Do antidepressants make you feel empty?

On antidepressant medication, it is possible that you might experience a sense of feeling numb and less like yourself. Though the symptoms of depression have decreased, there may be a sense that other emotional responses – laughing or crying, for example – are more difficult to experience.

Do antidepressants stop you feeling happy?

Antidepressants help relieve the symptoms of depression and associated anxiety. They do not make you euphoric, but simply help you react more realistically in your emotional responses.

Does antidepressant tiredness go away?

Give It Time. Wait it out. For most people, the side effects of antidepressants wear off as their bodies become adjusted to the medication.

Why do antidepressants cause emotional blunting?

The primary effect of SSRIs is reduced processing of negative stimuli rather than increased positive stimuli. Emotional blunting is related to SSRI dose,9,10 and possibly serotonergic effects on the frontal lobes and/or serotonergic modulation of midbrain dopaminergic systems projecting to the prefrontal cortex (PFC).

How can I get energy while on antidepressants?

Consider these strategies:

1. Take a brief nap during the day.
2. Get some physical activity, such as walking.
3. Avoid driving or operating dangerous machinery until the fatigue passes.
4. Take your antidepressant at bedtime if your doctor approves.
5. Talk to your doctor to see if adjusting your dose will help.

What happens if you take antidepressants on an empty stomach?

Equally, if I take my daily tablet on an empty stomach, within half an hour I feel extremely nauseous and light headed which induces vomiting. As SSRIs fundamentally act to amend the level of serotonin absorption, they can have a strong effect on the chemical balance of the brain.

What happens the first time you take an antidepressant?

There may be mild, short-term side effects in the first few weeks. Some people say the antidepressant makes them too drowsy or unable to sleep, that they feel agitated or nauseous, or have headaches. If you’re concerned about side effects, call your doctor.

Do antidepressants make you feel like you’re not yourself anymore?

When first starting antidepressants, you may suddenly find that you don’t feel like yourself anymore. Though your depression symptoms may have improved, the overwhelming waves of gloom can sometimes be replaced by an emotional inertness in which are neither able to cry nor share a real belly laugh.

What does it feel like to be blocked by antidepressants?

In fact, there’s a term used to describe this feeling—called emotional blunting—which aptly captures the dulled emotional state many people experience while on antidepressants. Emotional blunting means that your feelings and emotions are so dulled that you neither feel up nor down. You simply feel “blah.”

What can I do if my antidepressant is making me emotional?

Your doctor can lower your dose or switch you to a different antidepressant (say, from an SSRI to an SNRI). Your doctor may also be able to add other medication to offset the emotional blunting. If you find the side effect intolerable, do not stop treatment without first speaking with your doctor.

Why do antidepressants give you energy?

Researchers have previously speculated that when a person starts an antidepressant, they may suddenly have a surge of energy they didn’t have before. If that person is suicidal, the effect may provide enough energy to act upon their feelings.