Remembering that side effects usually decrease as the beneficial effects of the medication increases is helpful. Several classes of antidepressant medication exist. Each class has side effects most commonly associated with it. However, each person's reaction to an antidepressant is different, even within a given class. A person on a particular medication may have a few mild side effects while another finds that medication intolerable.
Tricyclics are one of the oldest classes of medications.
At one time a doctor's front line treatment, now they are less frequently prescribed because they may have more side effects and are much easier with which to commit suicide. Tricyclics likely work by preventing the cells which secrete neurotransmitters from reabsorbing them. A small number of people may also experience sweating, racing heart, low blood pressure, allergic skin reactions and sun sensitivity. However, if one has difficulty breathing, a fever with increased sweating, high or low blood pressure, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, weakness or any other unusual symptom one must call the prescribing doctor immediately. MAOIs have been around as long as tricyclics.