You may be worried about weight gain or your ability to lose weight while taking an SSRI. An SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is a type of drug primarily known as an antidepressant. Some people gain weight while taking SSRIs and other types of antidepressants. Other people lose weight. If you are concerned with the potential side effects of your particular medication, consult your physician.
Why Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D., explains on the Mayo Clinic website that some people gain weight while taking antidepressants, while others do not. The antidepressant might not be the direct reason for your weight gain, Hall-Flavin notes. Other factors include overeating as a result of depression, an improved appetite resulting from improved mood and typical weight gain associated with adulthood. Hall-Flavin recommends consulting your doctor if you gain weight while taking an antidepressant.
Losing Weight While Taking an SSRI
To minimize weight gain while taking an SSRI, Mayo Clinic recommends reducing intake of sweets and sugary drinks, avoiding fast food, getting regular exercise most days of the week, keeping a food diary, eating more frequently in smaller portions and eating more slowly. A nutritionist or dietitian can help you establish and meet goals for weight loss. Speak with your doctor if you plan to lose weight and are taking an antidepressant. You can also discuss with your doctor the possibility of switching medications.
SSRIs and the Potential for Weight Gain
Dr. Hall-Flavin notes Paxil appears more likely to cause weight gain than other SSRIs. Hall-Flavin cautioned that none of the medications are guaranteed to cause weight gain, even if the potential exists. "Each person responds to an antidepressant differently," he noted. "Some people gain weight when taking a certain antidepressant while others don't." The SSRIs less likely to cause weight gain include Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro.
Antidepressants with Weight Loss as a Side Effect
Even though SSRIs and other antidepressants are known for causing weight gain, some also contribute to weight loss. In trials of the medication Wellbutrin SR, 14 percent of patients lost more than five pounds on the medication at doses of 300 mg per day, compared to 3 percent who gained more than five pounds. In trials of Zoloft, patients experienced a minimal amount of weight loss, averaging one to two pounds. The prescribing information for Prozax cautions that weight loss may be an undesirable side effect of the drug for underweight and bulimic patients.
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