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

• A comprehensive new research discovered that the unwanted effects of antidepressants vary substantially by drug.
• Certain medications resulted in reduced body weight, while other medications led to increased body weight.
• Cardiac rhythm and BP also differed significantly between drugs.
• Those suffering from ongoing, severe, or concerning unwanted effects ought to discuss with a physician.

Recent research has found that antidepressant medication unwanted effects may be more extensive than earlier believed.

This comprehensive research, released on October 21, assessed the effect of depression treatments on more than 58,000 subjects within the first eight weeks of starting treatment.

The scientists studied 151 investigations of 30 pharmaceuticals commonly used to manage depression. While not every patient develops side effects, several of the most frequent observed in the study were fluctuations in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.

There were significant disparities across depression treatments. For example, an two-month treatment period of agomelatine was connected with an mean weight loss of approximately 2.4 kilograms (about 5.3 pounds), while another drug users gained close to 2 kg in the same timeframe.

Additionally, marked changes in cardiac function: fluvoxamine tended to decrease heart rate, while another medication raised it, causing a difference of approximately 21 beats per minute across the two drugs. Blood pressure fluctuated as well, with an 11 mmHg variation seen across one drug and another medication.

Medical experts observed that the investigation's results aren't novel or startling to psychiatrists.

"It has long been understood that different antidepressant medications range in their impacts on weight, arterial pressure, and further metabolic indicators," one expert stated.

"Nonetheless, what is notable about this research is the comprehensive, comparison-based quantification of these variations throughout a extensive range of physical indicators using data from in excess of 58,000 participants," this professional noted.

The research offers robust evidence of the degree of side effects, several of which are more common than different reactions. Typical antidepressant medication unwanted effects may comprise:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (sickness, bowel issues, irregularity)
• intimacy issues (decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction)
• weight changes (addition or decrease, according to the medication)
• sleep disturbances (insomnia or sedation)
• oral dehydration, moisture, head pain

Meanwhile, less frequent but clinically significant side effects may encompass:

• increases in arterial pressure or cardiac rhythm (especially with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclics)
• low sodium (especially in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• QTc prolongation (potential of abnormal heart rhythm, particularly with one medication and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced emotions or indifference

"A key factor to remember in this context is that there are multiple distinct categories of depression drugs, which lead to the distinct unwanted pharmaceutical reactions," another expert explained.

"Moreover, depression treatments can impact each person distinctly, and unwanted effects can range according to the particular medication, amount, and patient considerations like metabolism or comorbidities."

While several side effects, like variations in rest, hunger, or stamina, are fairly common and commonly enhance over time, others may be less frequent or more persistent.

Antidepressant side effects may vary in severity, which could justify a change in your drug.

"A modification in antidepressant medication may be warranted if the patient encounters continuing or intolerable adverse reactions that do not improve with passing days or supportive care," a expert said.

"Additionally, if there is an emergence of recently developed medical issues that may be worsened by the existing treatment, such as elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or considerable increased body weight."

You may furthermore think about speaking with your doctor regarding any deficiency of significant enhancement in depressive or worry indicators subsequent to an adequate trial period. An appropriate testing period is usually 4–8 weeks' time at a treatment amount.

Individual inclination is additionally significant. Some people may want to prevent specific adverse reactions, like intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition