What to Know About SSRIs and Weight Gain

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSSRI Effects on WeightWhy This HappensOther Drugs Affecting WeightPreventing Weight Gain

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

SSRI Effects on Weight

Why This Happens

Other Drugs Affecting Weight

Preventing Weight Gain

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Weight gain can be a distressing side effect of certain antidepressants in the class ofselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), some of which include Zoloft, Paxil, and Lexapro. Typically, SSRI weight gain is modest.However, the upset it causes can complicate recovery from the condition being treated.

Continue reading to learn more about why SSRIs can lead to weight gain, as well as other antidepressants that may make you gain weight. We also share ways to keep the number on the scale from going up when taking these types of medications.

Common SSRIs and Their Effect on Weight

How common is weight gain with these drugs? In one study involving 294,719 people, 11.2% of individuals prescribed antidepressants had a body weight increase of 5% or higher in the first year.Additionally, their weight gain risk stayed elevated for more than six years.

Most antidepressants are associated with weight gain, but the risk ofgaining weightis higher with some SSRIs than with others.For example, some research suggests that Paxil (paroxetine) is linked to greater weight gain than Zoloft or Prozac.

Does Lexapro Cause Weight Gain?Research indicates that Lexapro (escitalopram) doesn’t significantly affect weight, unlike other SSRIs.People taking Lexapro also typically have less weight gain than when takingmonoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs) andtricyclic antidepressants(TCAs).

Does Lexapro Cause Weight Gain?

Research indicates that Lexapro (escitalopram) doesn’t significantly affect weight, unlike other SSRIs.People taking Lexapro also typically have less weight gain than when takingmonoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs) andtricyclic antidepressants(TCAs).

SSRI Weight Gain or Loss Tied to Length of Use

Research looking at the effects of individual SSRIs on weight gain is complex. One reason is that theshort-term effects of antidepressantson weight can differ from their long-term effects.

For example, research has found that some SSRIs are associated with weight loss in the short term.In this study, “short term” was described as four months or less. After this time, the weight loss effect tended to disappear.

Not everyone who takes an antidepressant will gain weight. Some experience no weight changes and others may lose weight.

Why SSRIs Cause Weight Gain

Another hypothesis is that weight gained while taking an SSRI may be partially due to the fact that some peopledon’t feel like eatingwhen they’re depressed, causing them to lose weight. Once they start taking an antidepressant, however, they begin to feel better. As a result, their appetite may come back, they may eat more, and eventually return to their previous weight.

Other Types of Antidepressants Linked to Weight Gain

Several types of antidepressants can cause weight gain, though to different extents. One study compared many of these tothe SSRI citalopram.It found that duloxetine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), resulted in similar weight gain amounts.

Conversely, three other antidepressants were associated with “significantly less weight gain” than citalopram. In order of greatest to least difference, they were:

How to Prevent Weight Gain When Taking SSRIs

If you’reconcerned about weight gain while taking antidepressants, you may be tempted to stop taking your medication. But before you do, talk to your healthcare provider. In all likelihood, you can avoid gaining weight without sacrificing your mental health.

It can also be dangerous to just stop taking an antidepressant. With many of them, stopping all of a sudden or quitting “cold turkey” can lead to an array of unpleasant withdrawal side effects known collectively asdiscontinuation syndrome.

Here are a few things you can do to manage your weight (which includes stopping weight gain as well as losing weight),improve your health, and help you have a healthy relationship with food and eating while taking an SSRI.

Mindful Eating

Eating mindfully can be beneficial in helping you manage your weight.Mindful eatinginvolves focusing more on your internal signals of hunger and satiety and less on external signals.

Bringing yourself to the present moment, paying attention to your hunger levels, and slowing down while you eat are all examples of how to be more mindful when eating.Notably,mindfulness-based practiceshave also been shown to improve the severity of depressive symptoms.

Increasing Activity

Incorporating physical activity into your lifestylenot only helps manage weight but is also good for your overall health.Consider joining a gym, taking up a sport, climbing around on the jungle gym with your kids, or walking your dog.

On top of reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and other health issues,exercise has also been shown toreduce symptoms of depression.

If you’re new to exercise, check with your healthcare provider before you lace up those sneakers to make sure you don’t overdo it at first.

Switching Medications

It’s possible that a healthcare provider will be able to prescribe a newSSRI that doesn’t cause weight gain. Or they may have you try a non-SSRI antidepressant such as Wellbutrin (bupropion), anorepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). Wellbutrin works differently in the brain than SSRIs, and some people lose a little weight while taking it.

The Link Between Lithium and Weight Gain

Final Thoughts

Side effects of medications are a reality, but you can always work with a healthcare provider tofind the best antidepressant for you. Just remember that this process could take a few tries, so don’t get discouraged.Along the way, focus on making healthy lifestyle choices, and applaud yourself for taking care of your mental health.

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Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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