Antidepressant Side Effects Like Weight, Blood Pressure Variations Vary by Drug

• An large new study determined that the side effects of antidepressant medications range significantly by drug.
• Some medications caused reduced body weight, while others caused added mass.
• Heart rate and arterial pressure furthermore varied markedly between drugs.
• Patients experiencing ongoing, intense, or worrisome side effects ought to speak with a medical provider.

Recent research has revealed that depression drug unwanted effects may be more extensive than once assumed.

This comprehensive research, published on October 21, assessed the impact of antidepressant medications on in excess of 58,000 participants within the first two months of beginning medication.

These investigators analyzed 151 studies of 30 drugs commonly used to manage depression. Although not every patient encounters adverse reactions, several of the most frequent noted in the study were fluctuations in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.

The study revealed striking variations among depression treatments. For example, an 60-day treatment period of agomelatine was connected with an mean reduction in body weight of about 2.4 kilos (approximately 5.3 pounds), whereas another drug users increased almost 2 kg in the equivalent timeframe.

Additionally, significant variations in heart function: fluvoxamine often would decrease heart rate, while nortriptyline raised it, creating a difference of around 21 BPM between the two drugs. Blood pressure differed too, with an 11 mmHg disparity noted among nortriptyline and doxepin.

Healthcare experts noted that the research's conclusions are not considered recent or surprising to psychiatrists.

"It has long been understood that distinct antidepressant medications vary in their influences on body weight, blood pressure, and further metabolic parameters," one professional explained.

"However, what is significant about this research is the rigorous, comparison-based assessment of these variations across a wide array of bodily measurements utilizing findings from over 58,000 subjects," this professional added.

The research provides robust evidence of the degree of unwanted effects, several of which are more prevalent than others. Typical antidepressant medication unwanted effects may include:

• stomach problems (queasiness, loose stools, blockage)
• sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, anorgasmia)
• body weight fluctuations (increase or loss, according to the medication)
• rest issues (insomnia or sleepiness)
• oral dehydration, perspiration, migraine

Additionally, rarer but medically important adverse reactions may comprise:

• rises in blood pressure or pulse rate (particularly with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclics)
• low sodium (especially in elderly individuals, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• increased liver enzymes
• Corrected QT interval prolongation (risk of irregular heartbeat, especially with one medication and certain tricyclics)
• emotional blunting or apathy

"An important point to note in this context is that there are several distinct classes of depression drugs, which contribute to the distinct negative medication reactions," a different professional explained.

"Additionally, antidepressant drugs can impact each person differently, and unwanted effects can range based on the exact pharmaceutical, amount, and individual elements like body chemistry or comorbidities."

Although several adverse reactions, like changes in sleep, hunger, or stamina, are fairly typical and often get better as time passes, different reactions may be less typical or more persistent.

Depression drug unwanted effects may range in intensity, which could justify a change in your drug.

"An change in depression drug may be appropriate if the patient encounters continuing or unbearable unwanted effects that don't get better with time or management strategies," a expert commented.

"Moreover, if there is an development of recent medical issues that may be aggravated by the existing treatment, such as hypertension, irregular heartbeat, or substantial increased body weight."

Individuals may also consider speaking with your healthcare provider regarding any absence of meaningful improvement in low mood or anxiety symptoms subsequent to an appropriate testing period. An sufficient testing period is typically 4–8 weeks duration at a treatment dose.

Individual choice is also important. Certain people may prefer to evade particular side effects, including sexual problems or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition