Medications For Weight Loss And Depression

Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by

Are You Looking For Medications For Weight Loss and Depression? Well good, you have come to the right place… We have researched everything there is to know about medications for weight loss and depression – from their side affects, to the results you can expect.

It is a commonly known fact that obesity is a major contributor to the development of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Overall, excess body weight is the third leading risk factor for mortality, after high blood pressure and smoking. In 2012, more than 1.4 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese. Obesity increases the risk of many life-threatening health problems, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, infertility, and various types of cancer. Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility, with around 80 percent involving a genetic component. After all, if you want to take control of your weight, then this is the way to go. Here is why: I’m going to talk about Medications For Weight Loss And Depression, make sure you read this article.

Medications For Weight Loss And Depression

Antidepressant medications are one of the most common and effective treatments for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Yet some people may be hesitant about taking medication because of potential side effects, including unwanted weight changes.

A few studies show a connection between antidepressants and weight gain, but it depends on the specific drug class and type. Some antidepressants are associated with weight loss, although this isn’t a common side effect.

When starting a new medication, talking with a doctor about possible side effects could help alleviate any concerns.

Antidepressants and weight loss

Along with talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), antidepressants are considered the gold standard for treating mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and others.

In fact, more than 13%Trusted Source of U.S. adults over age 18 have used antidepressants in the past 30 days.

Weight loss isn’t one of the most common or serious side effectsTrusted Source of antidepressants. Antidepressants aren’t approved as a weight-loss method by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

When weight loss occurs as a side effect, it’s typically minimal. Weight gain may be the more common side effect of antidepressants.

Antidepressants that have been linked to weight loss include:

Research published in 2014Trusted Source suggests that bupropion (Wellbutrin) can lead to weight loss. The average weight lost on bupropion varied widely in participants, from as little as half a poundTrusted Source to 7.1 poundsTrusted Source over 2 years. Some people didn’t lose any weight at all, and losing weight was more likely for nonsmokers.

Fluoxetine (Prozac) is also associated with small weight loss side effects. One 1999 studyTrusted Source found that participants lost 0.4 pounds on average over the course of 4 weeks.

Similarly, Duolexetine (Cymbalta) correlated to about a pound of weight loss in about 8 to 9 weeks, per a 2003 analysisTrusted Source of 10 clinical studies. But in longer-term treatment at a higher dose, patients gained a little over 2 pounds on average.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may often cause initial weight lossTrusted Source, but after taking them more than 6 months, weight increases can occur. The initial weight loss might happen because people may feel less despondent once on the drug, which gets them up and active.

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.

What antidepressants cause weight gain? 

Weight gain can be a more common side effect for several types of antidepressants.

Everyone is different, and weight changes don’t happen for everyone taking these medications. Lifestyle adjustments can also be made to lessen this effect as well.

SSRIs

SSRIsare among the most-prescribed type of antidepressants. Weight gain can be a common side effect of SSRIs with long-term use.

According to a 2017 Australian study, weight gain was more likely to occur on SSRIs alongside other factors of an “unhealthy lifestyle,” including smoking and lack of exercise.

Weight gain can be an associatedTrusted Source side effect of paroxetine (Paxil) and can occur no matter how long you take it.

Researchers aren’t sure why weight gain might be a side effect of so many antidepressants. One theory is that weight changes may be caused by the effect antidepressants have on serotonin, which regulates appetite and moods. Serotonin may cause hunger and cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods like pasta and bread.

MAOIs

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were the first class of drugs used to treat depression specifically. Despite their effectiveness, many people may have discontinued treatment due to unwanted side effectsTrusted Source, including weight gain and food sensitivity.

According to a 1988 reviewTrusted Source, Phenelzine specifically can result in weight gain.

MAOIs are still prescribed for depression but often only as a last resort. They shouldn’t be mixed with SSRIs.

Cyclics

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were some of the first medications approved for treating depression. But according to a 1984 study, weight gain was so common as a side effect, people often stopped taking their medication.

TCAs associated with the side effect of weight gain include amitriptyline and doxepin. Not all TCA-class drugs are associated with weight gain, and weight loss can occur as well.

Mirtazapine (Remeron) is a type of tetracyclic antidepressant that studies have repeatedly shown leads to weight gainTrusted Source.

It’s believed that this drug may:

The importance of medication adherence

Stopping a medication regimen on your own is very dangerous.

If you have any concerns about the side effects of your current or potential antidepressant medication, talking directly with your doctor or pharmacist is best. Staying in open communication with your provider about symptoms, treatment goals, and concerns is the best path to feeling empowered about your health and wellness.

If you believe you are having an allergic reaction to a medication, this is a medical emergency and will require immediate attention.

Treatments for depression

Part of the reason it’s difficult for experts to understand the connection between antidepressants and weight changes is that depression itself can lead to shifts in your:

These changes may lead to both subtle weight loss or weight gain, depending on how depression symptoms might affect you.

But for others, depression can zap interest in activities they once enjoyed — such as cooking dinner or going out to eat — and lead to them skipping meals or forgetting to eat regularly. So it’s not always clear to doctors, researchers, or patients whether weight changes are actually due to the medication or the depression itself.

That’s why, regardless of whether you take antidepressants, psychiatrists often recommend that you consider several proven self-care strategies to manage your symptoms and weight.

Exercise

Studies have shownTrusted Source that regular exercise can improve mood and reduce depression. It can also help mitigate the side effects of any medication you take, including antidepressants, and assist in weight maintenance.

Exercise doesn’t mean simply running a marathon or lifting dumbbells — it’s whatever activity works for you. Some people prefer to work out alone or with guidance from an app, while others schedule their fitness in a group setting.

Nutrition

Nutrition and our mental health are deeply interconnected.

If you’re worried about how antidepressants might affect your weight, you might also want to consider talking with a nutritionist or a dietitian to help you meal plan and develop healthy eating habits.

Sleeping habits

Both sleeping too much (hypersomnia) and not enough (insomnia) are commonTrusted Source experiences for many people with depression. Getting enough sleep every night can keep energy levels higher during the day and lessen some of your depression symptoms.

Prescription weight-loss drugs

Are you an adult who has serious health problems because of your weight? Have you tried diet and exercise but haven’t been able to lose enough weight? If you answered yes to these questions, a prescription weight-loss drug may be an option for you.

You should know, however, that prescription weight-loss drugs are used in addition to — not instead of — diet and exercise.

Who is a candidate for weight-loss drugs?

Your doctor may consider a weight-loss drug for you if you haven’t been able to lose weight through diet and exercise and you meet one of the following:

Before selecting a medicine for you, your doctor will consider your history and health challenges. Then your doctor will talk with you about the pros and cons of prescription weight-loss drugs.

It’s important to note that weight-loss drugs aren’t for everyone. For example, prescription weight-loss drugs shouldn’t be used if you’re trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are breast-feeding.

How well do weight-loss drugs work?

Prescription weight-loss drugs approved for long-term use (more than 12 weeks) produce significant weight loss compared with placebo. The combination of weight-loss medication and lifestyle changes results in greater weight loss than lifestyle changes do alone.

Over the course of a year, that can mean a weight loss of 3% to 7% of total body weight above that achieved with lifestyle changes alone. That may seem like a modest amount. But a sustained weight loss of 5% to 10% can have important health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and triglyceride levels.

What you should know about weight-loss drugs

Mild side effects, such as nausea, constipation or diarrhea, are common. They may lessen over time. Rarely, serious side effects can occur. For this reason, it’s important to thoroughly discuss treatment options with your doctor.

Weight-loss drugs can be expensive and aren’t always paid for by insurance. Ask your insurance company about coverage.

Many people gain back some of the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss drugs. However, adopting healthy lifestyle habits may help limit weight gain.

How long does drug therapy last?

How long you’ll take a weight-loss drug depends on if the drug helps you lose weight. If you’ve lost enough weight to improve your health and you haven’t had serious side effects, your doctor may suggest that you take the drug indefinitely.

If you haven’t lost at least 5% of your body weight after three to six months on the full dose of a drug, your doctor will probably change your treatment and may switch you to a different weight-loss drug.

What drugs are approved for weight loss?

Four weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term use:

Most prescription weight-loss drugs work by decreasing appetite or increasing feelings of fullness. Some do both. The exception is orlistat. It works by interfering with absorption of fat.

Bupropion-naltrexone

Bupropion-naltrexone is a combination drug. Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. Bupropion is an antidepressant and quit-smoking aid. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a warning about suicide risk. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure, and monitoring is necessary at the start of treatment. Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation.

Liraglutide

Liraglutide is also used to manage diabetes. Unlike other weight-loss drugs, liraglutide is given by injection. Nausea is a common complaint. Vomiting may limit its use.

Orlistat

Orlistat is also available in a reduced-strength form without a prescription (Alli). Orlistat can cause bothersome gastrointestinal side effects, such as flatulence and loose stools. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. Rare cases of serious liver injury have been reported with orlistat. However, no cause-and-effect relationship has been established.

Phentermine-topiramate

Phentermine-topiramate is a combination of a weight-loss drug (phentermine) and an anticonvulsant (topiramate). Phentermine has the potential to be abused because it acts like an amphetamine. Other possible side effects include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, constipation, and nervousness. Topiramate increases the risk of birth defects.

Phentermine by itself (Adipex-P, Lomaira) is also used for weight loss. It’s one of four similar weight-loss drugs approved for short-term use (less than 12 weeks). The other drugs in this group aren’t widely prescribed.

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