Which of the following is NOT a potential side effect of antidepressant medications?

Antidepressant medications can influence various physiological systems, leading to a range of side effects. While weight gain, dry mouth, and sexual dysfunction are commonly reported adverse effects of many antidepressants, increased energy is not typically considered a side effect of these medications, particularly in the context of their primary therapeutic effect.

Most antidepressants are designed to alleviate symptoms of depression, which includes reducing feelings of fatigue and low energy. Instead of increasing energy levels, they often aim to restore a more balanced emotional state, which might lead some patients to report an improvement in energy as their depressive symptoms lessen. However, this is not classified as a side effect of the medication.

Additionally, the side effects of antidepressants can be quite varied depending on the specific class of drugs being used, the individual’s unique physiology, and their overall health profile. While some medications might inadvertently enhance energy levels as a secondary effect of lifting depressive symptoms, this is not the same as stating that increased energy is a side effect associated with the medications themselves. Thus, recognizing that increased energy is not a common adverse effect helps delineate the expected impact of antidepressant therapy on patients.