A large UK study has revealed that different antidepressants can have significantly different physical side-effects, including changes in weight, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Researchers from King’s College London and the University of Oxford analysed data from 151 clinical studies involving over 58,000 people and 30 antidepressants. They found that some drugs could cause weight gain of up to 2kg within two months, while others led to weight loss of a similar amount.
For example, maprotiline and amitriptyline were linked to notable weight gain, while agomelatine was associated with weight loss. There were also differences of up to 21 beats per minute in heart rate and 11 mmHg in blood pressure between certain medications.
Lead author Dr Toby Pillinger said the findings highlight the need for tailored treatment:
“These drugs are not identical – some can lead to meaningful changes in weight, heart rate and blood pressure in a relatively short period. The goal is to help patients and clinicians make informed, personalised choices.”
The study also found that SSRIs, the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants, generally caused fewer physical side-effects.
Professor Andrea Cipriani from Oxford added that the results reinforce the importance of shared decision-making between patients and doctors when choosing antidepressant treatment.
