Weight gain, drowsiness, palpitations, stomach aches… Antidepressants don’t just act on your mind. They are also the cause of physical disturbances, as confirmed by a new international study.
Of the “clinically significant differences” in terms of side effects
In France, 16 million people have already taken psychotropic medications. A use of antidepressants which is not always without consequences: the side effects are numerous and vary depending on the profile of each patient. While some patients do indeed quickly regain mental health, others experience several inconveniences (weight gain, change in heart rate, headaches, drowsiness, etc.). Toby Pillinger, lecturer at King’s College London, confirms: “Not all antidepressants are constructed equally when it comes to their physical side effects“, he admits.
Pillinger’s team analyzed data from 151 studies and 17 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports. A total of 30 medications, including common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline, escitalopram, and fluoxetine, as well as other types of antidepressants (mirtazapine, amitriptyline), were considered. No less than 59,000 individuals were also included in this study: some received an antidepressant, others took a placebo for a period of eight weeks.
Result ? The researchers observed “clinically significant differences” in terms of the physical side effects induced by these treatments.
- For example, the change in weight differed greatly (+ 4 kilograms) between agomelatine and maprotiline (more conducive to weight gain);
- Heart rate also varied significantly: the researchers recorded a 21 beats per minute difference between fluvoxamine and nortriptyline;
- Maprotiline and amitriptyline finally caused weight gain”clinically important” in 50% of participants who followed this treatment.
Results, which should invite each health professional to further personalize these treatments, believes Aurélien Tesson, doctor of pharmacy.
Understand these side effects… and adjust the treatment if necessary
Not all antidepressants are the same.physical effects profile“, says the pharmacist.
“Some tend to cause weight gain or increase heart rate, others are neutral or even associated with a slight weight loss. This does not call into question their usefulness, but calls for a personalized choice according to your profile (weight, blood pressure, history) and simple monitoring (weight, blood pressure, pulse) for the first weeks,” notes the expert.
On a daily basis, these results should reinforce the vigilance of doctors and pharmacists with regard to these side effects: “knowing them better means being able to adapt the treatment more precisely to each patient. Moreover, pharmacists play an increasing role in this monitoring, particularly through prevention assessments and pharmaceutical interviews, which make it possible to identify possible variations in weight, sleep or tolerance early and to inform the prescriber”. continues the expert.
The right reflex in case of doubt?
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist: “It is often possible to adjust the dose or consider a substitution if an effect bothers you. But never interrupt your treatment without medical advice,” he concludes.
Better understanding the physical effects of antidepressants means living better with your treatment. The objective is not to stop, but to adjust to regain balance, mentally and physically.