Depression Drug Side Effects Like Weight, BP Changes Differ Depending on Medication

• A comprehensive new investigation found that the side effects of antidepressants vary significantly by drug.
• Certain medications resulted in decreased mass, whereas different drugs caused added mass.
• Heart rate and arterial pressure also varied notably among treatments.
• Patients suffering from persistent, serious, or worrisome unwanted effects must speak with a physician.

New studies has discovered that antidepressant unwanted effects may be more varied than previously thought.

The large-scale investigation, issued on October 21, analyzed the effect of antidepressant medications on more than 58,000 individuals within the beginning two months of starting treatment.

The investigators analyzed 151 investigations of 30 drugs frequently used to treat clinical depression. While not every patient experiences unwanted effects, certain of the most frequent recorded in the research were changes in weight, blood pressure, and metabolic parameters.

Researchers observed notable variations among antidepressant drugs. For example, an eight-week regimen of agomelatine was linked to an typical reduction in body weight of around 2.4 kg (about 5.3 pounds), while another drug users added almost 2 kg in the same duration.

Additionally, notable changes in heart function: fluvoxamine often would reduce heart rate, while nortriptyline raised it, causing a disparity of approximately 21 beats per minute between the both treatments. Blood pressure varied too, with an 11 millimeters of mercury disparity noted across one drug and another medication.

Medical professionals noted that the study's findings are not considered recent or startling to mental health professionals.

"Clinicians have long recognized that different antidepressants differ in their impacts on weight, blood pressure, and additional metabolic parameters," one specialist stated.

"However, what is notable about this study is the comprehensive, comparison-based measurement of these disparities among a broad range of physiological parameters using information from more than 58,000 participants," this expert noted.

The investigation provides robust support of the extent of unwanted effects, some of which are more prevalent than others. Frequent antidepressant side effects may include:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, bowel issues, constipation)
• intimacy issues (reduced sex drive, inability to orgasm)
• mass variations (increase or reduction, according to the drug)
• sleep disturbances (inability to sleep or sleepiness)
• oral dehydration, perspiration, head pain

At the same time, rarer but clinically significant unwanted effects may include:

• rises in blood pressure or heart rate (especially with SNRIs and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• hyponatremia (especially in elderly individuals, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• increased liver enzymes
• QTc extension (risk of irregular heartbeat, particularly with one medication and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• emotional blunting or lack of interest

"One thing to consider here is that there are various different categories of antidepressant medications, which lead to the different negative pharmaceutical effects," a different specialist explained.

"Moreover, antidepressant drugs can affect each patient variably, and negative side effects can range according to the exact medication, dose, and personal factors like metabolism or simultaneous health issues."

While several unwanted effects, including changes in rest, appetite, or vitality, are quite typical and often get better with time, different reactions may be less frequent or more persistent.

Antidepressant adverse reactions may vary in intensity, which could justify a adjustment in your medication.

"A change in antidepressant may be necessary if the patient experiences ongoing or unbearable adverse reactions that fail to enhance with passing days or supportive measures," one professional stated.

"Moreover, if there is an development of new medical issues that may be worsened by the existing medication, such as high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, or significant weight gain."

Patients may additionally consider talking with your doctor about any absence of substantial improvement in depressive or anxiety indicators following an adequate trial period. An appropriate evaluation duration is typically 4–8 weeks at a therapeutic dose.

Personal choice is also important. Certain patients may prefer to avoid certain adverse reactions, like sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition