A Father’s Unexpected Side Effect from Antidepressants

A 34-year-old father from the U.S. shocks his local medical community after an antidepressant he took changed the color of his skin and face beyond recognition.

"Doctors have no idea what caused my skin to change," says the man, named Tyler Monk. According to him, even in the first week after taking the medication, he noticed a change in his skin tone. "This happened at the beginning of last year. I was diagnosed by my family doctor with depression and anxiety and was given a drug called fluoxetine," Monk recalls in a series of TikTok videos where he shares the terrible experiences he’s been going through since then.

The drug belongs to the SSRI group, which includes Prozac and Prisma. "Not only did the drug not alleviate the feeling of depression—I continued to feel like a 'prisoner' within my own mind—but after a few months of use, my skin suddenly began to darken more and more."

Many dermatologists have examined him since, some experts in their field, but no one has yet determined why his skin tone is changing due to the use of the drug. "At first, they claimed I had sun sensitivity, so I wore long clothes even in the summer, but the problem wasn't solved. My skin continued to get darker and darker."

Now, Monk seeks to raise awareness of the potentially destructive effects of chemical medications on our bodies and the caution and research we must undertake before taking them—no matter how important they may be. "I worry about my husband's health," says Tyler’s wife, who candidly reveals all the side effects her husband suffers from since taking the drug. "I don't really mind his skin color. I just hope he feels good and that it won't harm his health."