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Yes, it is possible to overdose on prescription antidepressants. When someone overdoses on antidepressants, they may experience nausea, rapid heartbeat, headaches, and tremors; in some cases, they may experience seizures, respiratory distress, or fall into a coma.
When used properly antidepressants can be an effective means of treating depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. However, they can have also seriousside effectsand be dangerous if taken incorrectly or used with alcohol or drugs.
Some people may misuse or overdose on antidepressants—intentionally or not—to increase the drugs' effects or becausethey are suicidal.
Overdoses are more commonly seen with oldertricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), although newerselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can also be misused.
If you suspect someone has overdosed on antidepressants or recognize symptoms of an overdose, call 911 or immediately seek emergency medical attention.
Keep reading to learn about the symptoms of antidepressant overdose so you know what to do if you are ever in this situation.
Verywell / JR Bee
Signs of an Antidepressant Overdose
No matter if a person accidentally or intentionally overdoses, the symptoms are typically mild and non-specific in the first hour or two and progressively get worse.
The first signs of antidepressant overdose are usually symptoms that can all be attributed to other causes. These include:
Taking a single dose of someone else’s antidepressants may cause one or several of the above side effects—but these will likely wear off in a few hours.
For instance, if you’re already taking another type of antidepressant such as amonoamine oxidase inhibitor(MAOI), you could be at risk for a drug reaction calledserotonin syndromeif you consume a different antidepressant. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include agitation, confusion, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, lack of muscle coordination, and muscle stiffness.
As the more serious effects of the overdose emerge, symptoms of may include:
Seizures, cardiac dysrhythmia, respiratory distress, and coma are symptoms that can be life-threatening.
One of the earliest red flags of antidepressant overdose may be a rapid and irregular heartbeat (tachycardia), a condition not commonly seen in young people. This symptom warrants a call to 911 or an immediate visit to the emergency room.
You may want to talk to a doctor even if you don’t experience any effects. They can offer reassurance and teach you to monitor yourself for possible side effects.
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Overdose
Treatment
Emergency medical interventions are often needed for serious antidepressant overdoses. Typically, efforts include pumping the person’s stomach and providing activated charcoal to absorb the remaining drugs if no contraindications are present.Both of these treatments should be done under medical supervision.
Intravenous sodium bicarbonate and other medications may also be prescribed to counteract the effects of the drug. The person will be kept hydrated with intravenous fluids.
If there are breathing difficulties, the person may need mechanical ventilation. The heart will be monitored and treatment will be provided for any cardiac problems. If the person experiences seizures, drugs will be given to control them.
Before being released from the medical facility they are being treated in, a psychiatrist will evaluate the person and determine whether further interventions are necessary to prevent another overdose. This may include:
Antidepressants and Suicide
The FDA requires that all antidepressants carryblack box warnings, which are the strictest warnings for prescriptions. For instance, Lexapro has a black box warning that informs people of the risk of suicidal ideation or behavior as a result of taking the drug.
Some antidepressants are also linked to episodes ofmaniaorhypomaniain people with a history of these conditions.(Mania and hypomania are characteristic ofbipolar Iand bipolar II, respectively).
They found that TCAs had the overall highest toxicity and the highest rate of fatality compared to SSRIs and all otherclasses of antidepressants. This was especially true for the TCA drugs Prothiaden (dosulepin) and Silenor (doxepin). Of the SSRIs, Celexa (citalopram) had the highest toxicity and fatality rate.
You should never stop taking antidepressants suddenly; always talk with your doctor before making changes to your medication. Your doctor will advise you how best to discontinue your medication and whether you shouldstop your antidepressant gradually.
Risk Factors and Warning Signs of Suicide
A Word From Verywell
Antidepressants can be a life-restoring therapy, but you should also be aware of their risks so you can recognize the signs of overdoses and prevent them.
If you or a loved one is taking an antidepressant, call your doctor or get emergency help if their depression seems to be getting worse or is causing suicidal thoughts that may lead to an overdose.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
The Pros and Cons of Antidepressants
7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liebelt EL.An update on antidepressant toxicity: An evolution of unique toxicities to master.Clin Ped Emer Med. 2008;9(1):24-34. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2007.11.003Hawton K, Bergen H, Simkin S, et al.Toxicity of antidepressants: rates of suicide relative to prescribing and non-fatal overdose.Br J Psychiatry. 2010;196(5):354-8. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.109.070219Dubovicky M, Belovicova K, Csatlosova K, Bogi E.Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation.Interdiscip Toxicol. 2017;10(1):30-34. doi:10.1515/intox-2017-0004Mayo Clinic.Serotonin syndrome - Symptoms and causes.Woolf AD, Erdman AR, Nelson LS, et al.Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management.Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45(3):203-33. doi:10.1080/15563650701226192Friedman RA.Antidepressants' black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-8. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate).
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liebelt EL.An update on antidepressant toxicity: An evolution of unique toxicities to master.Clin Ped Emer Med. 2008;9(1):24-34. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2007.11.003Hawton K, Bergen H, Simkin S, et al.Toxicity of antidepressants: rates of suicide relative to prescribing and non-fatal overdose.Br J Psychiatry. 2010;196(5):354-8. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.109.070219Dubovicky M, Belovicova K, Csatlosova K, Bogi E.Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation.Interdiscip Toxicol. 2017;10(1):30-34. doi:10.1515/intox-2017-0004Mayo Clinic.Serotonin syndrome - Symptoms and causes.Woolf AD, Erdman AR, Nelson LS, et al.Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management.Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45(3):203-33. doi:10.1080/15563650701226192Friedman RA.Antidepressants' black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-8. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate).
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liebelt EL.An update on antidepressant toxicity: An evolution of unique toxicities to master.Clin Ped Emer Med. 2008;9(1):24-34. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2007.11.003Hawton K, Bergen H, Simkin S, et al.Toxicity of antidepressants: rates of suicide relative to prescribing and non-fatal overdose.Br J Psychiatry. 2010;196(5):354-8. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.109.070219Dubovicky M, Belovicova K, Csatlosova K, Bogi E.Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation.Interdiscip Toxicol. 2017;10(1):30-34. doi:10.1515/intox-2017-0004Mayo Clinic.Serotonin syndrome - Symptoms and causes.Woolf AD, Erdman AR, Nelson LS, et al.Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management.Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45(3):203-33. doi:10.1080/15563650701226192Friedman RA.Antidepressants' black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-8. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate).
Liebelt EL.An update on antidepressant toxicity: An evolution of unique toxicities to master.Clin Ped Emer Med. 2008;9(1):24-34. doi:10.1016/j.cpem.2007.11.003
Hawton K, Bergen H, Simkin S, et al.Toxicity of antidepressants: rates of suicide relative to prescribing and non-fatal overdose.Br J Psychiatry. 2010;196(5):354-8. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.109.070219
Dubovicky M, Belovicova K, Csatlosova K, Bogi E.Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation.Interdiscip Toxicol. 2017;10(1):30-34. doi:10.1515/intox-2017-0004
Mayo Clinic.Serotonin syndrome - Symptoms and causes.
Woolf AD, Erdman AR, Nelson LS, et al.Tricyclic antidepressant poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management.Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45(3):203-33. doi:10.1080/15563650701226192
Friedman RA.Antidepressants' black-box warning–10 years later.N Engl J Med. 2014;371(18):1666-8. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1408480
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate).
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