Antidepressant Side Effects Like Body Weight, Blood Pressure Changes Differ Based on Pharmaceutical

- An extensive recent research discovered that the side effects of antidepressants differ substantially by drug.
- Certain pharmaceuticals resulted in decreased mass, while different drugs caused weight gain.
- Pulse rate and arterial pressure furthermore differed markedly between medications.
- Those suffering from ongoing, severe, or concerning unwanted effects ought to consult a medical provider.
Latest studies has found that antidepressant medication unwanted effects may be more diverse than earlier believed.
This extensive research, issued on the 21st of October, analyzed the effect of antidepressant drugs on over 58,000 individuals within the initial two months of starting treatment.
These scientists analyzed 151 studies of 30 medications commonly employed to address depression. While not everyone encounters unwanted effects, some of the most frequent noted in the research were fluctuations in weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic indicators.
Researchers observed striking disparities between depression treatments. For instance, an eight-week treatment period of one medication was connected with an mean decrease in mass of around 2.4 kilos (approximately 5.3 lbs), whereas another drug patients increased close to 2 kg in the identical timeframe.
There were also, significant variations in cardiac function: fluvoxamine tended to reduce heart rate, whereas another medication elevated it, causing a gap of about 21 heartbeats per minute among the two medications. Arterial pressure fluctuated also, with an 11 millimeters of mercury difference seen across nortriptyline and another medication.
Depression Drug Unwanted Effects Include a Broad Range
Medical experts commented that the study's results are not recent or unexpected to mental health professionals.
"Clinicians have long recognized that different antidepressant medications range in their effects on body weight, BP, and further metabolic parameters," a specialist commented.
"Nonetheless, what is remarkable about this investigation is the comprehensive, relative measurement of these variations among a extensive spectrum of physical indicators utilizing data from in excess of 58,000 participants," this expert added.
This research delivers robust proof of the magnitude of unwanted effects, certain of which are more frequent than others. Typical antidepressant medication unwanted effects may include:
- gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, blockage)
- sexual problems (decreased libido, inability to orgasm)
- mass variations (increase or loss, according to the agent)
- rest issues (sleeplessness or sedation)
- dry mouth, sweating, headache
Additionally, rarer but clinically significant unwanted effects may comprise:
- rises in blood pressure or heart rate (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclics)
- hyponatremia (notably in older adults, with SSRIs and SNRIs)
- elevated hepatic parameters
- Corrected QT interval prolongation (chance of arrhythmia, notably with one medication and certain tricyclics)
- diminished feelings or lack of interest
"One thing to note regarding this matter is that there are multiple different types of antidepressant medications, which lead to the distinct negative pharmaceutical side effects," a different expert explained.
"Moreover, antidepressant drugs can affect each person variably, and negative side effects can range according to the exact pharmaceutical, dosage, and personal factors such as metabolism or simultaneous health issues."
While certain adverse reactions, including variations in sleep, hunger, or stamina, are reasonably typical and commonly enhance with time, other effects may be less typical or more persistent.
Speak with Your Physician About Severe Adverse Reactions
Antidepressant side effects may vary in seriousness, which could warrant a change in your drug.
"An change in antidepressant medication may be warranted if the individual encounters ongoing or intolerable side effects that fail to enhance with duration or supportive care," a professional stated.
"Additionally, if there is an appearance of recent medical conditions that may be worsened by the present medication, for instance hypertension, arrhythmia, or significant mass addition."
Patients may also consider speaking with your healthcare provider concerning any lack of substantial improvement in depression-related or anxiety symptoms following an adequate trial period. An adequate trial period is typically 4–8 weeks at a therapeutic dosage.
Individual choice is furthermore crucial. Some patients may want to evade particular adverse reactions, including intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition