Less-than-ideally, in some cases, these effects seem to cause metabolic changes that lead to weight gain. It prevents the brain from absorbing free-floating norepinephrine a. This may have an effect on metabolism and appetite, resulting in weight loss. Some antidepressants affect histamine and serotonin, which regulate appetite Gill, Others act on neurotransmitters and receptors that are connected to weight gain David, Some of these drugs, mainly the early first-generation tricyclic antidepressants, may change the way the body metabolizes lipids fats and glucose blood sugar Hasnain, ; David, However, weight gain or weight loss is far from guaranteed when you take antidepressants.
In some cases, depression can have a medical cause, such as hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency, low testosterone, or side effects of medication. A healthcare provider can diagnose and treat these. The most common antidepressant medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs , which include fluoxetine brand name Prozac , sertraline brand name Zoloft , paroxetine brand name Paxil , and escitalopram brand name Lexapro.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs are also frequently prescribed, including venlafaxine brand name Effexor , duloxetine brand name Cymbalta , and desvenlafaxine brand name Pristiq. Talk with your healthcare provider to find the right medication for you.
Research shows that antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy CBT are about equally effective for the treatment of depression. However, CBT may have more long-lasting effects and prevent relapse Hollon, During CBT, therapists encourage patients to replace negative, unhelpful thoughts with more positive ones.
Both aerobic and resistance exercises have been found to be effective at relieving depression Craft, Other things that might improve depression include getting better sleep, increasing social interaction, and avoiding excessive use of alcohol and tobacco. Speak with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional to figure out if antidepressants, therapy, or a combination thereof are right for you. You can also consider consulting a nutritionist about foods that might be helpful in gaining and keeping weight stable.
This includes taking weight into consideration. Several studies have shown bupropion use in MDD can lead to weight loss. Studies have shown that weight gain might occur with newer antidepressants. In addition, research shows that depression itself can lead to weight gain.
Antidepressants together with symptoms of mood disorders, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking can all contribute to weight gain. Talk to your doctor. There are solutions to manage weight increase. Keep in mind, changing medications can result in different side effects or a return of depression symptoms. Also, some medications can take several weeks to take effect. Weight changes can be a concern with antidepressants. While more antidepressants typically cause weight gain, a few can reduce appetite, and cause nausea, vomiting, or weight loss.
This might be temporary until your body gets used to the medication. Keep in mind that shifts in weight might be from the mood disorder or other causes. It might lead to more serious mood and behavior changes like withdrawal , or relapse of depression. Antidepressant side effects can range from mild discomfort to severe impacts on your daily life.
Stress can have a direct impact on your weight. Whether it causes weight loss or gain can vary from situation to situation. In some cases, stress may…. If your doctor prescribed you an antidepressant, these drugs can have many benefits on your mental health. But that won't stop you from worrying about…. Switching antidepressants needs to be done carefully and with the help of your doctor.
This article will help you understand how the process of…. Weaning off antidepressants, including Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, and others, can come with some side effects. On the flip side, if you have atypical depression , a subtype of major depressive disorder, weight gain is common. In this instance, with antidepressant treatment, further weight gain may indicate failed treatment or it could be medication-induced—a tricky, but extremely critical distinction.
To further complicate the picture, while many people associate antidepressant use with weight gain, there is actually limited scientific evidence to back this up.
Weight gain associated with other antidepressants, if it does occur, is usually short-lived. In addition, individual factors seem to play a role. In other words, it's hard to predict who will gain weight on certain antidepressants because so many variables are at play.
You may be surprised to learn that there are two antidepressants linked to weight loss. Remember, a link implies a statistical association, so it does not predict individual results. These include:. As an SSRI , Prozac increases the levels of serotonin in the brain and these are generally the first-line treatment for depression. Any weight loss you may experience while taking Prozac may only be temporary and weight gain after the first few months may be possible.
Wellbutrin is an atypical antidepressant that doesn't change serotonin levels in the brain. Rather, it uniquely alters other brain chemicals like noradrenaline and dopamine. This is associated not only with weight loss but also improved sexual functioning.
This being said, Wellbutrin may not be appropriate for everyone. This is especially true of people with a history of seizures or an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia. It could put you at greater risk for having a seizure while using it. Like all antidepressants, Wellbutrin and Prozac carry a black box warning. This states their potential for increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in children, teens, and young adults during the early stages of treatment.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
Treating your depression is paramount to your mental health and well-being. Of course, your physical appearance and health are also important, and your doctor would not want weight gain to affect your adherence to your depression therapy. Have a candid discussion with your doctor about depression treatment as there are a lot of options out there.
It's important to remember, too, that weight gain is not inevitable with antidepressant therapy, and if it does occur, it's usually temporary. If you have concerns about weight loss or gain, talk to your doctor about diet and exercise changes you can make as well. By changing a few habits and feeling healthier, you can also improve your emotional and mental health.
Often, a combination of medication and a healthy lifestyle is the best treatment plan. There is also the precaution that if you do not have depression, antidepressants are not recommended for weight loss.
Studies have found that taking these medications for that purpose has negligible results. Treating your depression may take some patience and resilience on your part as you navigate and find the right plan, but it can be done.
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