Depression is a mental condition that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest. Antidepressants are prescription medications used to treat depression symptoms. For some patients, antidepressants can cause side effects like weight loss. Understanding the connection between antidepressant drugs and weight loss allows patients to identify problems sooner to prevent complications.
Types
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are the first line of treatment for most types of depression. These include medications like sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram and paroxetine. SSRIs work by selectively inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, resulting in improved nerve transmission and relief from mood-related symptoms.
Older classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclics, or TCAs, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, are used less frequently due to the risk for side effects. Atypical antidepressants like bupropion and mirtazapine are sometimes prescribed when other treatments have failed.
Prevalence
Weight loss is a relatively common side effect with some antidepressant drugs. In general, SSRIs and atypical antidepressants are more likely to cause weight loss than TCAs and MAOIs.
According to eMedTV, 7 percent of children taking sertraline experienced weight loss of more than 7 percent of their total body weight, while 28 percent of patients taking bupropion lost more than 5 lbs.
Signs and Symptoms
Weight loss is frequently preceded by loss of appetite and general disinterest in eating. In severe cases, attempts at eating may trigger nausea, causing a person to avoid food as much as possible. Ill-fitting clothes, a decrease in body weight and comments from loved ones regarding weight changes are other possible signs of significant weight loss.
People taking antidepressant drugs may not notice weight loss right away and don't always attribute it to the medication. In some cases, weight loss may accompany the remission of depressive symptoms like emotional eating and oversleeping, both of which can cause weight gain in depressed persons.
Complications
While weight loss of 5 to 10 lbs. is usually not dangerous, being underweight puts a person at risk for a variety of health problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, underweight female athletes suffer from higher rates of amenorrhea---an absence of menstruation---and osteoporosis than women of a healthy weight. Both conditions can cause other complications, with amenorrhea being linked to infertility and osteoporosis increasing the risk for bone fractures.
Other potential risks of being underweight include nutrient deficiencies, low energy and impaired immune function.
Prevention/Solution
Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen while taking antidepressant drugs is the best way to prevent excessive weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, people attempting to gain weight should eat five to six small meals daily consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Snacks high in nutrients, such as almonds, peanut butter and whole wheat crackers, can help supplement the diet with additional calories.
Anaerobic exercise is helpful for building muscle mass in underweight people. Push-ups, pull-ups and weightlifting workouts are good choices for strengthening muscles and adding mass to an underweight body.
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