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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
People may have eaten very little while they were depressed, and now that they are recovering they are eating more. Others may have been very inactive during their depression and are now becoming more active and therefore losing weight. People notice when weight changes occur and thus can inform their doctor and work together to develop a plan to manage the weight change.While most antidepressants typically do not cause any weight gain themselves, there are some that can. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like citalopram (Celexa®), sertraline (Zoloft®), and fluoxetine (Prozac®) are usually not associated with weight gain (1); they are often a good choice when this is a concern. Unfortunately people react to drugs differently and this is not always the case. Some people (10%) may have weight gain after taking an SSRI for an extended period of time, perhaps months to years later (2). Some older antidepressants known as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are more likely to cause weight gain. Examples of drugs in this class are amitriptyline (Elavil®) and nortriptyline (Pamelor®). With drugs in this class weight gain will often occur soon after starting the medication, and may be dose related.Achieving a therapeutic dose is preferred for effective treatment of depression, and it is important to report weight gain to your doctor while the medication dosage is being increased. People who gain weight are at a higher risk for developing diabetes and your doctor can monitor you for this possibility.In answer to your question the possibility of weight gain would not necessarily be a reason to stop your therapy. Discontinuing your medication can lead to other problems and worsening or return of depressive symptoms. Self-medication and certain diets can also be dangerous (over the counter “diet pills” and herbal supplements can cause drug interactions, and grapefruit is
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