Depression Drug Adverse Reactions Including Weight, BP Changes Differ Depending on Medication

• A large recent study discovered that the unwanted effects of antidepressant medications differ substantially by drug.
• Some pharmaceuticals led to reduced body weight, while other medications caused increased body weight.
• Pulse rate and blood pressure furthermore differed markedly among medications.
• Patients experiencing persistent, severe, or worrisome unwanted effects should speak with a physician.

New investigations has discovered that antidepressant medication side effects may be more extensive than earlier believed.

This large-scale study, published on October 21, analyzed the effect of depression treatments on more than 58,000 subjects within the initial two months of commencing therapy.

The scientists examined 151 research projects of 30 pharmaceuticals typically used to address clinical depression. While not every patient encounters adverse reactions, certain of the most common observed in the study were variations in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.

The study revealed notable differences between depression treatments. As an illustration, an two-month treatment period of agomelatine was connected with an average weight loss of approximately 2.4 kilograms (approximately 5.3 pounds), whereas another drug patients increased close to 2 kg in the equivalent timeframe.

There were also, marked variations in heart function: fluvoxamine was likely to slow cardiac rhythm, in contrast nortriptyline elevated it, producing a difference of approximately 21 heartbeats per minute across the two drugs. Blood pressure differed as well, with an 11 millimeters of mercury variation observed across one drug and another medication.

Medical specialists observed that the research's conclusions are not novel or startling to mental health professionals.

"Clinicians have long recognized that various antidepressants range in their impacts on body weight, blood pressure, and further metabolic indicators," a professional stated.

"However, what is remarkable about this study is the rigorous, comparison-based assessment of these disparities throughout a wide array of bodily measurements utilizing findings from more than 58,000 subjects," this expert commented.

This study offers robust evidence of the extent of side effects, several of which are more prevalent than other effects. Frequent antidepressant medication unwanted effects may include:

• stomach problems (queasiness, diarrhea, irregularity)
• sexual dysfunction (reduced sex drive, orgasmic dysfunction)
• weight changes (gain or decrease, based on the medication)
• sleep disturbances (sleeplessness or sedation)
• oral dehydration, sweating, migraine

At the same time, less frequent but clinically significant unwanted effects may comprise:

• elevations in blood pressure or pulse rate (particularly with SNRIs and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced blood sodium (especially in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• liver enzyme elevations
• Corrected QT interval prolongation (potential of arrhythmia, particularly with one medication and some tricyclics)
• diminished feelings or lack of interest

"One thing to remember here is that there are several distinct types of antidepressant medications, which result in the varying negative pharmaceutical reactions," a different specialist explained.

"Furthermore, antidepressant drugs can impact every individual distinctly, and adverse side effects can vary according to the exact pharmaceutical, dosage, and personal elements such as body chemistry or co-occurring conditions."

While certain side effects, including changes in rest, hunger, or energy levels, are quite typical and frequently enhance with time, other effects may be less common or longer-lasting.

Antidepressant medication adverse reactions may vary in intensity, which could warrant a modification in your medication.

"An change in antidepressant may be warranted if the individual suffers continuing or intolerable adverse reactions that fail to enhance with time or management strategies," a expert said.

"Furthermore, if there is an development of recent medical issues that may be aggravated by the existing drug, for example high blood pressure, arrhythmia, or considerable mass addition."

You may also consider speaking with your healthcare provider regarding any deficiency of meaningful progress in depressive or anxiety-related indicators following an appropriate testing period. An appropriate evaluation duration is usually 4–8 weeks duration at a effective amount.

Personal preference is furthermore crucial. Certain patients may want to avoid particular adverse reactions, including sexual problems or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition