Repeated dosing may be necessary to achieve the desired reduction in tone. Although not addictive in the typical sense of the word, these medicines all must be started and stopped under the supervision of a physician. Anticonvulsant and antianxiety medications if stopped abruptly can cause seizures and hallucinations. Stopping antidepressants too quickly can result in insomnia and agitation. Suddenly stopping antihypertensives can cause rebound elevation in blood pressure.
All medicines have a main therapeutic effect and side effects.
Your physician can work with you to find a medicine that works for you while causing the fewest side effects. Occasionally, side effects must be tolerated if no other options exist. Antidepressants work by increasing the amount of either serotonin or norepinephrine at the neuronal connections called synapses. In addition to depression, this effect may be useful in vascular headache management, chronic pain syndromes, sleep disorders, and balance problems. Some degree of depressed mood is expected after a brain injury because of the reaction to the changes experienced.