Antidepressant side effects - please help!

[Bouquetsofdynomite]

My DH took his first escitalopram (SSRI) pill yesterday lunchtime and has spent the whole night shaking uncontrollably, unable to sleep, nauseous and feeling more miserable than ever. These are all side effects as mentioned in the packet but is it really going to last 2 wks? Please can anyone suggest anything I can do to help him in the meantime? My mum is buying some herbal sleep pills (GP said Kalms would be ok) as I think if he could sleep it would help and I can't leave him on his own.

I think that this wearsoff over a few days- hang on - let me look in my drug book....

the nausea and vomiting should wear off quickly- try taking each dose with, or after food.
insomnia could be to do with time of dose- if it continues, contact GP to see if dosage times can be changed.

Felling miserable- This will wear off gradually ( over the next few weeks, not immediatly)

His body is just trying to get used to the drug, his side effects are quite common and will wear off over time.

(this is all from a psychiatric drug book btw- not from my ow mind!)

I had a similar reaction when I first started taking ADs. I found it really helped to take the tablet directly before going to bed - as I then slept through the worst of the side effects. It will improve though, tell him to hang on in there.

Thank you. I knew the side effects were likely but they're so ironic I didn't really believe they would actually happen! He probably won't want to take another one but he's got to get himself strong enough to return to work so he can look for a less stressful job. More irony.

I'm on my second packet. The first night was the worst, the second not so bad and by the third it was ok. By day 4 I was feeling fine no sickness or anything. They do make you feel like you are baing poisined but it really does not last long!

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Good to hear thanks. Might come back here for a glass of wine and a little cry later if he manages to get some sleep - I've been wound up tight like Bree VanderCamp for the last 24hrs. Cuddled poor DH through another bad trip earlier tonight but he's perked up slightly now. It absolutely breaks my heart to see him like this.