Antidepressant Side Effects Including Weight, Blood Pressure Variations Differ Depending on Medication

• A comprehensive new study determined that the adverse reactions of antidepressants vary considerably by drug.
• Certain medications led to decreased mass, while other medications resulted in increased body weight.
• Cardiac rhythm and blood pressure furthermore diverged significantly among treatments.
• Those experiencing persistent, serious, or concerning adverse reactions should speak with a physician.

New research has discovered that depression drug side effects may be more extensive than previously thought.

This extensive investigation, released on the 21st of October, analyzed the impact of depression treatments on more than 58,000 individuals within the first eight weeks of commencing treatment.

These researchers examined 151 investigations of 30 medications frequently prescribed to address major depression. Although not every patient experiences unwanted effects, some of the most prevalent observed in the investigation were changes in weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic parameters.

Researchers observed striking disparities across antidepressant drugs. For instance, an eight-week treatment period of one medication was associated with an average reduction in body weight of approximately 2.4 kilos (about 5.3 lbs), while another drug patients gained close to 2 kg in the same timeframe.

Additionally, notable changes in cardiovascular activity: fluvoxamine often would reduce cardiac rhythm, while nortriptyline elevated it, producing a difference of approximately 21 heartbeats per minute among the both treatments. Blood pressure fluctuated as well, with an 11 millimeters of mercury difference observed between one drug and another medication.

Clinical experts noted that the investigation's conclusions are not considered novel or startling to psychiatric specialists.

"Clinicians have long recognized that different antidepressant medications differ in their influences on weight, blood pressure, and further metabolic parameters," a professional commented.

"However, what is significant about this investigation is the comprehensive, relative quantification of these variations throughout a wide spectrum of bodily measurements using data from over 58,000 individuals," this expert added.

The research offers robust proof of the magnitude of unwanted effects, some of which are more common than others. Frequent depression drug side effects may comprise:

• digestive issues (queasiness, bowel issues, irregularity)
• sexual problems (reduced sex drive, orgasmic dysfunction)
• mass variations (increase or decrease, based on the agent)
• sleep problems (sleeplessness or sleepiness)
• oral dehydration, perspiration, migraine

Additionally, less frequent but therapeutically relevant adverse reactions may encompass:

• elevations in arterial pressure or cardiac rhythm (notably with SNRIs and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• low sodium (especially in senior patients, with SSRIs and SNRIs)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• Corrected QT interval lengthening (chance of abnormal heart rhythm, particularly with one medication and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced emotions or indifference

"One thing to remember in this context is that there are several different categories of antidepressant medications, which result in the distinct unwanted drug side effects," a different professional stated.

"Furthermore, antidepressant medications can affect every individual distinctly, and adverse reactions can range based on the exact pharmaceutical, dose, and patient factors including metabolic rate or comorbidities."

Although some adverse reactions, including variations in rest, appetite, or energy levels, are quite frequent and frequently improve as time passes, different reactions may be less typical or longer-lasting.

Depression drug unwanted effects may vary in severity, which could justify a modification in your medication.

"An change in antidepressant may be warranted if the individual suffers continuing or unacceptable unwanted effects that fail to enhance with passing days or supportive care," one expert commented.

"Moreover, if there is an appearance of recent medical conditions that may be exacerbated by the current medication, such as hypertension, arrhythmia, or significant increased body weight."

Patients may furthermore contemplate consulting with your doctor regarding any lack of meaningful improvement in low mood or anxiety-related indicators subsequent to an sufficient evaluation duration. An sufficient testing period is usually 4–8 weeks at a treatment dosage.

Patient choice is also significant. Certain patients may prefer to evade particular side effects, such as sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition