“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.
Do antidepressants Make your appetite bigger?
An improved mood while taking an antidepressant, for example, may increase your appetite, leading to weight gain. Don’t stop taking your drug right away even if you do gain a little bit of weight.
How do I stop eating so much on antidepressants?
Avoid eating protein at dinnertime if your medications make you snack all evening. By eating only a starchy carbohydrate, like pasta or a large baked potato along with vegetables for dinner, your brain will make enough serotonin to keep you satisfied and full until bedtime.
Which antidepressants cause the most weight gain?
Paroxetine (Paxil) and mirtazapine (Remeron) are more likely to cause weight gain than other antidepressants. There are many different antidepressant options to choose from. If you try one and don’t like the side effects, your healthcare provider can help you choose another one.
Do antidepressants slow your metabolism?
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.
What are common side effects of antidepressants?
- feeling agitated, shaky or anxious.
- feeling and being sick.
- indigestion and stomach aches.
- diarrhoea or constipation.
- loss of appetite.
- dizziness.
- not sleeping well (insomnia), or feeling very sleepy.
- headaches.
Which SSRI causes least weight gain?
Antidepressants Less Likely to Cause Weight Gain Effexor (venlafaxine) Lexapro (escitalopram) Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) Trintellix (vortioxetine)
What to do if your medication is making you gain weight?
- Switch to a different medication. The first strategy to consider involves changing medications.
- Lower medication dosage.
- Limit portion sizes.
- Exercise.
- Eat more protein.
- Talk to a dietitian.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Get enough sleep.
Do antidepressants make you crave sugar?
People treated with antidepressants and related medications report intense cravings for carbohydrates, especially sweet ones. Why the medications cause these cravings is not understood, but the cravings are recognized as a side effect of the medications, not a food addiction.
What is the best antidepressant for weight loss?
Most antidepressant medications are more commonly associated with weight gain, but there are three that have been connected to weight loss: Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
How do I avoid gaining weight on sertraline?
- Weigh yourself before you start.
- Maintain your normal eating habits.
- Stay active.
- Weigh yourself weekly, not daily.
- If you gain weight, tell your healthcare provider.
- If you lose weight, tell your healthcare provider.
Will I put on weight with sertraline?
Like any medication, antidepressants in the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have potential side effects. For some people who take an SSRI such as Prozac (fluoxetine) or Zoloft (sertraline), one of these possible side effects is weight gain.
Why do antidepressants make you hungry?
Antidepressants interfere with serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates anxiety and mood while also controlling appetite. In particular, these changes may increase cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, pasta, and desserts. When people are depressed, their appetites are affected.
Is weight gain from antidepressants permanent?
Researchers at King’s College London found that all twelve of the leading antidepressants — including fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro) — increased risk for weight gain for up to six years after starting treatment.
Do anti anxiety meds cause weight gain?
The majority of patients that take anti-anxiety medications will experience weight gain partially and fully due to side effects. An individual administering this medication could encounter constipation, bloating, fatigue, and as a result, weight gain.
Is it harder to lose weight on antidepressants?
Increases in appetite: Some people lose their appetite due to depression. As an antidepressant changes the chemical balance in your brain, your appetite may return, leading to weight gain.
Will I lose weight after stopping antidepressants?
If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants. On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping antidepressants, you may also lose weight.
Is it possible to lose weight on antidepressants?
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.
How do you know if your antidepressant is too high?
If you’re taking antidepressant medication and you either feel unusually elated, or you become very terse with your loved ones, feel noticeably more irritable, or have an uncharacteristic bout of rage, then it’s likely that your antidepressant dose is too high.
Is it OK to take antidepressants for life?
MYTH: Once on antidepressants, I’ll be on them for life. FACT: Not true. A general rule clinicians often use is that a person should be treated with antidepressants at least one-and-a-half times as long as the duration of the depressive episode before they can begin to be weaned off.
Is it better to take antidepressants in the morning or at night?
Antidepressants are sometimes best when taken in the morning due to their potential side effects.
Do all mood stabilizers cause weight gain?
Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal). All of these medications are known to increase the risk of weight gain except lamotrigine.
Which SSRI is easiest to withdraw from?
Fluoxetine, which has the longest half-life of the SSRIs (see Table 1), appears to produce the fewest withdrawal symptoms, while paroxetine, which has the shortest half-life, produces the most pronounced discontinuation effects.
Which causes more weight gain Prozac or Zoloft?
The study found that people taking Prozac for two years gained an average of 4.6 pounds. But people taking Zoloft gained an average of 10.5 pounds over the same two-year period.
Does increased serotonin cause weight gain?
According to the study published in Natural Medicine, there are 2 types of serotonin. The type that is known for its effects on mood and appetite only accounts for 5% of serotonin in the body, while the other 95%, called peripheral serotonin, plays a role in obesity.