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Antidepressants and Weight Gain
Antidepressants and weight gain have been researched and have been concluded to be closely linked. Studies have shown that a serious and common side effect of anyone who takes antidepressants, whether it is short term treatment or long term treatment, is weight gain. There are many factors and reasons in the link between antidepressants and weight gain, and many of the top antidepressant medications unfortunately seem to carry this side effect. Not only is the weight gain a chemical side effect that takes place in the body, it is an emotional side effect that takes place in the mind.
Antidepressants and weight gain have many reasons for being so closely linked together. One of the top reasons that antidepressants and weight gain are related is due to the fact that most antidepressants can cause hormonal changes in the person that uses them. These hormonal changes can quickly increase the person’s appetite, making them want to eat more and more when they really do not have to. Also, another link between antidepressants and weight gain include findings that some antidepressants can cause mood swings within the person on them, hindering everyday progress within that person’s lifestyle. An example of this is losing the will to work out at the gym that day or to stick to any type of schedule.
When the relationship between antidepressants and weight gain starts to kick in, the emotional side effects of this link will also start to take place. Typically, those on antidepressants will already have problems such as low self esteem. When a person notices the link between antidepressants and weight gain, or just the weight gain, this may lead to even more self esteem and self loathing problems and cause the person to think even less of them and subject them to possibly more mood swings.
Some of the top and most commonly prescribed medications that have been researched as a link to antidepressants and weight gain belong in a group known as the SSRIS – the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. This group includes medications such as Zoloft, Prozac, Celaxa, and Paxil. When these medications first came out, they were initially campaigned as weight loss medications; however, it was soon discovered that after the initial weight loss caused by these antidepressants, those using these medications would somehow become subject to weight gain. Tricyclic antidepressants have been shown to be an even bigger problem in the research between antidepressants and weight gain. Tricyclic antidepressants include Vivactil, Anofril, Elavil, and Petrofane. Normally prescribed for sleep and pain disorders, with a side benefit of acting as an antidepressant, research between antidepressants and weight gain have shown that this category of medications can cause up to over twenty pounds in weight gain during treatment.
Antidepressants and weight gain seem to go hand and hand. If you are looking for a way out of depression, it may be best to avoid these medications altogether and seek alternative help, as the link between antidepressants and weight gain is not to be underestimated.