Antidepressant Unwanted Effects Including Body Weight, BP Changes Differ by Drug

• A comprehensive new investigation found that the unwanted effects of depression drugs range considerably by drug.
• Certain drugs resulted in weight loss, while others led to weight gain.
• Cardiac rhythm and BP furthermore diverged markedly between medications.
• Patients encountering ongoing, severe, or concerning side effects ought to discuss with a healthcare professional.

Recent studies has revealed that depression drug side effects may be more diverse than earlier believed.

This extensive investigation, published on October 21st, examined the influence of depression treatments on in excess of 58,000 subjects within the initial 60 days of commencing therapy.

These investigators examined 151 research projects of 30 pharmaceuticals commonly employed to manage depression. Although not everyone experiences side effects, certain of the most frequent noted in the research were fluctuations in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic indicators.

The study revealed striking disparities across antidepressant medications. For example, an eight-week course of agomelatine was connected with an mean decrease in mass of approximately 2.4 kilograms (about 5.3 pounds), whereas another drug individuals increased nearly 2 kg in the equivalent period.

Additionally, significant changes in cardiac function: one antidepressant tended to slow pulse rate, while nortriptyline elevated it, producing a gap of approximately 21 beats per minute across the two drugs. Blood pressure varied as well, with an 11 millimeters of mercury variation seen among nortriptyline and another medication.

Healthcare specialists observed that the study's conclusions aren't recent or unexpected to psychiatrists.

"It has long been understood that different antidepressants differ in their effects on weight, arterial pressure, and further metabolic indicators," a expert stated.

"Nonetheless, what is remarkable about this investigation is the rigorous, comparison-based quantification of these variations across a extensive range of physical indicators using information from in excess of 58,000 subjects," the professional noted.

The research offers comprehensive support of the extent of unwanted effects, certain of which are more common than other effects. Typical depression drug adverse reactions may include:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, bowel issues, constipation)
• sexual dysfunction (lowered desire, anorgasmia)
• body weight fluctuations (addition or decrease, based on the agent)
• rest issues (insomnia or drowsiness)
• mouth dryness, perspiration, migraine

Additionally, rarer but clinically significant adverse reactions may include:

• increases in blood pressure or cardiac rhythm (particularly with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• hyponatremia (particularly in older adults, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• increased liver enzymes
• Corrected QT interval lengthening (risk of arrhythmia, especially with one medication and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• emotional blunting or indifference

"An important point to remember in this context is that there are several distinct categories of depression drugs, which lead to the different negative pharmaceutical reactions," a different specialist explained.

"Furthermore, antidepressant drugs can influence every individual distinctly, and adverse effects can range depending on the exact pharmaceutical, amount, and personal considerations such as metabolic rate or comorbidities."

While certain unwanted effects, like fluctuations in rest, appetite, or energy levels, are quite frequent and often enhance with time, other effects may be less typical or longer-lasting.

Depression drug side effects may range in seriousness, which could justify a modification in your treatment.

"An modification in antidepressant medication may be appropriate if the individual encounters continuing or unacceptable unwanted effects that do not improve with passing days or supportive measures," a specialist stated.

"Furthermore, if there is an appearance of recently developed health problems that may be aggravated by the present medication, for example high blood pressure, arrhythmia, or considerable mass addition."

You may also consider consulting with your physician regarding any absence of meaningful improvement in low mood or worry signs following an sufficient testing period. The adequate evaluation duration is usually 4–8 weeks at a treatment amount.

Patient choice is also important. Certain individuals may choose to avoid particular adverse reactions, such as intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition