Antidepressant Medication Unwanted Effects Like Body Weight, Blood Pressure Fluctuations Differ Based on Pharmaceutical

- A large latest investigation found that the side effects of depression drugs range substantially by drug.
- Some drugs led to reduced body weight, whereas different drugs led to added mass.
- Heart rate and BP additionally diverged significantly among treatments.
- Individuals suffering from continuing, severe, or troubling unwanted effects should consult a healthcare professional.
Recent research has revealed that antidepressant medication unwanted effects may be more extensive than previously thought.
The extensive study, issued on the 21st of October, examined the influence of depression treatments on more than 58,000 individuals within the beginning eight weeks of commencing treatment.
The investigators studied 151 research projects of 30 pharmaceuticals commonly employed to address depression. Although not everyone develops side effects, some of the most frequent observed in the study were variations in weight, BP, and metabolic parameters.
There were striking differences between depression treatments. For instance, an 60-day regimen of agomelatine was linked to an typical reduction in body weight of approximately 2.4 kg (about 5.3 pounds), whereas maprotiline patients increased nearly 2 kg in the same duration.
Furthermore, notable fluctuations in cardiovascular activity: fluvoxamine was likely to reduce pulse rate, whereas another medication increased it, causing a gap of about 21 beats per minute between the two medications. Blood pressure fluctuated too, with an 11 mmHg difference observed across one drug and another medication.
Depression Drug Unwanted Effects Comprise a Broad Spectrum
Clinical experts observed that the research's conclusions are not new or startling to psychiatrists.
"We've long known that various antidepressants differ in their effects on weight, blood pressure, and additional metabolic measures," one professional commented.
"Nonetheless, what is significant about this research is the thorough, comparison-based quantification of these differences among a wide array of physical indicators using information from in excess of 58,000 subjects," the specialist commented.
This investigation offers comprehensive proof of the magnitude of unwanted effects, several of which are more common than others. Typical antidepressant side effects may include:
- gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, irregularity)
- intimacy issues (decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction)
- mass variations (gain or loss, depending on the drug)
- sleep problems (sleeplessness or sleepiness)
- mouth dryness, moisture, headache
At the same time, rarer but medically important side effects may encompass:
- rises in arterial pressure or cardiac rhythm (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
- hyponatremia (notably in senior patients, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
- liver enzyme elevations
- QTc prolongation (chance of arrhythmia, notably with one medication and some tricyclic antidepressants)
- emotional blunting or apathy
"A key factor to remember in this context is that there are several distinct classes of depression drugs, which lead to the varying unwanted medication side effects," another professional commented.
"Furthermore, antidepressant drugs can affect every individual variably, and adverse effects can range according to the exact medication, amount, and personal elements including metabolic rate or simultaneous health issues."
Although some unwanted effects, like fluctuations in sleep, hunger, or stamina, are quite frequent and commonly improve as time passes, different reactions may be less frequent or longer-lasting.
Talk with Your Physician Regarding Serious Adverse Reactions
Antidepressant medication unwanted effects may vary in severity, which could require a adjustment in your treatment.
"An adjustment in antidepressant may be necessary if the individual experiences ongoing or unacceptable side effects that don't get better with duration or supportive measures," a specialist said.
"Additionally, if there is an appearance of new medical issues that may be worsened by the current treatment, such as hypertension, abnormal heart rhythm, or significant weight gain."
Patients may also contemplate consulting with your physician about any deficiency of meaningful enhancement in low mood or anxiety indicators following an sufficient evaluation duration. The adequate trial period is typically 4–8 weeks at a therapeutic dosage.
Patient preference is also important. Some people may prefer to prevent particular adverse reactions, including intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition