Are There Any Antidepressants That Cause Weight Loss? I believe that it’s a little weird that people interested in weight loss started searching for antidepressants that cause weight loss because the main usage for this pills is for depression, anxiety and panic attack treatment. Nonetheless, I won’t talk about these specific issues here because the main subject now, is about antidepressants and possible weight loss effects of using them. Well, weight loss or weight gain, depending on how you respond to them, is a possible “side- effect” or using them but the reality is that these so called “side- effects” are mostly created by people that take the pills. In a nutshell, anti- depressants mostly affect your dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine levels and these hormones are involved in bodyweight regulation, so basically, a drug that affects the levels of this hormones can improve weight loss but the mechanisms are way more complicated than this and there are psychological effects that need to be taken into consideration. First, let’s see some of the common researched and reported effects of different antidepressants – these are NOT written in stone because the effects can vary for every person but this list is just so you can make an idea what happens at a psychological level. SSRI’s or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors – mainly used to treat moderate to severe depression symptoms, anxiety disorders and people using them commonly report loss of appetite. Common SSRI’s: Sertraline (Zoloft)Citalopram (Celexa)Fluoxetine (Prozac)Escitalopram (Lexapro)Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)Most people taking Zoloft reported low success rates with this medication but the ones that had the best experience were the ones that had the habit of eating big meals – in the end, this medication helped them reduce their appetite. Celexa is useful against impulsive eating and Prozac users also reported short term weight loss with the weight coming back in the long- term. From the commonly reported side effects of using SSRI’s, the ones that we are interested in is weight gain or weight loss (as a side note, I don’t really like the fact that they can cause reduced sexual desire or decreased libido). SNRIs or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors – Another type of anti- depressants that can help people lose weight indirectly, these medications are mostly effective when it comes to depression symptoms, nerve and anxiety related pains. Effexor (venlafaxine) – some people report no positive effects when it comes to motivation, some people report libido decrease and weight gain. Cymbalta (duloxetine) – used mainly for fibromyalgia treatment, it may help you kill the appetite. Atypical Antidepressants – Wellbutrin is most commonly prescribed for ADHD and depression symptoms. Most people reported side effects like increased motivation, energy and loss of appetite which are in conformity with the expected side effects these medications could give a person using them. Clearing The Confusion. Now, I believe that I made you even more confused but that will be cleared in a minute. The most common reasons for weight gain when looking at research studies are the following: Increased appetite which leads to more food. Increased preference for sweetes. Changes in how bodyfat is stored. Decreased caloric expenditure due to the fact that the person moves less. Improving certain factors that can keep your weight up or down – depression. Increased caloric consumption. As you can see, looking at all these reported “side- effects”, be it weight loss or weight gain, what you must understand is that antidepressants don’t cause weight loss or weight gain by themselves. They can make you gain weight or lose weight depending on what effects they have on a psychological level. They are just an indirect factor to weight loss because they can either reduce appetite, increase energy expenditure and make you more motivated OR they can have the exact opposite effect of decreasing energy expenditure indirectly by making you move less, be less motivated and increase your appetite. As usual, the most important thing to do is to control your caloric intake by eating more or less and stop trying search for antidepressants that cause weight loss because they don’t exist. Antidepressants and Weight Loss. You may be surprised to learn that there are two antidepressants linked to weight loss. Can Antidepressants Cause Anxiety? Some antidepressants can cause weight loss Photo Credit blister packaging image by leafy. What Is the Best Antidepressant for Weight. Polypharmacy can cause unintended weight loss. Treatment of depression may, in and. Any Antidepressants That Cause Weight Loss. How to Lose Weight Fast. Weight loss products and program as well as tips on cooking light and dietary supplements. Resources: http: //www. AN0. 13. 96http: //www. MH0. 00. 66http: //www. Why Do Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain? Most antidepressants can cause weight gain. Antidepressants That Help You Lose Weight. Antidepressants were the third most common drug prescribed in the United States between 2. National Center for Health Statistics. In addition to their ability to treat depression, many of these drugs can affect body weight. Some antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants, tend to produce weight gain, whereas other antidepressants have no consistent effects on weight. Some may even help reduce weight, although the amount of weight lost is generally small and the loss is usually temporary. Bupropion is the only antidepressant that has been associated with sustained weight loss that persists after the first few months of treatment. Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin or Zyban) combats depression by increasing the amount of two proteins - - noradrenaline and dopamine - - in the brain. These effects may also contribute to weight loss, as both proteins are involved in the regulation of appetite, feelings of fullness and eating behaviors. Indeed, no other antidepressant increases both noradrenaline and dopamine, which may explain bupropion’s unique weight- related effects. Weight loss may also be due to nausea or vomiting, although these symptoms are usually not a prominent side effect of bupropion. Initial studies conducted before bupropion received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval reported that 2. Daily Med. A review that compiled the results of 1. October 2. 01. 0 issue of “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. The average short- term loss was 2. Similarly, a study published in the April 2. Journal of Clinical Medicine” compared the effects of several antidepressants to fluoxetine, and found that only bupropion produced weight loss with long- term treatment. The average weight loss after 2 years of treatment with bupropion was 7 lbs, which only occurred in nonsmokers. Several other antidepressants may produce temporary and less pronounced weight loss. In “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry” review, the following drugs were found to produce short- term weight loss, lasting up to 3 months: - - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft). Weight loss was lowest with moclobemide and paroxetine - - approximately . None of these medications produced sustained weight loss when continued for 4 months or longer. When considering the effects of antidepressants on weight, note that research only provides information about people who participated in the studies. The real- world effects in a specific individual may be quite different. Antidepressants may not only directly affect weight, but their effects on depression can have an indirect role as well. Many people with depression will reduce their activity level and either eat more or less. Is SSRI weight gain. Weil, Andrew. Home » Harvard Health Blog » Antidepressants cause minimal weight gain. ![]() Successful treatment with antidepressants can reverse these changes, leading to changes in weight. Even with bupropion, the average weight loss is less than 1. To achieve more substantial weight loss, other strategies will be necessary, including following a healthy diet, avoiding excessive intake of calories and participating in regular exercise over a prolonged period of time. Your doctor and dietitian will help you determine the safest and most effective approach to weight loss in your situation. Does Lexapro Cause Weight GainDepression may lead to many problems, including suicide, if inadequately treated. Seek immediate medical attention if you feel very depressed or have any thoughts of harming yourself. If you are taking any antidepressants, see your doctor if they do not appear to be effective or are causing side effects. Bupropion tends to produce fewer side effects than many other antidepressants, but it can increase the risk of seizures, high blood pressure, angle- closure glaucoma and psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations. The FDA has issued a warning that all antidepressants may increase the risk of suicide, especially when used in children, adolescents and adults younger than 2. Excessive weight loss, especially if it is unintentional or more than expected, may be due to an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. See your doctor if you suspect that you are losing too much weight.
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