Can antidepressants cause rapid weight gain?

Weight gain is a possible side effect of nearly all antidepressants. However, each person responds to antidepressants differently. Some people gain weight when taking a certain antidepressant, while others don’t.

How much weight do antidepressants make you gain?

Experts say that for up to 25% of people, most antidepressant medications — including the popular SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs like Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft — can cause a weight gain of 10 pounds or more.

Is there an antidepressant that causes weight loss?

Of these three medications, bupropion (Wellbutrin) is the most consistently associated with weight loss. Several studies, including a 2019 meta-analysis of 27 studies, found that bupropion (Wellbutrin) was the only commonly used antidepressant associated with weight loss.

How can I lose weight while on antidepressants?

Increasing both aerobic exercise and strength training, ideally four times a week for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes, can increase muscle tone and metabolism and reduce fat stores. Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce risk for depression relapse when combined with a stable medication regimen.

How do I avoid gaining weight on sertraline?

How to Avoid Sertraline Weight Gain

1. Weigh yourself before you start.
2. Maintain your normal eating habits.
3. Stay active.
4. Weigh yourself weekly, not daily.
5. If you gain weight, tell your healthcare provider.
6. If you lose weight, tell your healthcare provider.

Do antidepressants slow metabolism?

Here are some drugs and drug classes that are known to have weight gain as a side effect. Some years ago, I did some studies that showed that tricyclic antidepressants (like Elavil and Tofranil) caused a drop in metabolic rate of up to 10 percent.

Is it harder to lose weight on antidepressants?

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.

Does serotonin cause weight gain?

A certain hormone could be linked to obesity, and that hormone just happens to be serotonin. Obesity is a serious problem in the United States. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of American adults are currently obese.

Does paroxetine cause weight gain?

Although some SSRIs are associated with weight loss at first, long-term use of SSRIs is mostly linked to weight gain. Long-term use is considered treatment that lasts longer than six months. Of the SSRIs listed above, paroxetine is most commonly associated with weight gain with both long-term and short-term use.