Some people gain two kilos, some lose them. There are hearts that accelerate, others that slow down. For the first time, a British study compared the side effects of 30 antidepressants and confirmed what many already suspected: no two medications are the same, and this difference could be decisive for millions of people.
The investigation, conducted by King’s College London and the University of Oxford, analyzed 151 studies of 30 medications used for depression, involving more than 58,000 patients. The focus was on the first eight weeks of treatment, that period when everything is still being adjusted. And the results are not to be ignored: between different medications, weight variations of more than 2 kg can be recorded, changes in heart rate of 21 beats per minute and differences in blood pressure that can reach 11 mmHg.
The study, published in the medical journal Lancetis not intended to scare anyone, and the researchers are clear: no one should interrupt treatment because of these conclusions. But they ask for more attention, more personalization, more conversation between doctor and patient. “Even modest changes can have a big effect on the entire population”, highlights Professor Oliver Howes.
The idea that there are “good” and “bad” antidepressants is simplistic, experts say. Amitriptyline, for example, can increase weight and blood pressure, but it also helps you sleep and relieves pain. SSRIs, such as sertraline, citalopram or fluoxetine (the famous Prozac), tend to have fewer physical effects. But even within this class there are nuances: Fluoxetine has been linked to weight loss and increased blood pressure. In other words, people with the same diagnosis may respond better to different antidepressants, depending, among other factors, on other health conditions.
According to BBCin the UK, 85% of prescriptions go for just three antidepressants. “Implementing these conclusions would require a profound cultural change” in the national health system, warns professor Andrea Cipriani.
Online tool on the way
The team is developing a free platform to help doctors and patients choose the most appropriate antidepressant. But, as Dr. Toby Pillinger highlighted on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, the data is still short-term. “Even in eight weeks, we saw relevant changes in physical health. Our goal is not to alarm, but to empower.”
And there’s more: the risks accumulate over time, especially in cases of chronic depression. The BBC says that Dr. Prasad Nishtala, from the University of Bath, who was not involved in the study, considers the findings “innovative and valuable”. But remember that, in real life, treatments last months or years, and then every detail counts.
Portugal breaks prescription record
In Portugal, every day, on average, 33 thousand packages of antidepressants are sold. In 2023, approximately 12 million boxesthe highest value ever. Prescriptions have increased by 80% in the last decade, driven by greater awareness of mental health, but also by the widespread use of these drugs in diseases such as chronic pain, eating disorders or anxiety. In the case of anxiety disorders, the most prevalent in the country, affecting 16.5% of Portuguese people, antidepressants are currently considered first-line drugs. Even so, experts warn of cases of inappropriate prescription, especially in mild depression, where psychotherapy should be the first line of treatment. The lack of psychotherapists in the NHS and pressure from users lead many doctors to resort to medication as the most immediate solution, even when it is not the most indicated.
The post Antidepressants are not all the same: study evaluates and compares effects on physical health appeared first on Veritas News.
