How can I avoid gaining weight while taking antidepressants?

In addition to talking to your physician, there are other steps that you can take to lessen weight gain that might be caused by antidepressants. Diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes may help you manage your weight effectively as you continue to treat your symptoms of depression.

Why do I always gain weight on antidepressants?

Antidepressants interfere with serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates anxiety and mood while also controlling appetite. In particular, these changes may increase cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, pasta, and desserts.

Does weight gain from antidepressants go away?

Once they start taking an antidepressant, however, they begin to feel better and as a result, their appetite may come back, they may eat more, and eventually return to their previous weight.

Does everyone gain weight on antidepressants?

Not everyone taking an antidepressant will gain weight. Some people will actually lose weight. Experts emphasize that worries about gaining weight shouldn't influence the choice of antidepressant for most people. There are other side effects and factors to consider when choosing an antidepressant.

Which antidepressants cause the most weight gain?

Paroxetine: Weight gain in the short and long term is more likely than for other SSRIs. Nefazodone: This is likely to have no effect on weight. Bupropion: This is likely to cause weight loss. Mirtazapine (atypical antidepressant): Weight gain is likely in the short term but less likely than tricyclics.

How to Lose Weight While Taking Antidepressants

How can I lose weight 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 much weight can you gain on antidepressants?

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.

What is the best antidepressant for 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.

Which antidepressant is least likely to cause weight gain?

Bupropion was associated with the least amount of weight gain, close to none. Two others that also appeared to have less weight gain were amitriptyline and nortriptyline.

How do I get rid of weight gain medicine?

Will you lose weight if you stop taking antidepressants?

If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants. On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping antidepressants, you may also lose weight.

What are the benefits of coming off antidepressants?

Besides easing the transition, tapering the dose decreases the risk that depression will recur. In a Harvard Medical School study, nearly 400 patients (two-thirds of them women) were followed for more than a year after they stopped taking antidepressants prescribed for mood and anxiety disorders.

Why have I been gaining weight so fast?

Poor sleep, sedentary activities, and eating too many processed or sugary foods are just some of the habits that may increase your risk of weight gain. Yet, a few simple steps — such as mindful eating, exercise, and focusing on whole foods — can help you reach your weight loss goals and improve your overall health.

How do I keep from gaining weight on Zoloft?

Does serotonin cause weight gain?

According to the study published in Natural Medicine, there are 2 types of serotonin. The type that is known for its effects on mood and appetite only accounts for 5% of serotonin in the body, while the other 95%, called peripheral serotonin, plays a role in obesity.

Which causes more weight gain Prozac or Zoloft?

That being said, one study published in 2016 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that Zoloft can lead to an overall greater weight gain than Prozac when taken long-term. The study found that people taking Prozac for two years gained an average of 4.6 pounds.

Can Zoloft help weight loss?

Weight gain is a common complaint of patients receiving antidepressant drug treatment. The antidepressant sertraline, a selective serotonin uptake inhibitor, has been reported to promote weight loss.

Why do you gain weight on Zoloft?

Antidepressants may cause weight gain by interfering with serotonin or histamine neurotransmitters in the brain that control appetite. Some antidepressants may cause drowsiness or fatigue that lower levels of activity, leading to weight gain.

Can you take fat burners with antidepressants?

They may mix with your medications, especially if you are on antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. Fat burner pills lead to hormonal and chemical changes in the body. Therefore, these pills can worsen certain health issues. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take fat burner pills.

Can you lose weight from anxiety meds?

Anxiety medications are not known for causing weight loss. In fact, tricyclic antidepressants used in some people for anxiety can cause weight gain. Anxiety disorders are a common type of psychiatric disorder characterized by anxiety or fear that does not diminish over time.

Can anxiety pills make you gain weight?

Manage Side Effects

The majority of patients that take anti-anxiety medications will experience weight gain partially and fully due to side effects. An individual administering this medication could encounter constipation, bloating, fatigue, and as a result, weight gain.

How do I keep from gaining weight on Lexapro?

Taking Lexapro may cause a person to gain a small amount of weight. Less commonly, it can cause weight loss. A healthful diet and regular exercise can help to prevent unwanted changes in weight.

How do you reverse weight gain from antipsychotics?

Recommend metformin 250 mg 3 times a day, along with lifestyle modifications, to promote weight loss and decrease insulin resistance in patients who gain more than 10% of their pretreatment body weight on antipsychotic medications.

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