoms that you believe are adverse, please contact your Counselor, Coordinator, or Therapist directly through the chat featured located in your Cerebral profile so that they may promptly inform your prescriber.

In some cases, titration plans, medication adjustments, or changes may be necessary. If you don’t believe a medication is working for you, that is perfectly okay. However, please be certain to contact your Care Team immediately, so that we can help determine the next best steps for the success of your treatment plan.

Below are some of the more common side effects of the medications we may prescribe:

Medication Type	Generic names	Brand names	Side effects
Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs)	Amitriptyline Doxepin Nortriptyline	Elavil Silenor Pamelor	Weight gain (slight to high) Dry mouth (slight) Constipation GI distress Drowsiness (slight to high)
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)	Citalopram Escitalopram Fluoxetine Fluvoxamine Paroxetine Sertraline	Celexa Lexapro Prozac Luvox Paxil Zoloft	Weight gain (slight to moderate) (except fluoxetine) Transient nausea and GI discomfort at treatment start or dose change Sertraline associated with higher diarrhea rates
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor/Antagonists	Trazodone	Desyrel	Hypotension N/V Dry mouth Dizziness Drowsiness, fatigue
serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)	Desvenlafaxine Duloxetine Venlafaxine	Pristiq Cymbalta Effexor	Weight gain (zero to slight) Transient nausea and GI discomfort at treatment start or dose change Dry mouth Constipation
Atypical antidepressants	Bupropion Mirtazapine Aripiprazole Olanzapine Quetiapine Risperidone	Wellbutrin Remeron Abilify Zyprexa Seroquel Risperdal	High weight gain in mirtazapine Dry mouth Dizziness Constipation, diarrhea, nausea
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)	Isocarboxazid Phenelzine Selegiline Tranylcypromine	Marplan/Enerzer Nardil Eldepryl/Zelapar Parnate	Weight gain (slight to low) (except selegiline) Drowsiness (slight)
Anti-anxiety agents	Buspirone Diazepam	Buspar Valium	Dizziness Nausea Drowsiness
Non-Stimulants	Atomoxetine	Strattera	Sleep problems, fatigue Anxiety Dry mouth Nausea, constipation Mild appetite suppression
Antimanic agents	Lithium	Eskalith	Hypotension Hyperglycemia Abdominal pain, gastritis Changes in appetite Taste alteration Dry mouth
Conventional antipsychotics	Perphenazine	Trilafon	Hypertension, Hypotension Dizziness, Drowsiness Headache Anorexia or increased appetite Constipation, Diarrhea, Vomiting Dry mouth
Atypical antipsychotic (aka psychotropic)	Ziprasidone	Geodon	Drowsiness, dizziness Nausea

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