In 1969, Nobel Laureate Arvid Carlsson realized that by preventing neurons from depleting serotonin levels in the brain, patients' moods improved. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors decrease neurons' ability to do this. These SSRIs are antidepressants that work by tweaking brain chemistry, and this can have other physiological consequences. Some reuptake inhibitors can prompt weight gain. The effectiveness of others can be affected by your diet.
Effect on Appetite
Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, affects both your mood and your appetite. According to Judith Wurtman, author of "The Serotonin Power Diet," when antidepressant medication alters the normal ebb and flow of serotonin in your brain, it can result in increased appetite and a craving for sweets. Sweets are full of simple carbs that hit your bloodstream quickly. Carbs are instrumental in your brain's production of serotonin, so this reaction may be your body's demand for more serotonin. Other antidepressants can cause an increase in stomach acid, which can create a sensation like hunger, causing you to eat more. You might also have a better appetite because your mood is improved.
Weight Gain
Because of their effect on appetite, antidepressants are often associated with weight gain, although the medication itself doesn't cause an increase in pounds. MayoClinic.com indicates that venlafaxine and bupropion, marketed under the brand names Effexor and Wellbutrin, are less likely to increase your appetite. Among SSRIs, those most linked with overeating and weight gain include paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram, marketed under the brand names Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro, respectively.
Foods Interactions
Although foods don't generally interact badly with antidepressants, researchers at the University of Chicago discovered in the 1990s that a high-fiber diet can disrupt the body's absorption of these drugs and interfere with their effectiveness. Fiber passes directly through your system undigested and can carry some things in your digestive tract along with it. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that amitriptyline, sold as Elavil; doxepin, sold as Sinequan; and imipramine, sold as Tofranil, are susceptible to fiber in your diet.
Tips
Replace sweets with healthier fruits and vegetables to minimize weight gain if you're taking antidepressants and find that your appetite has increased and your body seems to be demanding carbohydrates. Wurtman indicates that giving your body "good" carbohydrates can increase your serotonin levels and curb your brain's demand for sweets. She suggests pretzels, popcorn and soy, rice or graham crackers.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Antidepressants: Tips to Cope With Side Effects; Mayo Clinic Staff; December 2010
- "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology"; High-Fiber Diet and Serum Tricyclic Antidepressant Levels; DE Stewart; December 1992
- "Psychology Today"; Ten Tips to Prevent Weight Gain on Antidepressants; Judith Wurtman, Ph.D.; August 2010
- PsychCentral; Choosing the Best SSRI; Regina Bussing, M.D.
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Possible Interactions With: Fiber; 2011
- Medical Hypotheses: Chlorpheniramine, Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors (Ssris) and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Treatment; Einar Hellborn; December 2005
