New Research Reveals how โAntidepressants affect The Body Differently
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Published: February 29,โ 2024
WASHINGTON – Aโ extensive study published in The Lancet has โrevealed significant variations in โฃhow different antidepressants impact key physiological functions. Researchers analyzed data from over 58,000 individuals participating in a comparative trial of 30โข different antidepressant medications against a placebo, spanning an eight-week period.
The study identified notable โdifferences in the effects of these drugsโค on bloodโข flow, metabolism, โweight, โคheart rate, blood โpressure, and cholesterol levels. These findingsโ suggest โa โขmore nuanced approach to antidepressant prescription may โbe warranted.
Weight Fluctuations Observed
Certain antidepressants were linked โto weight gain, with maprotiline and โamitriptyline associated with โan average increase of approximately 4โ pounds. Conversely, agomelatine wasโ associated with weight loss in โฃover โhalf of theโ patients studied, averaging around 5.5 pounds.
Heart Rate Variability
the research also highlighted variations in heart rateโ responses.โ Nortriptyline โฃwas found to increase heartโ rate by roughly 14 beatsโฃ perโ minute, while โคfluvoxamine demonstrated a tendency to lower it by approximately 8 beats per minute.
Organ Functionโ Largely Unaffected
Importantly,the study indicated โthat mostโ antidepressants did not substantially impact kidney or liver function,electrolyteโค balance,or heart rhythm.
“It might potentially be thatโ one medication,โข which is pretty bad for one person, actuallyโข is pretty โgood for another one. I think that isโ theโฃ message, rather than naming and shaming certain drugs,”
Toby Pillinger, leadโข author of the study
Implications for Treatment
Researchers emphasize thatโฃ individuals currently taking antidepressants should notโฃ discontinue their medication. โHowever, they โadvocate for aโ more personalizedโฃ approach to treatment, where doctors carefully โconsider a patient’s individual health profile when selecting anโ antidepressant.
We โคhope you โfound this article insightful! Understanding the subtle differences in how antidepressants affect the โฃbody is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers.If you โคhave aโ moment, please share this article with anyone whoโ might benefit fromโค this data. We’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, โฃor โค subscribe to our newsletter for more in-depth health coverage.