Antidepressant Side Effects Like Weight, Blood Pressure Changes Range Depending on Medication

- An comprehensive latest investigation determined that the adverse reactions of depression drugs range considerably by drug.
- Some drugs led to reduced body weight, while others resulted in increased body weight.
- Heart rate and arterial pressure furthermore differed markedly between drugs.
- Patients suffering from ongoing, severe, or troubling unwanted effects ought to discuss with a physician.
Recent studies has discovered that antidepressant unwanted effects may be more extensive than previously thought.
The large-scale study, issued on October 21st, examined the effect of antidepressant drugs on over 58,000 individuals within the beginning eight weeks of beginning therapy.
These researchers examined 151 studies of 30 pharmaceuticals typically used to treat depression. Although not everyone experiences side effects, some of the most frequent observed in the research were changes in body weight, BP, and metabolic indicators.
There were notable disparities among antidepressant drugs. For example, an eight-week regimen of one medication was connected with an mean weight loss of around 2.4 kilograms (about 5.3 lbs), while maprotiline users gained close to 2 kg in the same duration.
Furthermore, marked changes in cardiovascular activity: one antidepressant tended to decrease heart rate, while another medication elevated it, producing a difference of approximately 21 beats per minute among the two medications. Blood pressure fluctuated too, with an 11 mmHg disparity noted among one drug and another medication.
Depression Drug Side Effects Encompass a Extensive Array
Healthcare professionals noted that the investigation's conclusions are not new or unexpected to psychiatric specialists.
"We've long known that different antidepressants differ in their influences on weight, blood pressure, and further metabolic parameters," one expert commented.
"However, what is notable about this research is the thorough, comparison-based measurement of these disparities among a broad range of physical indicators using information from over 58,000 participants," the expert commented.
The investigation delivers comprehensive evidence of the degree of side effects, some of which are more frequent than different reactions. Common antidepressant medication side effects may comprise:
- gastrointestinal symptoms (sickness, bowel issues, blockage)
- intimacy issues (reduced sex drive, orgasmic dysfunction)
- mass variations (increase or reduction, depending on the agent)
- rest issues (inability to sleep or sleepiness)
- oral dehydration, sweating, migraine
At the same time, less common but clinically significant side effects may encompass:
- rises in arterial pressure or pulse rate (especially with SNRIs and some tricyclics)
- hyponatremia (particularly in older adults, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
- elevated hepatic parameters
- QTc extension (potential of abnormal heart rhythm, particularly with citalopram and certain tricyclics)
- emotional blunting or indifference
"One thing to consider in this context is that there are several different categories of depression drugs, which result in the distinct adverse drug side effects," a different specialist commented.
"Moreover, depression treatments can impact every individual differently, and adverse reactions can range according to the exact pharmaceutical, amount, and individual considerations including body chemistry or comorbidities."
Although some unwanted effects, like fluctuations in rest, hunger, or stamina, are fairly frequent and commonly get better as time passes, others may be less common or longer-lasting.
Talk with Your Doctor About Severe Unwanted Effects
Antidepressant unwanted effects may differ in severity, which could require a adjustment in your drug.
"A adjustment in antidepressant medication may be warranted if the individual experiences persistent or unbearable unwanted effects that do not improve with time or supportive care," a professional said.
"Furthermore, if there is an emergence of new medical issues that may be exacerbated by the present drug, such as hypertension, abnormal heart rhythm, or substantial weight gain."
Individuals may furthermore contemplate talking with your healthcare provider concerning any lack of meaningful progress in depression-related or worry indicators following an adequate trial period. The sufficient trial period is generally 4–8 weeks duration at a effective dose.
Personal preference is furthermore significant. Some individuals may want to evade specific adverse reactions, such as intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition