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A new large-scale analysis found that the short-term cardiovascular and metabolic side effects of antidepressants vary widely by drug, but the ones most commonly prescribed in the United States are linked to relatively mild issues. Tens of millions of U.S. adults take antidepressants for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Like any medication, antidepressants have well-established side effects for some people. Researchers at institutions including King’s College London and the University of Oxford wanted to better understand just how much those side effects differed from drug to drug. The new study, published Tuesday in The Lancet, is among the largest meta-analyses to compare some of the short-term side effects of antidepressants. The findings may help millions of doctors work with their patients to determine the right choice for them in a sea of options. The researchers looked at 30 antidepressants, using data from more than 58,000 participants across 151 studies and 17 Food and Drug Administration reports. A wide variety of drugs were reviewed, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (S.S.R.I.s) like sertraline (Zoloft) and fluoxetine (Prozac); serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (S.N.R.I.s) like duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor); and norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (N.D.R.I.s) like bupropion (Wellbutrin). Dr. Andrew J. Gerber, a psychiatrist and the president and medical director of Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Conn., who was not involved in the study, said it was the most “comprehensive and carefully done” review on the subject that he had ever seen. The researchers focused on changes to weight, cholesterol and heart rate, as well as other cardiovascular and metabolic indicators, and found they varied markedly by antidepressant. The research generally looked at side effects over the short-term — the median length of treatment was only eight weeks — and noted that they may look different long-term. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
