[Adverse effects of antidepressants and anti-manics/mood stabilizers]

Information on the adverse effects of antidepressants and antimanics/mood stabilizers is presented. The adverse effects of antidepressants include pharmacological side-effects, toxic effects, interactions with other drugs, withdrawal syndrome and "jitteriness" syndrome. The most common adverse effects with lithium treatment are polyuriapoly-dipsia, hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological complaints and ECG changes. The adverse effects of carbamazepine and valproate are mild and readily manageable, however problems associated with the hepatic system, the hematopoietic system and the thyroid gland, are important. It seems that no major deficits have been identified in studies of tricyclic antidepressant teratogenicity. Lithium, carbamazepine and valproate carry significant teratogenic effects.