Antidepressant Side Effects Like Weight, BP Fluctuations Range by Drug

• A extensive new investigation found that the unwanted effects of antidepressant medications vary significantly by drug.
• Certain drugs caused reduced body weight, whereas different drugs led to added mass.
• Pulse rate and blood pressure additionally diverged notably between medications.
• Patients experiencing ongoing, severe, or troubling side effects ought to speak with a physician.

Recent studies has revealed that antidepressant medication unwanted effects may be more varied than earlier believed.

The large-scale study, published on the 21st of October, examined the influence of antidepressant drugs on in excess of 58,000 individuals within the beginning eight weeks of commencing treatment.

The scientists analyzed 151 investigations of 30 medications typically prescribed to manage depression. Although not all individuals experiences unwanted effects, certain of the most frequent recorded in the study were fluctuations in weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic parameters.

The study revealed significant variations across antidepressant medications. As an illustration, an eight-week treatment period of agomelatine was connected with an typical decrease in mass of around 2.4 kilograms (about 5.3 lbs), whereas another drug patients gained almost 2 kg in the equivalent period.

Furthermore, marked changes in cardiac function: one antidepressant often would decrease cardiac rhythm, while nortriptyline raised it, causing a disparity of about 21 BPM between the both treatments. Blood pressure differed as well, with an 11 mmHg variation seen among one drug and another medication.

Healthcare specialists noted that the study's results aren't novel or unexpected to mental health professionals.

"It has long been understood that distinct depression drugs differ in their impacts on weight, arterial pressure, and further metabolic measures," one expert stated.

"Nevertheless, what is significant about this study is the thorough, comparative measurement of these differences across a broad spectrum of physiological parameters utilizing findings from in excess of 58,000 participants," this specialist added.

The study delivers comprehensive evidence of the magnitude of adverse reactions, some of which are more common than different reactions. Frequent depression drug unwanted effects may encompass:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (sickness, bowel issues, constipation)
• intimacy issues (lowered desire, inability to orgasm)
• body weight fluctuations (gain or loss, according to the agent)
• sleep disturbances (sleeplessness or sedation)
• mouth dryness, moisture, head pain

Meanwhile, less common but therapeutically relevant side effects may include:

• increases in arterial pressure or pulse rate (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• hyponatremia (particularly in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• QTc lengthening (potential of arrhythmia, particularly with citalopram and certain tricyclics)
• reduced emotions or lack of interest

"One thing to remember in this context is that there are several varying types of antidepressant medications, which result in the different negative drug side effects," another specialist commented.

"Furthermore, depression treatments can impact each person differently, and adverse reactions can differ based on the specific drug, dosage, and patient elements such as metabolism or co-occurring conditions."

While several side effects, such as changes in sleep, hunger, or vitality, are quite typical and frequently enhance over time, other effects may be less frequent or longer-lasting.

Antidepressant medication unwanted effects may differ in severity, which could require a adjustment in your treatment.

"A adjustment in antidepressant medication may be appropriate if the person suffers ongoing or unbearable adverse reactions that don't get better with time or supportive measures," one expert said.

"Moreover, if there is an development of recently developed medical issues that may be worsened by the current medication, such as elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or substantial increased body weight."

You may additionally contemplate speaking with your doctor concerning any absence of significant progress in depressive or anxiety-related signs after an sufficient evaluation duration. An adequate trial period is usually 4–8 weeks' time at a therapeutic dosage.

Patient preference is additionally crucial. Certain patients may prefer to evade particular adverse reactions, such as intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition