Antidepressant Medication Adverse Reactions Such as Body Weight, Blood Pressure Variations Vary by Drug

• An extensive latest study found that the unwanted effects of antidepressant medications range significantly by drug.
• Some medications resulted in reduced body weight, whereas other medications caused weight gain.
• Pulse rate and arterial pressure also differed significantly between drugs.
• Patients encountering ongoing, serious, or troubling side effects ought to discuss with a medical provider.

New research has found that antidepressant medication side effects may be more diverse than once assumed.

This large-scale research, issued on the 21st of October, examined the influence of antidepressant drugs on in excess of 58,000 individuals within the first 60 days of beginning therapy.

The investigators examined 151 investigations of 30 pharmaceuticals commonly prescribed to treat major depression. While not every patient develops adverse reactions, some of the most common recorded in the research were changes in body weight, BP, and metabolic markers.

There were striking differences across depression treatments. For instance, an eight-week regimen of one medication was associated with an average weight loss of around 2.4 kilograms (approximately 5.3 lbs), whereas another drug users increased close to 2 kg in the identical timeframe.

There were also, notable fluctuations in cardiac function: fluvoxamine often would reduce pulse rate, while nortriptyline raised it, causing a disparity of approximately 21 beats per minute between the both treatments. Blood pressure varied also, with an 11 mmHg disparity noted across nortriptyline and doxepin.

Medical experts noted that the investigation's conclusions are not considered new or unexpected to psychiatrists.

"It has long been understood that different antidepressant medications vary in their impacts on body weight, arterial pressure, and further metabolic indicators," a expert commented.

"However, what is remarkable about this study is the rigorous, relative measurement of these variations across a extensive array of bodily measurements utilizing data from more than 58,000 subjects," the expert noted.

This research offers strong proof of the extent of unwanted effects, several of which are more common than other effects. Typical antidepressant unwanted effects may comprise:

• digestive issues (queasiness, bowel issues, blockage)
• sexual problems (reduced sex drive, orgasmic dysfunction)
• body weight fluctuations (increase or reduction, based on the drug)
• sleep problems (sleeplessness or sedation)
• oral dehydration, moisture, migraine

At the same time, less frequent but therapeutically relevant adverse reactions may include:

• rises in blood pressure or heart rate (notably with serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and some tricyclic antidepressants)
• reduced blood sodium (especially in senior patients, with SSRIs and SNRIs)
• elevated hepatic parameters
• QTc extension (potential of abnormal heart rhythm, particularly with citalopram and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• emotional blunting or apathy

"One thing to remember in this context is that there are multiple distinct classes of antidepressants, which contribute to the varying unwanted pharmaceutical effects," another expert commented.

"Furthermore, antidepressant medications can impact every individual differently, and negative reactions can vary depending on the particular drug, dosage, and individual factors such as metabolic rate or simultaneous health issues."

Although certain side effects, such as changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels, are quite typical and often enhance over time, other effects may be less frequent or longer-lasting.

Antidepressant medication adverse reactions may range in seriousness, which could justify a adjustment in your drug.

"An modification in antidepressant medication may be necessary if the person experiences continuing or intolerable adverse reactions that don't get better with passing days or supportive measures," a specialist commented.

"Furthermore, if there is an emergence of recent health problems that may be worsened by the existing medication, for example hypertension, irregular heartbeat, or significant increased body weight."

You may furthermore contemplate consulting with your healthcare provider about any absence of significant improvement in low mood or anxiety-related indicators subsequent to an sufficient evaluation duration. The sufficient testing period is generally 4–8 weeks at a treatment amount.

Patient preference is furthermore important. Certain patients may want to evade certain adverse reactions, such as sexual problems or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition