Antidepressant Side Effects Including Weight, BP Changes Range by Drug

• A comprehensive new investigation found that the adverse reactions of antidepressant medications vary substantially by drug.
• Certain drugs led to reduced body weight, whereas others resulted in weight gain.
• Heart rate and BP also differed significantly across drugs.
• Patients suffering from continuing, severe, or troubling side effects should consult a medical provider.

Latest studies has discovered that depression drug side effects may be more varied than earlier believed.

The extensive investigation, released on October 21st, assessed the influence of antidepressant drugs on over 58,000 individuals within the beginning two months of beginning therapy.

These scientists studied 151 research projects of 30 pharmaceuticals typically employed to treat major depression. While not every patient develops unwanted effects, certain of the most prevalent recorded in the research were fluctuations in weight, blood pressure, and metabolic indicators.

Researchers observed significant differences across antidepressant medications. As an illustration, an two-month treatment period of one medication was connected with an typical reduction in body weight of approximately 2.4 kilos (approximately 5.3 pounds), whereas another drug patients increased nearly 2 kg in the same duration.

Furthermore, significant fluctuations in heart function: fluvoxamine was likely to decrease heart rate, whereas nortriptyline elevated it, creating a disparity of approximately 21 BPM among the two drugs. Blood pressure varied also, with an 11 mmHg variation seen among one drug and another medication.

Healthcare specialists noted that the study's conclusions aren't recent or surprising to mental health professionals.

"We've long known that different depression drugs vary in their influences on body weight, blood pressure, and additional metabolic indicators," one expert commented.

"Nevertheless, what is notable about this research is the rigorous, comparison-based measurement of these disparities across a broad array of bodily measurements employing data from over 58,000 individuals," this expert commented.

This research delivers comprehensive evidence of the extent of unwanted effects, some of which are more prevalent than different reactions. Frequent antidepressant medication side effects may include:

• stomach problems (queasiness, diarrhea, blockage)
• intimacy issues (reduced sex drive, inability to orgasm)
• mass variations (gain or loss, depending on the agent)
• rest issues (inability to sleep or drowsiness)
• mouth dryness, sweating, head pain

At the same time, less frequent but clinically significant unwanted effects may comprise:

• elevations in blood pressure or heart rate (especially with SNRIs and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced blood sodium (notably in elderly individuals, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs)
• liver enzyme elevations
• Corrected QT interval extension (risk of irregular heartbeat, notably with one medication and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced emotions or apathy

"A key factor to consider here is that there are multiple different classes of antidepressants, which lead to the different adverse medication reactions," a different specialist commented.

"Moreover, depression treatments can impact each patient differently, and unwanted reactions can range based on the specific drug, dosage, and individual considerations like metabolism or comorbidities."

Although some unwanted effects, like variations in rest, appetite, or energy levels, are fairly common and commonly enhance as time passes, other effects may be less typical or continuing.

Antidepressant medication side effects may vary in severity, which could justify a modification in your treatment.

"An modification in depression drug may be warranted if the patient experiences ongoing or unbearable unwanted effects that don't get better with time or supportive care," one expert commented.

"Moreover, if there is an emergence of new health problems that may be exacerbated by the current medication, for instance elevated BP, arrhythmia, or substantial mass addition."

Individuals may also contemplate speaking with your healthcare provider regarding any lack of meaningful enhancement in depressive or worry signs after an sufficient trial period. The sufficient trial period is typically 4–8 weeks at a therapeutic dosage.

Patient choice is additionally crucial. Some people may choose to evade particular adverse reactions, such as intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition