Depression Drug Unwanted Effects Including Weight, Blood Pressure Fluctuations Differ by Drug

• An comprehensive recent study determined that the unwanted effects of depression drugs range significantly by drug.
• Some medications caused weight loss, whereas other medications led to weight gain.
• Cardiac rhythm and arterial pressure also differed markedly across drugs.
• Patients experiencing persistent, severe, or worrisome adverse reactions ought to consult a physician.

New studies has discovered that depression drug unwanted effects may be more varied than once assumed.

The extensive research, issued on October 21, assessed the influence of antidepressant medications on more than 58,000 participants within the beginning eight weeks of starting therapy.

These investigators studied 151 studies of 30 medications frequently employed to address clinical depression. Although not all individuals encounters adverse reactions, certain of the most frequent observed in the study were variations in body weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic parameters.

The study revealed significant disparities across depression treatments. As an illustration, an 60-day regimen of one medication was associated with an typical weight loss of around 2.4 kg (about 5.3 pounds), while maprotiline individuals added close to 2 kg in the same timeframe.

Furthermore, marked changes in heart function: one antidepressant often would decrease heart rate, whereas nortriptyline increased it, causing a gap of about 21 beats per minute across the two medications. BP fluctuated too, with an 11 millimeters of mercury difference noted among one drug and doxepin.

Healthcare professionals commented that the investigation's results are not recent or unexpected to mental health professionals.

"Clinicians have long recognized that different antidepressant medications vary in their influences on weight, arterial pressure, and additional metabolic measures," one expert stated.

"Nonetheless, what is remarkable about this investigation is the comprehensive, comparison-based assessment of these differences among a extensive array of bodily measurements employing findings from more than 58,000 participants," this specialist added.

This study offers robust support of the degree of adverse reactions, several of which are more common than different reactions. Common antidepressant medication side effects may include:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (queasiness, diarrhea, constipation)
• sexual dysfunction (lowered desire, inability to orgasm)
• weight changes (gain or reduction, depending on the agent)
• sleep problems (insomnia or drowsiness)
• oral dehydration, sweating, headache

Meanwhile, less common but therapeutically relevant unwanted effects may encompass:

• elevations in arterial pressure or pulse rate (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclics)
• reduced blood sodium (particularly in senior patients, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and SNRIs)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• Corrected QT interval extension (potential of arrhythmia, especially with one medication and certain tricyclics)
• emotional blunting or indifference

"One thing to remember regarding this matter is that there are multiple different types of depression drugs, which result in the distinct adverse pharmaceutical reactions," a different expert stated.

"Furthermore, antidepressant medications can impact each patient distinctly, and unwanted side effects can vary based on the particular drug, amount, and patient considerations such as metabolism or co-occurring conditions."

Although several side effects, such as fluctuations in rest, hunger, or stamina, are fairly typical and frequently enhance over time, other effects may be less common or more persistent.

Depression drug adverse reactions may vary in intensity, which could require a change in your medication.

"A modification in antidepressant may be necessary if the individual encounters persistent or unbearable unwanted effects that do not improve with duration or supportive measures," a professional commented.

"Moreover, if there is an appearance of new medical conditions that may be exacerbated by the current treatment, such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, or considerable mass addition."

Individuals may additionally think about talking with your healthcare provider about any absence of significant enhancement in depressive or anxiety-related symptoms after an adequate trial period. An adequate evaluation duration is generally 4–8 weeks' time at a effective dosage.

Individual choice is furthermore important. Some patients may prefer to evade particular unwanted effects, like sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition