Antidepressant Medication Adverse Reactions Like Body Weight, Blood Pressure Fluctuations Differ by Drug

• A comprehensive new investigation found that the adverse reactions of antidepressant medications range considerably by drug.
• Some drugs resulted in decreased mass, whereas others caused added mass.
• Pulse rate and blood pressure furthermore varied markedly between treatments.
• Those encountering ongoing, serious, or troubling unwanted effects ought to speak with a medical provider.

Latest research has revealed that antidepressant side effects may be more varied than earlier believed.

The large-scale investigation, published on the 21st of October, assessed the effect of antidepressant drugs on in excess of 58,000 participants within the initial two months of starting therapy.

The investigators analyzed 151 studies of 30 drugs frequently employed to manage major depression. While not every patient develops side effects, certain of the most prevalent observed in the study were variations in weight, arterial pressure, and metabolic parameters.

There were significant variations between antidepressant medications. For instance, an eight-week treatment period of one medication was linked to an average reduction in body weight of approximately 2.4 kg (approximately 5.3 lbs), while another drug individuals increased nearly 2 kg in the same period.

There were also, marked changes in cardiovascular activity: fluvoxamine was likely to slow pulse rate, whereas another medication raised it, producing a gap of about 21 beats per minute among the two drugs. Blood pressure fluctuated too, with an 11 mmHg variation observed among nortriptyline and doxepin.

Medical professionals noted that the study's findings are not considered novel or surprising to mental health professionals.

"Clinicians have long recognized that different antidepressant medications range in their impacts on body weight, blood pressure, and additional metabolic measures," a specialist commented.

"However, what is notable about this investigation is the rigorous, comparative assessment of these variations across a extensive spectrum of physical indicators utilizing findings from in excess of 58,000 individuals," the specialist noted.

The study provides comprehensive evidence of the magnitude of adverse reactions, some of which are more frequent than different reactions. Frequent antidepressant unwanted effects may include:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, irregularity)
• sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, inability to orgasm)
• weight changes (addition or loss, according to the agent)
• rest issues (sleeplessness or sedation)
• dry mouth, moisture, head pain

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

• rises in BP or heart rate (notably with SNRIs and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced blood sodium (notably in senior patients, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• increased liver enzymes
• QTc extension (chance of irregular heartbeat, especially with citalopram and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• diminished feelings or indifference

"An important point to note regarding this matter is that there are several varying classes of depression drugs, which contribute to the distinct adverse drug reactions," another specialist commented.

"Additionally, antidepressant medications can influence each person distinctly, and adverse side effects can vary depending on the particular pharmaceutical, dose, and patient considerations such as metabolism or co-occurring conditions."

While certain adverse reactions, including fluctuations in sleep, hunger, or vitality, are fairly frequent and often enhance with time, different reactions may be less typical or longer-lasting.

Antidepressant side effects may range in intensity, which could warrant a adjustment in your drug.

"A modification in antidepressant medication may be warranted if the individual experiences ongoing or intolerable adverse reactions that don't get better with passing days or management strategies," a professional commented.

"Furthermore, if there is an appearance of recent medical conditions that may be worsened by the present drug, such as elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or considerable weight gain."

You may furthermore think about talking with your doctor concerning any deficiency of substantial progress in depression-related or worry indicators following an sufficient evaluation duration. The adequate evaluation duration is typically 4–8 weeks duration at a therapeutic dose.

Patient inclination is also crucial. Some patients may want to evade specific unwanted effects, such as intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition