Does Pexeva Cause Weight Loss?

Does Pexeva Cause Weight Loss?

Pexeva^® (paroxetine mesylate) is a prescription medication licensed to treat several different mental health conditions. It belongs to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Several side effects are possible with Pexeva, and a small weight loss may be one of them.

 

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies, where thousands of people are given different doses of the medication. In these trials, people report all their possible side effects, which are carefully documented and grouped into categories.

 

The side effects are then usually separated into those that occur in more than 1 percent of people (common side effects) and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people (rare side effects).

 

In clinical studies, up to 9 percent of people reported a decreased appetite with Pexeva use. In these studies, the amount of weight lost was minimal -- about 1 pound, on average. Weight loss was reported as a rare side effect, meaning it occurred in less than 1 percent of people. However, the exact percentage of people experiencing weight loss with Pexeva is not known.

 

Other Thoughts

Some mental health conditions may cause changes in weight. For example, some people who are depressed may have difficulty eating and experience a weight loss. Other people, however, may eat more when depressed and gain weight. Since weight gain can be a depression symptom, treating the depression with medications like Pexeva can lead to weight loss.