What to Do If You Gain Weight While Taking Antidepressants

A sad young man in the living room. He suffers from depression and holding bottle of pills

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Antidepressants can be highly effective in the treatment of depression, but they can also cause unwanted side effects like weight gain.

Read ahead to learn which antidepressants cause weight gain (and which do not), why weight gain happens when you take antidepressants, and how to prevent antidepressant-related weight gain.

What Causes People to Gain Weight While Taking Antidepressants?

Here are a couple of reasons why you might experience antidepressant-related weight gain.

Your Appetite Might Increase

Because antidepressants lessen feelings of depression, people may regain the appetite they lost when they were depressed. So, you might simply be eating a bit more than you typically did prior to taking medication.

Some medications, such as Remeron, appear to cause an increase in appetite, which contributes to weight gain.

Your Activity Levels May Have Changed

Additionally, appetite and activity changes as a result of depression itself can contribute to weight gain independent of antidepressant use. 

Your antidepressant medication may not be the cause of your weight gain. Never stop taking your antidepressant without talking to your prescribing physician.

Your Weight Gain Might Be Related to an Underlying Medical Issue

If you’re experiencing weight gain while on antidepressant therapy, it may be worth getting a complete physical.

Underlying Medical Conditions and Weight Gain

Sometimes weight gain after antidepressant therapy is presumed to be a side effect, but it may be related to an underlying medical condition.
For example, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), is a common medical condition that can cause weight gain among other symptoms

Antidepressants That Can Cause Weight Gain

Weight gain is one common side effect of certain classes of antidepressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Weight gain is also associated with the atypical antidepressant Remeron (mirtazapine).

Research suggests that around 10% of people who take SSRIs longer than six months experience some weight gain.

Types of Antidepressants That Can Cause Weight Gain

While each person responds differently to antidepressant medications, the following are some of the ones that may be associated with weight gain in some people:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant. Long-term use of these medications may lead to weight gain. SSRIs include Prozac (fluoxetine), Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline).
  • Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are an older class of antidepressants that are used less frequently today because newer medications are less likely to cause side effects. Some of these TCAs include Elavil (amitriptyline), Adapin (doxepin), Vivactil (protriptyline), and Surmontil (trimipramine). 
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may also cause weight gain, including Nardil (phenelzine), Marplan (isocarboxazid), and Parnate (tranylcypromine).
  • Atypical antidepressants are a group of antidepressants that work differently from other antidepressant medications and as a result, don't fit neatly into one of the other classes. Remeron (mirtazapine) is an atypical antidepressant that has been linked to weight gain in research.

Antidepressants Less Likely to Cause Weight Gain

If you're concerned about weight gain, you can talk to your doctor about an antidepressant treatment plan that may be less likely to cause weight gain.

Types of Antidepressants Less Likely to Cause Weight Gain

Celexa, Prozac, and Zoloft are not likely to cause weight gain if they are used for six months or less. 

Other antidepressants that appear less likely to have weight gain as a side effect include:

  • Cymbalta (duloxetine)
  • Effexor (venlafaxine)
  • Lexapro (escitalopram)
  • Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)
  • Trintellix (vortioxetine)

An antidepressant that works well for one person may not be as effective for another. The same can be said for side effects.

Switching from one antidepressant to another may provide adequate symptom control for you without weight gain.

What to Do If You Notice Weight Gain While Taking Antidepressants

If you experience weight gain while on antidepressants, it is important to have a candid conversation with your prescriber. Equally important is that you feel your prescriber understands your concerns and is willing to work with you to develop a plan.

Healthcare providers are not all equal when it comes to dealing with antidepressant side effects. Many healthcare professionals will be more focused on treating depressive symptoms than on minimizing weight-related side effects.

What to Ask Your Prescriber

Questions you might ask your doctor include:

  • Are these side effects normal for this medication?
  • Is there anything you can do to help minimize the side effects?
  • Are there other medications that might be as effective?
  • Would changing the dose help reduce side effects?

Talking to your doctor about your concerns can help you better understand your situation and come up with a plan to help address weight gain.

Reminder

If you don’t believe your doctor is taking your concerns about weight gain seriously, it may be time to get a second opinion.

How to Prevent Antidepressant Weight Gain

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.

Change Your Diet

Fueling your body with nutrient-dense whole foods can not only support healthy weight management but also your mental health.

Eating a healthy diet that includes adequate protein (e.g., lean meat, fish), carbohydrates (e.g., fruits, beans, whole grains, and vegetables), and fat (e.g., olive oil, and canola oil) may help with food cravings and hasten weight loss.

Exercise Regularly

From better heart function to improved mood, exercise has vast benefits for both the mind and body. Regular physical exercise doesn’t have to be intensive to be beneficial. Studies show even a little exercise offers benefits.

Your dietary needs or ability to participate in an exercise program may be affected by your physical fitness or by certain medical conditions. Before beginning any diet or exercise plan, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

Summary

Some antidepressants have been associated with weight gain. Depression itself can also be associated with weight gain. It's important to recognize that there are many factors that can affect weight including age, diet, and activity levels.

But if you are concerned about weight gain while taking antidepressants, talk to your doctor. Weight gain alone may not be a good reason to change your antidepressant medication if it is working effectively, but making a switch or working with your doctor on other lifestyle changes can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the best antidepressant to take if you're trying to lose weight?

    Buproprion (sold under the brand names Aplenzin and Wellbutrin) is an antidepressant medication associated with weight loss in some people. While people should not take buproprion for weight loss alone, it can be an effective treatment for depression that does not contribute to weight gain.

  • Which antidepressants can cause weight gain and loss of libido?

    Side effects can vary from one individual to another. However, the antidepressants Remeron (mirtazapine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline) are a few that may cause weight gain and loss of libido.

  • Which anxiety medications cause weight gain?

    Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat symptoms of anxiety, so people who are taking those medications may experience weight gain as a side effect. Xanax (alprazolam), a medication that may be prescribed for anxiety, can also cause weight gain or weight loss in some people.

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By Sheryl Ankrom, MS, LCPC
Sheryl Ankrom is a clinical professional counselor and nationally certified clinical mental health counselor specializing in anxiety disorders.