Antidepressant Medication Unwanted Effects Including Body Weight, Blood Pressure Changes Range Depending on Medication

• A extensive latest study determined that the unwanted effects of antidepressants range substantially by drug.
• Some pharmaceuticals resulted in reduced body weight, whereas different drugs led to weight gain.
• Cardiac rhythm and blood pressure furthermore differed notably across medications.
• Individuals suffering from ongoing, severe, or troubling side effects should discuss with a physician.

New research has revealed that depression drug side effects may be more extensive than once assumed.

The extensive investigation, released on the 21st of October, assessed the effect of antidepressant medications on more than 58,000 participants within the first two months of beginning treatment.

These researchers studied 151 studies of 30 medications typically prescribed to treat clinical depression. While not all individuals encounters side effects, some of the most frequent recorded in the investigation were changes in weight, BP, and metabolic indicators.

The study revealed notable disparities across antidepressant drugs. For example, an eight-week regimen of agomelatine was linked to an typical weight loss of around 2.4 kilograms (about 5.3 lbs), whereas another drug users increased close to 2 kg in the identical period.

Furthermore, marked variations in heart function: fluvoxamine tended to decrease pulse rate, whereas nortriptyline raised it, causing a disparity of approximately 21 heartbeats per minute between the two medications. Arterial pressure differed too, with an 11 mmHg variation observed across one drug and another medication.

Medical professionals commented that the research's conclusions aren't novel or surprising to mental health professionals.

"We've long known that various antidepressant medications range in their impacts on weight, blood pressure, and other metabolic indicators," one specialist commented.

"Nevertheless, what is notable about this research is the thorough, comparison-based assessment of these disparities among a wide range of physiological parameters employing data from more than 58,000 subjects," this specialist noted.

This research delivers comprehensive evidence of the degree of unwanted effects, certain of which are more frequent than others. Frequent antidepressant adverse reactions may include:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (sickness, loose stools, constipation)
• sexual problems (reduced sex drive, inability to orgasm)
• body weight fluctuations (addition or decrease, based on the agent)
• sleep problems (inability to sleep or drowsiness)
• mouth dryness, moisture, migraine

At the same time, less frequent but clinically significant side effects may include:

• elevations in arterial pressure or heart rate (especially with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclics)
• hyponatremia (notably in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs)
• liver enzyme elevations
• Corrected QT interval prolongation (potential of arrhythmia, particularly with citalopram and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced emotions or indifference

"One thing to consider regarding this matter is that there are multiple distinct categories of antidepressant medications, which result in the distinct adverse drug effects," a different specialist commented.

"Furthermore, antidepressant drugs can influence each patient differently, and negative effects can range according to the specific drug, dosage, and patient factors including metabolism or simultaneous health issues."

Although some side effects, like changes in rest, hunger, or vitality, are fairly common and frequently improve with time, different reactions may be less frequent or continuing.

Antidepressant adverse reactions may vary in intensity, which could warrant a modification in your treatment.

"A adjustment in antidepressant may be warranted if the person encounters continuing or unbearable unwanted effects that do not improve with duration or supportive care," one expert commented.

"Moreover, if there is an appearance of new medical issues that may be worsened by the current treatment, such as hypertension, arrhythmia, or significant mass addition."

You may additionally contemplate consulting with your healthcare provider about any deficiency of substantial improvement in low mood or anxiety-related symptoms subsequent to an appropriate testing period. An adequate trial period is usually 4–8 weeks' time at a therapeutic dose.

Individual preference is also significant. Certain people may prefer to evade particular adverse reactions, like sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition