A new scientific study shows that antidepressants, which are medications used to treat depression, anxiety and other health conditions, can cause a wide range of physical side effects that vary depending on the type of drug used, including effects on body weight. The study, published in The Lancet, indicated that there were noticeable differences of up to four kilograms in weight between some medications, as it was found that the drug “Agomelatine” can lead to a loss of about 2.5 kilograms on average, while the drug “Maprotiline” is likely to cause an increase of about two kilograms. The researchers emphasized that these results should not discourage patients from taking antidepressants, which are still considered effective and necessary treatments for psychological disorders, but they emphasize the importance of adjusting treatment prescription according to each individual’s health condition and personal preferences. The study collected the results of 151 clinical trials and 17 reports issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which included more than 58,000 participants, to evaluate the effect of 30 different types of antidepressants on the body during a treatment period that lasted an average of eight weeks. The results showed that these medications not only differed in their effect on weight, but the differences also extended to heart rate and blood pressure, reflecting the extent of variation in the body’s responses to different types of medication, even within one therapeutic category. The analyzes also showed that antidepressants can cause differences of more than 20 beats per minute in the heart rate between one drug and another, as it was found that the drug “Fluvoxamine” can reduce the heart rate by about 8 beats per minute, while the drug “Nortriptyline” increases the same rate by about 14. pulse. The study also revealed that blood pressure can change by more than 10 millimeters of mercury depending on the type of medication, as “Nortriptyline” can lower the pressure by about 7 millimeters of mercury, while “Doxepin” increases the pressure by about 5 millimeters. Weight gain: Researchers confirmed that some antidepressants, such as “Maprotiline” and “Amitriptyline,” were associated with weight gain in about half of the patients who were prescribed these medications, while other medications, such as “Agomelatine,” were associated with weight loss in 55% of the patients who took them. These results showed that the effect of psychiatric medication is not only limited to the mood and nervous state, but also extends to physical balance and metabolism, making the choice of the appropriate medication a decision that requires a high degree of precision and caution. The study also showed that most antidepressants do not show significant effects on kidney or liver function, nor on blood salt levels or heart rhythm, giving doctors some reassurance when prescribing these medications. However, the researchers pointed out that these results only reflect short-term effects during the study period, as more research is still needed to find out whether these physical effects persist or change over time. The results called for updating treatment guidelines for prescribing antidepressants, so that they take into account the differences in physical effects between different medications, and that treatment decisions should be made individually in collaboration between the doctor and the patient. The researchers pointed out that such an approach would improve treatment results and reduce side risks that may result from general or stereotypical prescriptions that do not take into account the specificity of each case. The researchers also noted that their study did not address other psychological and behavioral aspects of antidepressants, such as changes in sexual desire or emotional state, nor differences in the effectiveness of the medication itself, stressing that these aspects should be considered alongside the physical results monitored by the study. Effects of antidepressants They pointed out that a comprehensive understanding of the effects of antidepressants should integrate physical, psychological and behavioral data within one framework, in order to develop more balanced and equitable treatment prescriptions for patients. Analyzes have shown that the variation in the physical effects of antidepressants may be due to the different mechanisms of action of these drugs in the brain. While some drugs only work to regulate serotonin levels, others react with noradrenaline or dopamine. These differences are in turn reflected in the physical responses such as appetite and metabolic rate. The researchers suggested that some of the changes in weight and blood pressure are the result of a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating the body’s vital functions. Despite this discrepancy, the study authors emphasized that antidepressants remain among the most effective medications in the treatment of psychological disorders such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and that the psychological benefits of these medications often exceed the unwanted physical effects. They stressed that the purpose of the study is not to warn against the use of this medication, but rather to educate doctors and patients about the need to balance the benefits and potential risks, while monitoring the patient’s physical condition during treatment. The results highlighted that the “one prescription fits all” approach is no longer appropriate in the field of psychiatry, especially after the data began to indicate wide variation in drug responses. It has also called for the development of more accurate diagnostic tools that can predict how the body will respond to antidepressants before starting treatment, thus saving patients the painful experience of repeatedly changing medications before reaching the appropriate treatment. The researchers pointed out that the comprehensive analysis included in the research is one of the largest systematic reviews conducted on antidepressants to date, both in terms of the number of studies and the size of the participating sample, giving it great statistical power to draw conclusions. They also added that the data extracted from the US Food and Drug Administration reports helped to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the results, as it included information not previously published in scientific journals. The research team considered that this study is an important step in building an integrated understanding of the relationship between psychiatric medication and the body, as it is believed that the interaction of the drug with various body systems can be a key to understanding the reason for the success of some treatments in one group of patients and their failure in others, indicating that the combination of clinical studies with realistic observations of doctors’ daily practices can improve to the better psychological treatment in the future. Changing sleep patterns. The researchers found that the differences in weight, blood pressure and heart rate that were monitored did not have effects limited to the aesthetic aspect or physical discomfort, but rather could have real health dimensions, especially for patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. They emphasized that the selection of the appropriate antidepressant for these patients should be done with extreme care, with periodic monitoring of their vital signs during the treatment period. The study also showed that the effect of antidepressants on weight can be linked to factors such as increased appetite, a change in sleep pattern, or disruption of hormones related to feelings of hunger and satiety. She pointed out that some medications that cause weight gain may be appropriate in certain cases, such as patients suffering from anorexia or thinness associated with depression, while medications that cause weight loss are more appropriate for those who have increased body mass. The researchers emphasized that treatment decisions should not be based solely on one factor such as weight or blood pressure, but should instead consider the complete picture of the patient’s psychological and physical health. They explained that the attending physician is best able to determine the importance of each factor based on the individual case of each patient, with the necessity to involve the patient himself in the decision-making process in order to strengthen his commitment to treatment and reduce the possibility of early discontinuation of the medication. The study called for long-term research that follows the effects of antidepressants over a period of years, not just weeks, to understand whether these physical changes are temporary or cumulative, and emphasized that most clinical trials are limited to relatively short periods of time, making it difficult to monitor slow or adaptive effects that may occur over time. It also showed that determining the relationship between the duration of use and the extent of physical changes could help doctors develop more flexible treatment plans, including specific monitoring periods to adjust doses or change the medication when necessary. She pointed out that advances in medical data analysis techniques, including artificial intelligence, could soon enable a more precise understanding of the physical effect patterns of each drug. The researchers also emphasized the importance of continuous communication between doctors and patients during the treatment period, especially when changes in weight, blood pressure or heart rate are noticed. They advised the need to educate patients that some of these changes may be part of the body’s natural adaptation to the drug, while others require close medical follow-up. The study authors believed that their findings represent an incentive for the psychiatric community to adopt a more comprehensive concept in the evaluation of psychiatric medication, so that the patient is considered as a whole, not as a mood state separate from his body, emphasizing that mental health cannot be separated from physical health, and that any imbalance in one necessarily affects the other reflect. The study emphasized that antidepressants remain indispensable therapeutic tools in the face of psychological disorders that are increasing worldwide, but they must be used more intelligently and humanely, explaining that the path to personalized medicine in the treatment of depression begins with understanding the subtle differences between medications, and realizing that what suits one patient may not suit another. The study called for the development of new treatment protocols that take these individual differences into account, to ensure that each patient receives treatment that achieves psychological and physical balance with the fewest possible side effects.
A study links antidepressants to weight gain or loss
