Following recent research from King’s College London (KCL) and the University of Oxford, Staff Writer Lavanya Mahendrakumar discusses the physical side effects of antidepressants and the consequent experiences of patients.
Depression is a mental health condition that causes persistent feelings of sadness, guilt and hopelessness. The symptoms of depression are commonly treated by antidepressants, a class of drugs that work by targeting a number of different chemicals in the brain.
Antidepressant Use
A large number of people take antidepressants worldwide, with more than eight million people taking antidepressants in England alone. Antidepressants have a range of side effects, including weight gain, drowsiness and mood changes. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), often in combination with therapy.
The Many Effects of Antidepressants
Researchers at KCL in collaboration with the University of Oxford analysed 151 published studies, comparing the effects of 30 antidepressants in more than 58,000 people. They found a huge variation in the physical side effects brought about by the antidepressants.
Each type of antidepressant appears to affect the body differently, in as short as eight weeks. The most significant differences in side effects were changes in weight, heart rate and blood pressure. While some antidepressants led to a weight gain of two kilos, others led to a weight loss of two kilos. For instance, differences in heart rate varied by 21 beats per minute between certain antidepressants. Of all the antidepressants, the researchers found that SSRIs had the fewest physical side effects.
The Future of Antidepressants
These differences have significant implications for medical practitioners, highlighting a need for a more careful and well thought out approach to prescribing antidepressants. Moreover, clinical decisions are generally not made with enough input from patients and the results of this study demonstrate the need for greater collaboration between patients and practitioners.
It is reassuring that the most commonly prescribed antidepressant has the fewest physical side effects, but it is important to study these further, especially for people with depression who may be taking medication for other illnesses. While it is currently unknown why there are such stark differences in the physical side effects of antidepressants, continued research is essential to uncover the potential biological underpinnings of these effects. This will pave the way for more personalised and effective treatment, ensuring people get the right medication with the fewest adverse impacts.
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