Antidepressant Side Effects Like Body Weight, BP Changes Differ Depending on Medication

• A extensive recent investigation found that the unwanted effects of antidepressant medications differ substantially by drug.
• Certain drugs resulted in decreased mass, while others resulted in increased body weight.
• Cardiac rhythm and arterial pressure additionally diverged notably among drugs.
• Individuals experiencing continuing, serious, or worrisome unwanted effects must speak with a physician.

Recent investigations has discovered that antidepressant medication side effects may be more extensive than previously thought.

The extensive investigation, published on October 21st, assessed the impact of antidepressant medications on more than 58,000 individuals within the beginning two months of commencing medication.

These scientists analyzed 151 investigations of 30 drugs frequently used to address depression. While not all individuals experiences adverse reactions, some of the most frequent recorded in the investigation were changes in weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic markers.

Researchers observed striking differences among antidepressant medications. As an illustration, an eight-week course of one medication was linked to an typical decrease in mass of approximately 2.4 kilograms (about 5.3 pounds), whereas another drug patients added almost 2 kg in the same period.

Additionally, marked fluctuations in cardiac function: one antidepressant often would decrease cardiac rhythm, while another medication increased it, causing a gap of around 21 heartbeats per minute across the two medications. BP fluctuated as well, with an 11 millimeters of mercury difference noted between nortriptyline and doxepin.

Healthcare specialists observed that the investigation's conclusions are not considered recent or surprising to psychiatric specialists.

"It has long been understood that different antidepressant medications differ in their impacts on body weight, BP, and additional metabolic parameters," one specialist explained.

"Nonetheless, what is significant about this research is the thorough, relative measurement of these differences across a extensive spectrum of physical indicators employing information from more than 58,000 subjects," the expert noted.

This research delivers robust evidence of the magnitude of unwanted effects, some of which are more common than different reactions. Common antidepressant medication adverse reactions may include:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (queasiness, diarrhea, irregularity)
• intimacy issues (lowered desire, inability to orgasm)
• mass variations (gain or reduction, according to the agent)
• sleep disturbances (sleeplessness or sedation)
• oral dehydration, moisture, head pain

At the same time, less common but therapeutically relevant adverse reactions may comprise:

• increases in arterial pressure or cardiac rhythm (especially with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and certain tricyclics)
• reduced blood sodium (particularly in elderly individuals, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs)
• increased liver enzymes
• QTc prolongation (potential of arrhythmia, particularly with one medication and some tricyclics)
• reduced emotions or apathy

"An important point to remember here is that there are various distinct classes of depression drugs, which result in the different adverse drug side effects," another professional commented.

"Moreover, antidepressant medications can affect every individual distinctly, and negative side effects can range based on the particular drug, dosage, and patient considerations like body chemistry or comorbidities."

Although some adverse reactions, including changes in rest, hunger, or stamina, are quite typical and commonly improve as time passes, different reactions may be less common or continuing.

Depression drug unwanted effects may differ in seriousness, which could warrant a adjustment in your drug.

"A adjustment in antidepressant medication may be appropriate if the patient encounters persistent or unbearable adverse reactions that fail to enhance with passing days or management strategies," a specialist said.

"Moreover, if there is an appearance of recent medical issues that may be worsened by the existing medication, for instance elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or considerable increased body weight."

Patients may furthermore consider consulting with your healthcare provider about any absence of substantial progress in depressive or anxiety-related signs following an appropriate trial period. The sufficient trial period is generally 4–8 weeks at a therapeutic dose.

Individual inclination is also important. Certain people may want to prevent certain unwanted effects, including sexual problems or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition