Antidepressant Side Effects Including Body Weight, Blood Pressure Changes Vary Depending on Medication

• An comprehensive new investigation determined that the adverse reactions of antidepressants differ significantly by drug.
• Certain medications led to weight loss, whereas other medications resulted in added mass.
• Heart rate and BP furthermore differed markedly among medications.
• Those suffering from ongoing, severe, or troubling unwanted effects should discuss with a physician.

Latest studies has discovered that depression drug adverse reactions may be more diverse than once assumed.

The large-scale research, issued on October 21, analyzed the impact of depression treatments on more than 58,000 individuals within the first 60 days of beginning treatment.

The scientists studied 151 investigations of 30 medications commonly employed to treat clinical depression. Although not every patient encounters side effects, some of the most prevalent recorded in the study were changes in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.

Researchers observed significant differences between antidepressant drugs. For instance, an eight-week course of one medication was associated with an mean weight loss of about 2.4 kg (roughly 5.3 lbs), while another drug individuals added nearly 2 kg in the same duration.

Furthermore, notable fluctuations in cardiac function: fluvoxamine was likely to reduce cardiac rhythm, in contrast nortriptyline increased it, producing a gap of about 21 heartbeats per minute across the two medications. Blood pressure varied as well, with an 11 millimeters of mercury variation seen between one drug and another medication.

Medical specialists observed that the investigation's conclusions aren't recent or surprising to psychiatric specialists.

"We've long known that different antidepressants differ in their influences on weight, blood pressure, and other metabolic indicators," a specialist explained.

"Nevertheless, what is notable about this research is the thorough, comparison-based assessment of these disparities among a wide spectrum of physical indicators utilizing data from more than 58,000 subjects," the specialist noted.

This investigation delivers strong support of the degree of adverse reactions, several of which are more frequent than others. Typical antidepressant medication adverse reactions may encompass:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, irregularity)
• sexual dysfunction (lowered desire, inability to orgasm)
• body weight fluctuations (increase or reduction, depending on the drug)
• sleep problems (inability to sleep or sleepiness)
• oral dehydration, sweating, migraine

Meanwhile, less common but therapeutically relevant side effects may comprise:

• elevations in blood pressure or pulse rate (particularly with SNRIs and some tricyclics)
• low sodium (particularly in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• Corrected QT interval extension (potential of arrhythmia, notably with citalopram and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• diminished feelings or indifference

"An important point to consider here is that there are various varying categories of depression drugs, which lead to the varying negative pharmaceutical reactions," another expert explained.

"Additionally, depression treatments can impact every individual differently, and adverse side effects can range according to the specific drug, dose, and patient factors including metabolic rate or simultaneous health issues."

Although some adverse reactions, like variations in rest, appetite, or energy levels, are fairly typical and often improve over time, others may be less common or continuing.

Antidepressant side effects may vary in severity, which could warrant a adjustment in your drug.

"A modification in antidepressant medication may be necessary if the individual suffers persistent or intolerable adverse reactions that do not improve with duration or management strategies," one specialist said.

"Moreover, if there is an emergence of recent medical issues that may be exacerbated by the existing medication, for example high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, or significant increased body weight."

Individuals may additionally contemplate consulting with your healthcare provider concerning any lack of significant progress in depressive or anxiety-related signs subsequent to an appropriate trial period. The appropriate testing period is generally 4–8 weeks duration at a therapeutic dosage.

Individual choice is additionally important. Certain patients may prefer to avoid specific adverse reactions, such as intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition