Antidepressant Medication Adverse Reactions Including Body Weight, BP Changes Vary Depending on Medication

• A large recent investigation determined that the side effects of antidepressants vary substantially by drug.
• Some drugs caused weight loss, whereas others led to added mass.
• Pulse rate and blood pressure also diverged markedly across drugs.
• Those encountering persistent, serious, or troubling side effects should consult a physician.

Recent studies has found that antidepressant medication unwanted effects may be more extensive than once assumed.

The comprehensive study, issued on October 21, analyzed the impact of depression treatments on over 58,000 subjects within the initial two months of commencing treatment.

The researchers examined 151 investigations of 30 medications typically prescribed to address depression. Although not all individuals experiences unwanted effects, certain of the most prevalent observed in the study were fluctuations in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic parameters.

The study revealed significant variations between depression treatments. For instance, an 60-day regimen of agomelatine was connected with an average reduction in body weight of around 2.4 kg (roughly 5.3 pounds), while maprotiline individuals increased close to 2 kg in the equivalent period.

Furthermore, marked variations in heart function: fluvoxamine tended to decrease heart rate, while another medication increased it, producing a gap of approximately 21 heartbeats per minute between the two medications. BP differed too, with an 11 mmHg difference noted between nortriptyline and another medication.

Medical specialists noted that the research's results are not recent or surprising to mental health professionals.

"It has long been understood that distinct antidepressant medications range in their impacts on body weight, BP, and further metabolic parameters," one specialist commented.

"However, what is significant about this study is the rigorous, comparison-based assessment of these disparities throughout a broad range of bodily measurements employing data from over 58,000 participants," this expert commented.

The investigation delivers comprehensive support of the extent of adverse reactions, several of which are more prevalent than others. Frequent antidepressant side effects may encompass:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (queasiness, diarrhea, constipation)
• sexual problems (reduced sex drive, orgasmic dysfunction)
• body weight fluctuations (increase or loss, depending on the drug)
• rest issues (inability to sleep or drowsiness)
• oral dehydration, moisture, migraine

At the same time, less common but medically important unwanted effects may include:

• increases in arterial pressure or cardiac rhythm (notably with SNRIs and some tricyclics)
• low sodium (notably in senior patients, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• Corrected QT interval prolongation (risk of irregular heartbeat, especially with citalopram and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• diminished feelings or indifference

"An important point to consider here is that there are several distinct types of antidepressant medications, which contribute to the distinct unwanted drug side effects," another expert commented.

"Moreover, antidepressant medications can affect each person variably, and unwanted side effects can vary based on the particular medication, dosage, and individual factors like metabolic rate or comorbidities."

Although some unwanted effects, such as fluctuations in rest, hunger, or energy levels, are quite common and frequently enhance over time, other effects may be less frequent or longer-lasting.

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

"An change in depression drug may be warranted if the person suffers persistent or intolerable unwanted effects that fail to enhance with duration or supportive care," a professional commented.

"Furthermore, if there is an appearance of new medical conditions that may be worsened by the present treatment, for instance hypertension, arrhythmia, or considerable increased body weight."

Patients may additionally consider speaking with your physician concerning any absence of meaningful enhancement in low mood or worry signs following an sufficient trial period. The appropriate evaluation duration is typically 4–8 weeks at a treatment dose.

Individual choice is furthermore significant. Certain patients may want to prevent specific adverse reactions, including sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition