Is it possible to lose weight on antidepressants?

The bottom line. Weight changes can be a concern with antidepressants. While more antidepressants typically cause weight gain, a few can reduce appetite, and cause nausea, vomiting, or weight loss. This might be temporary until your body gets used to the medication.
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Is it hard to lose weight after antidepressants?

So if weight gain is caused by the medication, then weight loss should follow its discontinuation. And it does, for many people: Once the medication is out of the body, normal appetite returns, fatigue diminishes, and the patient returns to eating and exercising normally.
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What antidepressants will help me lose weight?

Most antidepressant medications are more commonly associated with weight gain, but there are three that have been connected to weight loss:
  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
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How can I avoid gaining weight on antidepressants?

As simple as it may sound, the best chance of avoiding, or lessening further, undesirable weight gain when taking a prescribed antidepressant or antipsychotic medication, is to simultaneously participate in a formal weight management program.
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Which antidepressants cause the most weight gain?

Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and tetracyclic antidepressants such as mirtazapine are linked to the most weight gain.
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How to Lose Weight While Taking Antidepressants



Why do people 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. When people are depressed, their appetites are affected.
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What anxiety meds make you lose weight?

Some medications used to treat anxiety including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may cause nausea which causes a loss of appetite that can result in weight loss.
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What is the best antidepressant that doesn't cause weight gain?

Antidepressants that do not cause weight gain

According to current scientific research, antidepressants that are least likely to cause weight gain are: Effexor (venlafaxine) Wellbutrin (bupropion) Nefazodone (however, this is rarely used because it can cause severe liver problems)
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Can Zoloft cause weight loss?

Shorter-term treatment in adults usually does not lead to substantial weight gain, but most patients need to take Zoloft for an extended period of time. In children, weight loss has been reported with Zoloft possibly due to side effects like nausea or loss of appetite.
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Is antidepressant weight gain permanent?

The research also raises concerns about the duration of risk that patients are exposed to. Previous studies correlating antidepressants with weight gain have been short-term, typically less than a year.
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Do antidepressants cause permanent 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.
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Do antidepressants lower your metabolism?

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.
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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.
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Can you lose weight while on sertraline?

Sertraline can make you feel more or less hungry than usual, so you may gain or lose weight when you start taking it. If you start to have problems with your weight while taking sertraline, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
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Can Prozac cause weight loss?

Altered appetite: In some cases, Prozac may reduce appetite and lead to significant weight loss. However, this is not a positive side effect of this medication. Sudden changes in weight or lack of appetite need to be reported to health care providers.
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Can Lexapro cause weight loss?

There are some reports that people begin to lose weight when first taking Lexapro, but this finding is not well supported by research studies. Another study found that Lexapro didn't reduce the obsessive-compulsive symptoms linked to binge-eating disorder, but it did reduce weight and body mass index.
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How much weight can I lose on Prozac?

We use a combination of Phentermine and a low dose (10-20 mgs) of Prozac. The second medicine is necessary because Phentermine used alone starts to lose effectiveness after a few months.
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How fast is weight loss on Wellbutrin?

How long does it take for Wellbutrin to work for weight loss? In people who lose weight as a side effect of Wellbutrin, it is possible to notice weight changes within eight weeks. However, Wellbutrin is not a weight-loss drug and may not produce consistent results when taken for this purpose.
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Why do antidepressants cause weight loss?

Antidepressants can also sometimes cause temporary loss of appetite, which would result in weight loss. Also, the brain's neurotransmitters — dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin — may play a role. Find encouragement and support through 1-1 messaging and advice from others dealing with major depressive disorder.
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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.
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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.
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How much weight do 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.
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Why can't I seem to lose weight?

At the most basic level, not reaching your weight loss goal can occur when calorie intake is equal to or higher than calorie use. Try strategies such as mindful eating, keeping a food diary, eating more protein, and doing strength exercises.
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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.
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Do antidepressants change your personality?

Fact: When taken correctly, antidepressants will not change your personality. They will help you feel like yourself again and return to your previous level of functioning.
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