Antidepressants linked to blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, weight gain, sexual dysfunction. How to use, what to know

Antidepressants are among the most prescribed and easily accessible drugs in the United States, and many people take them for years. However, there are studies that have claimed that intake of antidepressants for prolonged period may have side effects and can induce blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol weight gain and sexual dysfunction.

But even though modern-day antidepressants have been around for decades, there is very little information about long-term use. The FDA approved the drugs based on trials that lasted, at most, a few months, and randomized controlled trials of antidepressants have typically spanned only two years or less. Current clinical guidelines do not specify the optimal amount of time they should be taken for, NYT News Service reported.

The lack of data can make it hard for people to know when -- or whether -- to quit.

Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain, Sexual Dysfunction

Psychiatrists say it is a decision best made alongside your doctor. The answer depends on your symptoms, diagnosis, response to the medication, side effects and other factors -- all things to discuss with a medical professional, according to NYT News Service.

Antidepressants are known to have adverse effects that often fade as your body adjusts. But some side effects, like weight gain and sexual dysfunction, can linger.

Are Antidepressants Safe?

Some observational studies suggest that antidepressants are generally safe. But no randomized controlled studies have been funded by drug manufacturers to examine decades-long use.

Given that large numbers of people take antidepressants (about 11 per cent of U.S. adults), if there were additional problems connected to their use "it would be pretty hard to miss," said Dr. Paul Nestadt, the medical director of the Center for Suicide Prevention at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The drugs are not without risks, which vary depending on the medication. Certain antidepressants have been associated with increases in blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol. They can also lower sodium levels and increase the risk of blood clots, NYT News Service reported.

A Danish study published in May found that people who took antidepressants for one to five years had a higher risk of suddenly dying from a heart condition than those who did not have a history of taking the drugs. However, it is unclear whether the deaths were driven by the medication or the psychiatric illness itself, according to NYT News Service.