Antidepressant Side Effects Including Body Weight, Blood Pressure Changes Differ by Drug

• A comprehensive recent study discovered that the unwanted effects of antidepressant medications differ substantially by drug.
• Certain pharmaceuticals resulted in weight loss, whereas different drugs led to increased body weight.
• Heart rate and arterial pressure furthermore diverged significantly among treatments.
• Individuals suffering from ongoing, serious, or troubling adverse reactions should speak with a medical provider.

New studies has discovered that antidepressant medication adverse reactions may be more diverse than previously thought.

This extensive research, released on October 21st, assessed the influence of antidepressant drugs on in excess of 58,000 individuals within the initial 60 days of commencing therapy.

The investigators studied 151 studies of 30 medications typically prescribed to treat depression. While not all individuals encounters adverse reactions, some of the most common recorded in the study were changes in body weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic parameters.

The study revealed significant variations among antidepressant drugs. For example, an two-month treatment period of agomelatine was connected with an typical decrease in mass of approximately 2.4 kilograms (about 5.3 pounds), while another drug individuals added close to 2 kg in the identical timeframe.

Additionally, notable variations in heart function: fluvoxamine tended to reduce heart rate, in contrast nortriptyline increased it, causing a gap of about 21 heartbeats per minute among the both treatments. Arterial pressure fluctuated too, with an 11 millimeters of mercury variation observed across one drug and another medication.

Medical experts commented that the study's results are not considered recent or startling to psychiatric specialists.

"Clinicians have long recognized that distinct depression drugs range in their influences on body weight, arterial pressure, and other metabolic measures," a professional stated.

"Nonetheless, what is remarkable about this investigation is the thorough, comparison-based quantification of these differences across a wide range of physiological parameters using findings from more than 58,000 individuals," this expert commented.

The research delivers strong support of the extent of side effects, several of which are more frequent than others. Common antidepressant unwanted effects may include:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, bowel issues, irregularity)
• sexual problems (reduced sex drive, inability to orgasm)
• body weight fluctuations (addition or reduction, based on the agent)
• sleep disturbances (inability to sleep or sedation)
• oral dehydration, sweating, headache

At the same time, rarer but therapeutically relevant adverse reactions may encompass:

• increases in blood pressure or pulse rate (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• hyponatremia (particularly in older adults, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• QTc extension (chance of arrhythmia, particularly with one medication and some tricyclics)
• diminished feelings or lack of interest

"An important point to remember regarding this matter is that there are several distinct categories of depression drugs, which lead to the different adverse drug side effects," another professional explained.

"Additionally, antidepressant drugs can influence each person variably, and adverse effects can range based on the exact pharmaceutical, dosage, and personal factors such as metabolism or simultaneous health issues."

Although several side effects, including fluctuations in rest, hunger, or energy levels, are reasonably common and commonly get better as time passes, other effects may be less typical or continuing.

Depression drug adverse reactions may differ in intensity, which could justify a adjustment in your treatment.

"A change in antidepressant medication may be necessary if the person encounters continuing or unbearable side effects that don't get better with passing days or supportive measures," a specialist commented.

"Additionally, if there is an development of recently developed health problems that may be exacerbated by the current medication, for instance high blood pressure, arrhythmia, or substantial mass addition."

Individuals may also think about talking with your healthcare provider concerning any lack of meaningful progress in depressive or worry symptoms following an sufficient trial period. An adequate trial period is typically 4–8 weeks at a treatment dose.

Personal preference is additionally significant. Certain patients may want to evade specific side effects, such as intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition