Depression Treatment Medication Relieving Constipation Caused by Antidepressants By Nancy Schimelpfening Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be. Learn about our editorial process Nancy Schimelpfening Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on July 16, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on July 16, 2020 Print Christian Martinez Kempin/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Symptoms Treatment Fecal Impaction People who use medications like antidepressants may potentially become constipated. When a person has constipation, this means that his or her bowel movements have become more difficult and/or less frequent than what is normal. Although what is considered normal varies, most people will have a bowel movement somewhere between three times a day to once or twice a week. If the time between bowel movements begins to stretch longer, however, then it can become very uncomfortable when they finally do occur. In extreme cases, people may experience what is known as fecal impaction, in which a hard mass of stool remains stuck in the rectum and cannot be passed. Constipation is a common side effect of tricyclic antidepressants, which block the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. When this neurotransmitter is blocked, the muscular contractions which propel waste matter through the digestive tract are slowed and the intestinal secretions which lubricate the passage of feces are drier, causing constipation. Although constipation is rare with newer medications like the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), it is still possible that you may experience irregularity with some of these agents as well. Constipation Symptoms When people have constipation, they may have unpleasant symptoms such as the following: Feeling like they didn't completely empty their bowelLess frequent bowel movementsSmall or hard stoolsStraining during bowel movementsSwollen or painful abdomenVomiting Relieving Constipation The following are some tips for relieving constipation caused by an antidepressant: Drink plenty of water.Eat high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.Get regular exercise.Take fiber supplements.Use stool softeners or laxatives if other steps to relieve constipation have failed. Fecal Impaction Fecal impaction can occur with long-term constipation and can potentially have some very serious complications, including tearing of the rectum or colon. If a person is experiencing fecal impaction after having long-term constipation, they may begin to have the following additional symptoms: Bladder pressure or loss of bladder controlFast heartbeat or dizziness when straining to pass stoolLeakage of liquid stools or sudden watery diarrheaLower back painRectal bleedingSignificant cramping or bloating In the event that you have already become impacted, your doctor will take steps to remove the impacted stool. This may be done by the use of warm mineral oil enemas to soften and lubricate the stool, manual removal of the impaction or laxatives. Very rarely, surgery may necessary to remove an impaction. People who have had a fecal impaction will also need to undergo a bowel retraining program, possibly including stool softeners, fiber supplements, dietary changes, special exercises, and other techniques. A Word From Verywell If you are experiencing chronic constipation that is not relieved by self-help measures, it is very important to speak with your personal physician for advice. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression. Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Santarsieri D, Schwartz TL. Antidepressant efficacy and side-effect burden: a quick guide for clinicians. Drugs Context. 2015;4:212290. doi:10.7573/dic.212290 Obokhare I. Fecal impaction: a cause for concern? Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012;25(1):53-8. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1301760 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of constipation. Updated May 2018. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment for constipation. Updated May 2018. Additional Reading Patel, Sonal M., and Anthony J. Lembo. "Chapter 12 - Constipation." Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. Eds. Mark Feldman et. al. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Sauders Elsevier, 2006.