Antidepressants, as the name clearly suggests, are meant for treating depression. Well, a common symptom of depression is weight gain. Studies have shown that there is a close relationship between antidepressants and weight loss, depending on the type of antidepressant used. In fact the relationship between weight loss and antidepressants is confusing, for usually taking Paxil cause weight gain while taking Prozac would cause weight loss instead. Regardless, a doctor’s advice is important along with a prime necessity prior to going for just about any type of Antidepressants to lose weight.
The relationship between antidepressants and weight loss is dependent on several factors, first it can increase a patient’s metabolism, second fact is reducing appetite, and the last fact is higher happiness and optimism. When this occurs in a patient, it leads to more confidence and energy to move around a lot more and partake in physical, productive activities. Now le’s share some tips to lose weight with antidepressants.
Discuss your concerns with your doctor, preferably before they give you the first prescription for antidepressants. Antidepressants like pramipexole and selegiline are dopaminergic antidepressants, which affect thyroid function by reducing prolactin.
Bearing in mind that every person’s body is different, responds to medications differently, some prescribed antidepressants have shown to be effective in achieving weight loss. Bupropion is really a typical antidepressant and contains proven positive weight reduction leads to many people.
Watch what you are feeding as a healthy, well balanced diet is the best way to control your weight whether you are taking antidepressants or not. Add fruits and vegetables into your diet. Exercising regularly not only controls your weight, but it ensures that your feel better emotionally as well. Healthy diet, regular exercise and good sleep are all key elements of healthy lifestyle.
To curtail hunger, antidepressants like reboxetine are helpful. Intake of this drug decreases food cravings and eventually the user eats less and thus no ‘extra calories’. If your brain doesn’t think you’re hungry, then you won’t be inclined to eat as much. Naturally, that will help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Never try SSRIs for weight loss. SSRI medications like fluoxetine(Prozac), paroxetine, and Lexapro tend to cause weight gain. The key point is side effects are normal with antidepressants. Almost all kinds of antidepressants are known to cause some side effect or the other, be careful not to rely on these medications too much for weight problems.
Nothing can do better than a healthy lifestyle to lose weight efficiently, so keep in mind that it’s still important to exercise regularly and follow a healthy diet.
Can antidepressants cause weight loss?
Antidepressants treat mental health conditions but can affect body weight. Although most can cause weight gain, a few antidepressants, including fluoxetine and duloxetine, may decrease appetite and lead to temporary weight loss.
Doctors commonly prescribe antidepressants to treat mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are second-generation antidepressants. They generally have fewerTrusted Source serious side effects and better tolerability than first-generation antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
The SSRI fluoxetine (Prozac) and the SNRI duloxetine (Cymbalta) can lead to a decrease in appetite and slight weight loss during the first months of treatment. Bupropion (Wellbutrin), which works by blocking norepinephrine and dopamine, may also have this effect.
Which antidepressants cause weight loss?
A few antidepressants cause no weight gain or lead to weight loss. These include:
- Bupropion: In a 2016 studyTrusted Source, participants who did not smoke lost an average of 7.1 pounds (lb) after 2 years of treatment with bupropion compared with those taking fluoxetine. However, those who smoked gained 2.2 lb on average.
- Fluoxetine: A 2022 review found that in adults with overweight or obesity, taking 60 milligrams (mg) of fluoxetine daily can lead to an average weight loss of 2.7 kilograms (kg) — equivalent to almost 6 lb — during the first 6 months of treatment. There is no weight loss effect for people taking low dosages for a longer duration.
- Duloxetine: An older 2006 studyTrusted Source found that people taking duloxetine for major depressive disorder lost weight in the short term but gained a small amount during longer-term treatment.
