Unconventional Side Effects of Antidepressants: Focus on Emotional Blunting
April 2017
in “
European Psychiatry
”
TLDR Some antidepressants can cause emotional numbness and other unusual side effects.
The document reports on various studies and case reports related to the side effects of antidepressants. One study focused on the unconventional side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), particularly emotional blunting and its impact on loving relationships. Another study involved 102 females with schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotics, finding a higher prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in these patients compared to 123 matched controls. Additionally, a case report described a 22-year-old female patient who developed mild eosinophilia and a skin rash after starting clozapine, which resolved spontaneously with close monitoring. Lastly, a case report of a 64-year-old woman presented citalopram-induced delusions, which resolved after discontinuation of the drug. The document highlights the importance of monitoring for these side effects and the need for further research.