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

• An large recent study determined that the adverse reactions of depression drugs vary substantially by drug.
• Certain drugs resulted in weight loss, whereas others led to weight gain.
• Heart rate and BP furthermore varied notably between treatments.
• Patients experiencing continuing, intense, or worrisome unwanted effects ought to discuss with a physician.

Latest studies has revealed that depression drug unwanted effects may be more extensive than earlier believed.

This comprehensive research, issued on the 21st of October, analyzed the effect of antidepressant drugs on in excess of 58,000 participants within the initial eight weeks of commencing medication.

The scientists studied 151 studies of 30 pharmaceuticals frequently employed to treat clinical depression. While not every patient experiences unwanted effects, some of the most prevalent noted in the investigation were changes in weight, blood pressure, and metabolic parameters.

Researchers observed striking differences across depression treatments. For instance, an two-month treatment period of one medication was linked to an typical reduction in body weight of about 2.4 kg (roughly 5.3 pounds), while maprotiline patients gained close to 2 kg in the same timeframe.

Additionally, notable fluctuations in cardiovascular activity: one antidepressant often would slow cardiac rhythm, while nortriptyline raised it, producing a disparity of approximately 21 BPM among the two medications. BP differed also, with an 11 millimeters of mercury disparity noted between nortriptyline and another medication.

Medical professionals observed that the research's conclusions are not recent or unexpected to psychiatrists.

"It has long been understood that various antidepressant medications differ in their effects on body weight, blood pressure, and additional metabolic measures," one professional commented.

"Nevertheless, what is significant about this investigation is the rigorous, comparison-based quantification of these differences across a wide range of bodily measurements employing data from over 58,000 participants," the specialist commented.

This research delivers comprehensive evidence of the degree of adverse reactions, certain of which are more frequent than other effects. Typical antidepressant medication adverse reactions may encompass:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (queasiness, bowel issues, irregularity)
• sexual problems (decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction)
• mass variations (addition or decrease, depending on the agent)
• sleep problems (sleeplessness or sedation)
• mouth dryness, sweating, headache

At the same time, rarer but medically important unwanted effects may comprise:

• elevations in BP or pulse rate (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and certain tricyclics)
• reduced blood sodium (notably in older adults, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• liver enzyme elevations
• Corrected QT interval extension (potential of abnormal heart rhythm, particularly with one medication and some tricyclics)
• emotional blunting or indifference

"One thing to consider regarding this matter is that there are multiple varying categories of depression drugs, which result in the distinct unwanted pharmaceutical side effects," another specialist commented.

"Additionally, depression treatments can impact each person distinctly, and negative reactions can differ depending on the specific pharmaceutical, dosage, and patient factors such as metabolism or simultaneous health issues."

Although some unwanted effects, including variations in rest, appetite, or stamina, are quite typical and often get better as time passes, other effects may be less common or longer-lasting.

Antidepressant side effects may differ in seriousness, which could justify a modification in your treatment.

"An modification in antidepressant may be warranted if the individual experiences continuing or unbearable side effects that do not improve with duration or management strategies," one specialist commented.

"Moreover, if there is an development of new medical conditions that may be worsened by the current medication, for example elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or considerable weight gain."

Patients may furthermore consider talking with your healthcare provider concerning any deficiency of substantial progress in depressive or anxiety signs following an appropriate testing period. The appropriate testing period is usually 4–8 weeks' time at a effective dosage.

Individual preference is additionally crucial. Certain patients may prefer to evade specific unwanted effects, including sexual problems or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition