Antidepressants and Weight Gain: Can Something Be Done?

Taking medication for depression sounds like it would be a cure. End the depression and the person feels better. Unfortunately one of the side effects of these medications can cause a patient to gain 10 or more pounds. If the person was overweight to start with this can endanger their health and cause a person to fall back into being depressed.

The drugs that are known to cause weight gain are: SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Lexapro), tricylics (for example Elavil and Tofranil) and MAO inhibitors (monoamine inhibitors such as Parnate and Nardil).

Dr. Norman Sussman Associate Dean for Postgraduate Programs at The New York University School of Medicine and a Psychiatrist believes that in at least some patients a metabolic and appetite affect may be taking place. "I have had patients who swear that they are not eating any more, but still gaining weight, so that tells us there is some kind of metabolic influence going on; I have also had patients tell me that they are not only more hungry and eating more, but that the medicines are encouraging a carbohydrate craving that is hard to control, so we know appetite also plays a role."

There is a suggestion by Dr. Jack E. Fincham, PhD, RPh, Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy at the University of Missouri at Kansas City that the patient starts to feel better and hit comfort food because it's associated with feeling better, thus creating weight gain.

Switching medications may help with weight gain but not with the patient's depression. Only a licensed physician should make that decision, and patients should discuss their concerns over weight gain with their doctor and the possibility of changing their medication.

The leading suggestion by medical experts in the field of treating depression is a healthy well-balanced diet and exercise. It has long been known that people who exercise regularly have less stress, anger and depression.

Still, there does seem to be a small group of people who have changed their medications, eat a healthy diet and exercise without any change to their weight. In that case, Dr. Sussman suggests making the treatment for the depression a priority. The patient has to realize that they aren't responsible for the weight gain. Once the depression is over the patient's diet and exercise will help stabilize their weight at a healthy level.

Source: Colette Bouchez, "Fat Pharms: Antidepressants and Weight Gain." Web MD