Depression Drug Adverse Reactions Including Weight, Blood Pressure Changes Differ Based on Pharmaceutical

• An large new research discovered that the adverse reactions of depression drugs vary considerably by drug.
• Some medications led to weight loss, whereas different drugs led to added mass.
• Heart rate and blood pressure also differed markedly among treatments.
• Patients experiencing ongoing, serious, or concerning side effects should speak with a healthcare professional.

Recent studies has found that antidepressant medication side effects may be more diverse than previously thought.

The large-scale study, published on October 21st, analyzed the influence of depression treatments on more than 58,000 subjects within the initial two months of beginning therapy.

These investigators analyzed 151 investigations of 30 drugs commonly employed to manage clinical depression. While not every patient experiences unwanted effects, certain of the most common observed in the research were changes in weight, blood pressure, and metabolic indicators.

There were significant variations across depression treatments. For example, an eight-week course of agomelatine was associated with an mean reduction in body weight of approximately 2.4 kg (about 5.3 lbs), while another drug patients gained close to 2 kg in the equivalent period.

Furthermore, notable variations in cardiovascular activity: one antidepressant tended to reduce pulse rate, whereas another medication increased it, creating a disparity of about 21 BPM across the two drugs. Blood pressure varied too, with an 11 mmHg difference noted between one drug and doxepin.

Medical experts observed that the research's findings aren't recent or unexpected to psychiatrists.

"It has long been understood that distinct antidepressants range in their impacts on body weight, blood pressure, and other metabolic indicators," a professional explained.

"Nevertheless, what is significant about this study is the thorough, comparative quantification of these differences throughout a extensive spectrum of bodily measurements using data from in excess of 58,000 subjects," this specialist noted.

This investigation provides robust evidence of the degree of adverse reactions, several of which are more prevalent than others. Typical depression drug unwanted effects may encompass:

• gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, constipation)
• sexual problems (lowered desire, anorgasmia)
• weight changes (gain or decrease, according to the agent)
• sleep problems (insomnia or sleepiness)
• oral dehydration, sweating, migraine

Meanwhile, rarer but clinically significant side effects may include:

• elevations in arterial pressure or pulse rate (notably with SNRIs and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• low sodium (notably in older adults, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
• increased liver enzymes
• QTc lengthening (risk of arrhythmia, particularly with citalopram and certain tricyclic antidepressants)
• emotional blunting or lack of interest

"One thing to consider in this context is that there are several distinct classes of antidepressants, which lead to the distinct unwanted medication side effects," a different specialist stated.

"Furthermore, antidepressant drugs can impact each person distinctly, and unwanted reactions can vary depending on the particular drug, dosage, and personal factors including metabolism or simultaneous health issues."

Although some adverse reactions, including variations in sleep, hunger, or stamina, are reasonably frequent and often enhance with time, different reactions may be less typical or continuing.

Depression drug adverse reactions may differ in severity, which could justify a adjustment in your medication.

"An change in antidepressant may be necessary if the patient suffers ongoing or intolerable unwanted effects that fail to enhance with passing days or supportive measures," a specialist stated.

"Moreover, if there is an development of new medical issues that may be exacerbated by the present medication, for instance hypertension, irregular heartbeat, or considerable mass addition."

Patients may also consider consulting with your healthcare provider concerning any lack of meaningful progress in depressive or anxiety-related symptoms subsequent to an adequate evaluation duration. The appropriate evaluation duration is typically 4–8 weeks duration at a treatment amount.

Individual inclination is additionally crucial. Certain individuals may choose to avoid certain unwanted effects, such as sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition