Antidepressant Medication Side Effects Like Weight, BP Fluctuations Differ Depending on Medication

• A extensive latest investigation found that the unwanted effects of depression drugs range significantly by drug.
• Certain drugs caused decreased mass, whereas others led to weight gain.
• Pulse rate and arterial pressure also diverged markedly between drugs.
• Patients experiencing ongoing, intense, or concerning adverse reactions ought to discuss with a physician.

Recent research has discovered that antidepressant side effects may be more diverse than earlier believed.

This extensive study, released on October 21st, assessed the impact of antidepressant drugs on over 58,000 individuals within the initial eight weeks of beginning treatment.

The investigators studied 151 research projects of 30 medications commonly employed to manage depression. While not every patient encounters unwanted effects, some of the most prevalent recorded in the research were changes in body weight, BP, and metabolic parameters.

The study revealed significant differences between depression treatments. As an illustration, an 60-day treatment period of one medication was connected with an typical weight loss of around 2.4 kg (about 5.3 pounds), whereas maprotiline individuals gained close to 2 kg in the equivalent period.

Additionally, significant changes in cardiac function: fluvoxamine tended to decrease pulse rate, while nortriptyline increased it, creating a disparity of about 21 beats per minute among the two drugs. Blood pressure differed also, with an 11 mmHg disparity observed between one drug and another medication.

Healthcare experts observed that the study's results are not considered novel or unexpected to psychiatric specialists.

"Clinicians have long recognized that various antidepressants range in their effects on weight, blood pressure, and other metabolic indicators," one professional stated.

"However, what is remarkable about this research is the rigorous, comparison-based measurement of these differences across a broad range of physical indicators employing findings from over 58,000 participants," this specialist added.

The study provides comprehensive support of the extent of unwanted effects, some of which are more prevalent than other effects. Typical antidepressant adverse reactions may encompass:

• stomach problems (nausea, diarrhea, constipation)
• sexual problems (lowered desire, anorgasmia)
• mass variations (gain or decrease, according to the agent)
• sleep problems (inability to sleep or sleepiness)
• dry mouth, moisture, headache

Meanwhile, rarer but clinically significant unwanted effects may comprise:

• increases in arterial pressure or pulse rate (especially with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• hyponatremia (especially in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• liver enzyme elevations
• QTc lengthening (risk of arrhythmia, particularly with citalopram and some tricyclics)
• diminished feelings or indifference

"An important point to consider in this context is that there are various varying types of antidepressants, which lead to the varying unwanted drug side effects," a different professional stated.

"Furthermore, antidepressant medications can influence every individual variably, and unwanted effects can vary according to the specific medication, dosage, and patient factors including metabolic rate or simultaneous health issues."

While some adverse reactions, such as changes in rest, appetite, or energy levels, are reasonably typical and frequently get better as time passes, others may be less frequent or more persistent.

Depression drug side effects may vary in severity, which could warrant a change in your drug.

"An adjustment in antidepressant may be appropriate if the person experiences continuing or unacceptable side effects that don't get better with time or supportive care," one professional stated.

"Furthermore, if there is an appearance of new medical issues that may be worsened by the present medication, such as elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or considerable increased body weight."

You may also contemplate talking with your doctor regarding any absence of significant improvement in depressive or worry signs after an appropriate evaluation duration. The sufficient trial period is typically 4–8 weeks' time at a therapeutic dosage.

Personal choice is additionally crucial. Some people may prefer to prevent particular unwanted effects, including intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition