Antidepressant Medication Unwanted Effects Including Weight, Blood Pressure Fluctuations Differ Based on Pharmaceutical

• An comprehensive new study found that the unwanted effects of depression drugs range significantly by drug.
• Certain drugs caused weight loss, while different drugs led to increased body weight.
• Pulse rate and blood pressure additionally diverged notably across drugs.
• Those encountering ongoing, serious, or concerning unwanted effects must speak with a medical provider.

Latest research has revealed that antidepressant medication unwanted effects may be more extensive than earlier believed.

This large-scale study, issued on October 21, analyzed the effect of antidepressant drugs on over 58,000 subjects within the beginning eight weeks of commencing treatment.

The researchers examined 151 studies of 30 pharmaceuticals typically prescribed to manage clinical depression. While not all individuals experiences unwanted effects, some of the most prevalent observed in the investigation were changes in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.

The study revealed striking variations across antidepressant drugs. For instance, an two-month course of agomelatine was linked to an typical reduction in body weight of approximately 2.4 kilos (about 5.3 lbs), while maprotiline individuals added close to 2 kg in the same period.

Additionally, marked changes in cardiovascular activity: fluvoxamine tended to reduce heart rate, in contrast nortriptyline elevated it, causing a gap of about 21 heartbeats per minute across the two drugs. BP varied as well, with an 11 mmHg difference noted among nortriptyline and another medication.

Clinical specialists commented that the investigation's findings are not recent or unexpected to psychiatric specialists.

"Clinicians have long recognized that distinct antidepressant medications vary in their effects on body weight, arterial pressure, and other metabolic measures," one expert commented.

"However, what is significant about this study is the thorough, relative measurement of these differences across a extensive range of bodily measurements employing information from more than 58,000 subjects," this specialist noted.

This study delivers comprehensive proof of the extent of unwanted effects, some of which are more frequent than others. Frequent depression drug adverse reactions may comprise:

• stomach problems (nausea, loose stools, irregularity)
• sexual problems (reduced sex drive, orgasmic dysfunction)
• weight changes (increase or loss, based on the drug)
• sleep problems (insomnia or drowsiness)
• mouth dryness, sweating, headache

Additionally, rarer but clinically significant unwanted effects may comprise:

• elevations in BP or cardiac rhythm (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and certain tricyclics)
• hyponatremia (particularly in senior patients, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• liver enzyme elevations
• QTc prolongation (risk of irregular heartbeat, especially with one medication and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced emotions or indifference

"A key factor to consider in this context is that there are various distinct types of antidepressant medications, which lead to the different unwanted medication reactions," a different professional explained.

"Additionally, depression treatments can impact every individual variably, and unwanted side effects can range depending on the particular medication, dosage, and personal elements like metabolic rate or co-occurring conditions."

Although several side effects, like changes in sleep, appetite, or vitality, are fairly typical and frequently enhance over time, different reactions may be less typical or continuing.

Depression drug side effects may vary in intensity, which could justify a change in your medication.

"An change in antidepressant may be appropriate if the patient encounters persistent or unacceptable unwanted effects that do not improve with passing days or supportive care," one specialist said.

"Furthermore, if there is an emergence of recent medical issues that may be aggravated by the current medication, such as hypertension, irregular heartbeat, or substantial weight gain."

Patients may additionally think about speaking with your doctor about any deficiency of substantial improvement in depressive or anxiety symptoms subsequent to an adequate evaluation duration. An sufficient evaluation duration is typically 4–8 weeks at a effective dosage.

Personal preference is furthermore crucial. Certain individuals may choose to evade specific adverse reactions, like sexual problems or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition