Depression Drug Side Effects Like Body Weight, Blood Pressure Fluctuations Differ Depending on Medication

• A extensive recent research determined that the unwanted effects of antidepressant medications differ substantially by drug.
• Certain medications caused reduced body weight, whereas different drugs caused increased body weight.
• Pulse rate and arterial pressure furthermore varied significantly between medications.
• Those suffering from ongoing, serious, or worrisome adverse reactions should speak with a healthcare professional.

Latest investigations has revealed that antidepressant unwanted effects may be more diverse than previously thought.

The large-scale research, published on October 21, assessed the impact of depression treatments on over 58,000 subjects within the beginning two months of beginning treatment.

These scientists analyzed 151 research projects of 30 medications typically prescribed to address depression. Although not every patient experiences side effects, some of the most prevalent observed in the study were variations in weight, BP, and metabolic parameters.

The study revealed striking variations between depression treatments. For example, an eight-week treatment period of one medication was connected with an typical weight loss of approximately 2.4 kilograms (approximately 5.3 lbs), while another drug individuals increased almost 2 kg in the identical timeframe.

Furthermore, notable changes in cardiac function: fluvoxamine was likely to reduce heart rate, while nortriptyline raised it, producing a disparity of around 21 heartbeats per minute between the both treatments. Blood pressure fluctuated too, with an 11 millimeters of mercury difference observed between one drug and another medication.

Healthcare experts noted that the study's findings are not recent or surprising to mental health professionals.

"Clinicians have long recognized that different depression drugs range in their impacts on body weight, blood pressure, and other metabolic indicators," one professional commented.

"However, what is significant about this study is the rigorous, comparison-based quantification of these variations among a wide spectrum of physiological parameters utilizing data from in excess of 58,000 subjects," this expert noted.

The research provides strong evidence of the extent of adverse reactions, certain of which are more frequent than other effects. Frequent antidepressant medication adverse reactions may encompass:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (sickness, diarrhea, constipation)
• intimacy issues (reduced sex drive, inability to orgasm)
• body weight fluctuations (gain or decrease, according to the medication)
• sleep problems (insomnia or drowsiness)
• dry mouth, moisture, headache

Meanwhile, rarer but clinically significant adverse reactions may include:

• elevations in arterial pressure or heart rate (particularly with SNRIs and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• low sodium (especially in older adults, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• increased liver enzymes
• QTc lengthening (risk of irregular heartbeat, especially with one medication and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• diminished feelings or apathy

"One thing to consider here is that there are several different categories of antidepressants, which lead to the different adverse medication effects," another expert explained.

"Additionally, antidepressant drugs can impact every individual differently, and adverse effects can differ according to the specific medication, amount, and patient considerations including metabolism or simultaneous health issues."

Although certain unwanted effects, such as variations in rest, hunger, or stamina, are fairly common and frequently enhance over time, different reactions may be less common or continuing.

Antidepressant medication adverse reactions may differ in severity, which could require a modification in your drug.

"An adjustment in antidepressant medication may be necessary if the individual experiences ongoing or unacceptable adverse reactions that don't get better with duration or supportive care," one expert stated.

"Furthermore, if there is an emergence of new medical issues that may be aggravated by the current medication, for example elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or substantial mass addition."

Individuals may also think about speaking with your physician concerning any deficiency of substantial enhancement in depression-related or anxiety-related indicators following an sufficient testing period. The sufficient evaluation duration is typically 4–8 weeks at a effective amount.

Personal inclination is also significant. Certain individuals may prefer to prevent particular adverse reactions, including sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition