Real-World Data on SSRI Antidepressant Side Effects

In this article, we provide information on patient-reported side effects from a cross-section of real-world patients. Specifically, data on side effects was tabulated for patients taking one of the following selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants: citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline. Thirty-eight percent of the approximately 700 patients surveyed reported having experienced a side effect as a result of taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant; the most common side effects mentioned were sexual functioning, sleepiness, and weight gain. Only 25 percent of the side effects were considered "very bothersome" or "extremely bothersome." Regardless of how bothersome the side effects were, however, only 40 percent of patients mentioned the side effects to their prescribing physicians.