Antidepressant Medication Unwanted Effects Like Body Weight, Blood Pressure Variations Vary Depending on Medication

• An comprehensive new study found that the unwanted effects of depression drugs range significantly by drug.
• Some medications resulted in reduced body weight, while others led to increased body weight.
• Heart rate and blood pressure additionally differed notably among medications.
• Individuals encountering persistent, serious, or concerning unwanted effects should consult a medical provider.

Recent investigations has discovered that antidepressant unwanted effects may be more varied than earlier believed.

This extensive study, issued on the 21st of October, assessed the influence of depression treatments on more than 58,000 individuals within the first eight weeks of beginning medication.

These investigators analyzed 151 investigations of 30 pharmaceuticals typically employed to treat depression. Although not everyone encounters side effects, some of the most prevalent recorded in the research were variations in body weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic markers.

There were notable variations across antidepressant medications. As an illustration, an 60-day treatment period of agomelatine was connected with an typical decrease in mass of about 2.4 kg (roughly 5.3 lbs), while maprotiline patients added almost 2 kg in the equivalent timeframe.

There were also, significant changes in heart function: one antidepressant was likely to decrease pulse rate, whereas another medication raised it, creating a disparity of approximately 21 BPM between the both treatments. Blood pressure varied as well, with an 11 mmHg variation seen among one drug and another medication.

Clinical experts observed that the study's findings aren't new or unexpected to psychiatric specialists.

"Clinicians have long recognized that various depression drugs vary in their impacts on body weight, arterial pressure, and other metabolic parameters," a specialist explained.

"Nonetheless, what is significant about this investigation is the rigorous, comparative assessment of these differences throughout a wide range of physiological parameters utilizing data from in excess of 58,000 individuals," this specialist added.

This research offers strong support of the extent of side effects, certain of which are more prevalent than different reactions. Frequent antidepressant unwanted effects may include:

• stomach problems (sickness, loose stools, constipation)
• intimacy issues (decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction)
• body weight fluctuations (increase or reduction, according to the drug)
• sleep disturbances (inability to sleep or drowsiness)
• oral dehydration, sweating, head pain

Additionally, less frequent but clinically significant unwanted effects may include:

• rises in BP or heart rate (particularly with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• hyponatremia (particularly in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• increased liver enzymes
• QTc prolongation (risk of arrhythmia, particularly with citalopram and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• emotional blunting or apathy

"An important point to consider in this context is that there are several different classes of antidepressants, which result in the different unwanted pharmaceutical effects," another specialist commented.

"Additionally, antidepressant drugs can influence each person distinctly, and adverse effects can range depending on the particular medication, amount, and personal elements like metabolism or co-occurring conditions."

Although certain unwanted effects, like variations in sleep, appetite, or vitality, are fairly frequent and commonly improve with time, others may be less frequent or more persistent.

Antidepressant medication unwanted effects may range in intensity, which could justify a adjustment in your drug.

"An adjustment in antidepressant medication may be necessary if the patient suffers continuing or unbearable adverse reactions that don't get better with passing days or supportive measures," one expert commented.

"Moreover, if there is an development of new health problems that may be exacerbated by the existing drug, such as hypertension, abnormal heart rhythm, or substantial weight gain."

Individuals may furthermore think about talking with your physician about any deficiency of substantial improvement in depressive or anxiety-related signs following an adequate trial period. An adequate trial period is typically 4–8 weeks duration at a effective amount.

Individual inclination is additionally crucial. Certain people may want to avoid particular adverse reactions, including sexual problems or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition