Among the side effects associated with antidepressants are both weight gain and weight loss, although these are not a side effect of every medication used to treat depression. However, any side effect—including weight-related side effects—depends entirely on how your body reacts to a medication.
You can limit the weight gain side-effect of SSRIs by following a healthy diet high in unprocessed foods, keeping active, and getting a good night's sleep.
Answer From Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. Weight gain is a possible side effect of nearly all antidepressants.
Most antidepressants list weight gain as a potential side effect of use, however not everyone gains weight when taking antidepressants. “Based on my clinical experience, about a third of people typically gain weight when taking an antidepressant,” says Dr. Andrew Morson, a New Orleans-based psychiatrist.”
Physical activity and diet
Arguably the best natural method to prevent weight gain from antidepressants is to exercise.
What is certain is that some people experience weight gain while taking antidepressants. The increase in pounds can interfere with efforts to lose weight, and for some people, weight loss becomes more difficult after starting on antidepressants.
The antidepressants with the highest risk of causing weight gain are amitriptyline, citalopram, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, trimipramine, paroxetine, and phenelzine.
Share on Pinterest Antidepressants may lead to weight gain as a person regains their appetite. Experts do not fully understand why antidepressants lead to weight gain in some people. One theory is that both metabolism and hunger levels may be affected.
And yes, certain antidepressants and other medications may increase appetite. However, most medications do not alter metabolism, per se. Thus, weight loss can still occur when attention is given to other factors, including the composition and timing of dietary intake.
“In general, weight gain is a possible side effect of most antidepressants, such as Zoloft, Prozac or Celexa, but each person will react to antidepressants differently,” Naidoo says. How much weight gain is typical? A quarter of those who take antidepressants gain 10 pounds or more, Naidoo estimates.
Weight gain is a relatively common problem during both acute and long-term treatment with antidepressants, and it is an important contributing factor to noncompliance.
Another important point to remember is that not everyone who takes Lexapro will gain weight and some even lose weight while taking this antidepressant – especially those who take it for short periods [11].
How does Lexapro affect appetite and weight? Lexapro's prescribing information states that people using the drug to treat major depression may experience significant changes in weight and appetite. These include both increases and decreases. The leaflet cites animal studies in which significant weight gain occurred.
Some antidepressants may affect appetite, leading to weight changes. A person may also change their activity levels and eating habits due to mental health condition such as anxiety or depression. Weight changes often happen in the initial months of treatment, with a person's weight stabilizing as their body adjusts.
Which antidepressants are less likely to cause weight gain? Fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft and Lustral) are two antidepressants often less likely to cause weight gain.
Lexapro may cause weight gain because it blocks the serotonin transporter, which increases levels of serotonin in the brain, but also increases appetite and decreases metabolism. Research has shown approximately 40% of people taking antidepressants such as Lexapro will gain 7% or more of their starting body weight.
It is commonly stated that patients return to their previous weight after they stop taking antidepressants, but this assumption is not evidence based.
2 These medications work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, thereby increasing its levels in the brain. How common is weight gain with these drugs? In one study involving 294.719 people, 11.2% of individuals prescribed antidepressants had a body weight increase of 5% or higher in the first year.
It's usually recommended that a course of antidepressants continues for at least 6 months after you feel better, to prevent your condition recurring when you stop.