Do Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain?
People are often concerned about the possibility of weight gain due to
antidepressants. Although people frequently gain weight while on antidepressants, it is not clear why this might occur (or even how frequently it occurs).
Clinical Studies on Antidepressants and Weight Gain
It is difficult to say with certainty that antidepressants cause weight gain, for a few reasons. Importantly, most studies of antidepressants are not long enough to see any significant weight changes (studies are often 12 weeks long or less). Also, since loss of appetite and weight loss are common
depression symptoms, it is possible that many cases of antidepressant weight gain are actually caused by the depression getting better, not by the medication itself. This makes sense, since you may begin to regain interest in the pleasurable aspects of life (such as eating) as your depression improves.
Do All Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain?
In general, it is thought that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (
SSRIs) are probably more likely to cause weight gain than serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (
SNRIs) or
bupropion antidepressants (such as
Wellbutrin®,
Wellbutrin SR®, or
Wellbutrin XL®). SNRIs and bupropion tend to be a little more stimulating and often cause some appetite suppression, and some people may actually lose weight while taking these medications.