Antidepressant Medication Adverse Reactions Like Body Weight, Blood Pressure Fluctuations Differ Based on Pharmaceutical

- An extensive recent study discovered that the adverse reactions of antidepressants differ substantially by drug.
- Certain drugs caused reduced body weight, while other medications led to weight gain.
- Cardiac rhythm and arterial pressure furthermore differed notably across medications.
- Patients suffering from ongoing, severe, or worrisome unwanted effects must discuss with a medical provider.
New research has revealed that depression drug side effects may be more extensive than earlier believed.
This comprehensive investigation, issued on the 21st of October, analyzed the effect of depression treatments on more than 58,000 subjects within the beginning eight weeks of starting therapy.
These researchers studied 151 studies of 30 pharmaceuticals typically prescribed to manage major depression. Although not everyone develops adverse reactions, some of the most frequent observed in the investigation were variations in body weight, blood pressure, and metabolic markers.
There were notable variations among depression treatments. As an illustration, an two-month treatment period of one medication was connected with an average reduction in body weight of approximately 2.4 kilos (about 5.3 pounds), while another drug users increased nearly 2 kg in the identical timeframe.
Furthermore, notable changes in cardiac function: one antidepressant was likely to reduce pulse rate, while another medication increased it, producing a gap of about 21 beats per minute among the two drugs. BP varied as well, with an 11 millimeters of mercury difference noted among one drug and another medication.
Antidepressant Adverse Reactions Include a Broad Array
Healthcare professionals commented that the investigation's results are not recent or unexpected to psychiatrists.
"It has long been understood that various antidepressant medications vary in their impacts on body weight, BP, and other metabolic measures," one professional explained.
"Nevertheless, what is significant about this study is the rigorous, comparative assessment of these variations across a broad range of physiological parameters utilizing data from more than 58,000 individuals," the specialist added.
The research delivers strong proof of the extent of unwanted effects, some of which are more frequent than different reactions. Common antidepressant medication adverse reactions may encompass:
- stomach problems (sickness, bowel issues, irregularity)
- sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction)
- weight changes (gain or loss, based on the medication)
- sleep disturbances (sleeplessness or sleepiness)
- dry mouth, sweating, head pain
Meanwhile, less common but clinically significant side effects may include:
- elevations in blood pressure or pulse rate (notably with SNRIs and some tricyclics)
- reduced blood sodium (especially in older adults, with SSRIs and SNRIs)
- elevated hepatic parameters
- QTc prolongation (risk of abnormal heart rhythm, especially with citalopram and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
- reduced emotions or apathy
"An important point to note in this context is that there are various distinct types of depression drugs, which result in the varying negative drug reactions," another expert commented.
"Moreover, depression treatments can impact every individual differently, and negative side effects can range based on the particular pharmaceutical, amount, and individual elements such as metabolic rate or simultaneous health issues."
While certain side effects, including variations in rest, hunger, or stamina, are reasonably common and commonly get better as time passes, different reactions may be less frequent or more persistent.
Consult with Your Doctor About Serious Adverse Reactions
Antidepressant unwanted effects may range in severity, which could require a adjustment in your medication.
"A modification in antidepressant medication may be necessary if the person encounters ongoing or unacceptable side effects that don't get better with time or management strategies," a expert stated.
"Furthermore, if there is an emergence of recently developed medical issues that may be aggravated by the present medication, for example elevated BP, abnormal heart rhythm, or substantial weight gain."
Individuals may additionally consider speaking with your healthcare provider concerning any deficiency of substantial improvement in depression-related or anxiety-related indicators after an sufficient evaluation duration. An adequate testing period is typically 4–8 weeks duration at a therapeutic amount.
Personal inclination is furthermore important. Some individuals may prefer to avoid particular unwanted effects, including intimacy issues or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition