Anti Depression Medication That Helps With Weight Loss

Who Should Not Use Bupropion Sr

Do not use bupropion SR if:

• You have had seizures in the past or have been diagnosed with a seizure disorder.
• You have a current or prior diagnosis of bulimia or anorexia nervosa.
• You have abruptly discontinued alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or antiepileptic drugs.
• You are taking a class of medications called monoamine oxidase inhibitors . Examples of MAOIs include isocarboxazid , phenelzine , selegiline , and tranylcypromine , linezolid, or intravenous methylene blue. When MAOIs are used at the same time as bupropion, there is an increased risk of very high blood pressure levels which can lead to a medical emergency.
• You have a known allergic reaction to bupropion hydrochloride.

What Does Antidepressant Medications Do

Antidepressant medications increase the activity of chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain. Increasing the activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine seems to help lessen the symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, the brain is a very complex organ and the reasons why these drugs work are not yet fully understood.

We do know that these drugs help to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety in up to 70 per cent of people who try them. This rate is even higher when people who dont get relief with one type of antidepressant try a second type.

Seek The Help You Need

If you are feeling anxious or depressed, its important to seek out the help you need. Speak with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional to figure out whether antidepressants, therapy, or a combination thereof are right for you. If you are concerned about weight gain or weight loss on antidepressants, be sure to discuss that with your healthcare provider as well. Together, you can determine a treatment approach thats best for you.

Also Check: Natural Mood Enhancers For Depression

Antidepressants For Weight Loss: Dangers

Antidepressants are often regarded as an unconventional form of treatment for weight loss. No wonder, these drugs have not received approval from the Food and Drugs Administration for such purposes due to their horrible effects. Also, popping these pills without working on a diet and having a regular exercise regime will not give the desired result. A recent study revealed that the drug bupropion was useful for the treatment of obesity only when the patients continued with their prescribed diet and exercise. Taking these drugs but leading a sedentary lifestyle wont bring the desired change in weight.

A point to note here is that antidepressants are basically helpful in the treatment of mood disorders, so using them as a weight loss tool does not sound a good proposition. Prolong use of these antidepressants can alter the chemical equilibrium of the brain, a factor responsible for triggering suicidal behavior. Also, expecting significant reduction in weight from these antidepressants is meaningless. Weight loss linked to usage of antidepressants is small. Hence, using these medications and forgetting exercise and diet is the least effective strategy to combat overweight problems.

Disclaimer:The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.

Currently Available Weight Loss Medications

Phentermine and diethylpropion are the oldest medications for weight loss. Phentermine is available in daily doses of 37.5 mg, 30 mg,15 mg, and 8 mg . Phentermine is FDA-approved for short term use, and it is an adrenergic agonist that produces appetite suppression. Side effects include: dry mouth, insomnia, dizziness, and irritability. Caution should be used in patients with hypertension.

Orlistat is a weight loss pill that inhibits pancreatic and gastric lipase decreasing fat absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. It is available to be taken with meals in doses of 120 mg and 60 mg OTC. Side effects include: flatulence with fatty discharge and fecal urgency after consumption of high-fat foods, side effects that lead to medication discontinuation.

Since 2012, the FDA has approved four safe weight loss medications for long-term weight management.

Bupropion/Naltrexone combines a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and an opioid receptor antagonist. Start with a daily dose of 8/90 mg tablet to four tablets a day. It controls cravings and addicted behaviors related to food. Side effects include: constipation, headaches, insomnia, and dry mouth. Contraindications include: uncontrolled hypertension, history of seizures, and opioid use and dependence.

Obesity medications are intended for long-term use, as obesity is a chronic disease. They improve health, quality of life, and body weight in patients with overweight and obesity.

Also Check: Major Depressive Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder

How To Avoid Weight Gain From Sertraline

While some weight gain from sertraline might be unavoidable, there are several steps that you can take to minimize the amount of weight you gain while using your medication:

• Weigh yourself before you start. Make sure you know how much you weigh before you start using sertraline. This will make it easier to track any changes in your weight that occur while youre taking this medication. Try to weigh yourself in the morning — ideally after you go to the bathroom and before you eat — for the most accurate reading.

• Maintain your normal eating habits. Sertraline may affect your appetite, causing you to feel less satisfied by food than normal. To minimize weight gain, try to maintain your previous eating habits, such as food choices, portion sizes and meal timing.

• Stay active. If you currently exercise, its best to continue exercising as you normally would after you start treatment with sertraline unless your healthcare provider advises you not to. In addition to regulating your weight, exercise is associated with improvements in some depression and anxiety symptoms.

Although SSRIs like sertraline have a reputation for causing weight gain, the right combination of habits and careful monitoring can help you to maintain your weight on antidepressants.

How Long Does It Take For Wellbutrin Or Bupropion To Work

Your energy, sleep, or appetite may improve within the first two weeks of taking bupropion which means your medicine is working. However you need to be a little more patient to see improvements in your mood and interest in your daily activities this can take 4-6 weeks.

Keep your follow-up appointments with your doctor to make sure you are continuing on the best dosage for you.

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Are My Antidepressants Making Me Gain Weight

For millions of Americans suffering from certain types of mood disorders, such as depression, antidepressant medications can be helpfuleven lifesaving. But for roughly 25% of people who take these medications, it could also mean some unexpected pounds, which isnt so helpful for those watching their weight.

We asked Gagandeep Singh, MD, a psychiatrist at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, to explain why certain antidepressants can cause weight gain.

While we dont fully understand why antidepressants lead to weight gain, there are confounding factors, Dr. Singh said. The first is that not all antidepressants are alike. Some can trigger changes in the brain that affect appetite and metabolism. The second is that weight gain can be impacted by a persons lifestyle and diet.

For example, when people are depressed, their appetites change. Some people will forgo food in a state of depression, while others overeat. When placed on an antidepressant, their usual appetites could change, for better or worse, and impact their waistline.

Sertraline And Weight Gain: What You Need To Know

Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP

Sertraline, sold under the brand name Zoloft®, is a widely used antidepressant that belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.

Like other antidepressants, SSRis including Zoloft , Celexa and others can cause certain side effects, including weight gain. In fact, some studies have shown that the more often you use them, the more weight you may gain.

Below, weve discussed the relationship between sertraline and weight gain, as well as what you can expect if youve been prescribed this medication.

Weve also explained what you can do to reduce your risk of gaining weight after you start using sertraline or other antidepressants.

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Antidepressants And Weight Gain

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Many individuals have the experience of weight gain while receiving treatment with an antidepressant, and often wonder if selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are associated with weight gain. This is an excellent, complex, and clinically important question.

Depression, anxiety, appetite, and weight: There is a relationship between appetite and depression, with changes in appetite representing a core symptom of major depressive disorder. Many individuals with anxiety disorders also note appetite changes when their anxiety symptoms are not well controlled. Some individuals lose weight when they are experiencing depression or anxiety, and some notice increased appetite and weight gain. Therefore, at the time of starting an antidepressant, some individuals may be at either a lower or higher weight than they would be at in the absence of a mood or anxiety disorder.

Whether or not a study was short- or long-term or clinically how long a patient has been on a medication may influence the likelihood of weight changes. A recent meta-analysis assessed studies with available data . In acute studies , most SSRIs, SNRIs, and bupropion have been associated with weight loss. In longer term studies , most antidepressant medications with available data did not have significantly associated weight gain, and the most was seen with paroxetine and the older antidepressant amitriptyline . Only bupropion was associated with significant weight loss .

Postpartum Women

Dont Stop Cold Turkey On Your Meds

Your medication is being prescribed for a reason, so dont stop your medication cold turkey if you are experiencing weight gain or other negative side effects. Antidepressants help balance chemicals called neurotransmitters in your brain, and abruptly stopping can trigger some negative discontinuation symptoms. More importantly, the underlying symptoms can come back, which can be life-threatening.

While antidepressants arent addictive, if you suddenly stop them, you can have discontinuation reactions such as flu-like symptoms, insomnia and returning thoughts of suicide, Dr. Singh said. Symptoms can vary person-to-person, so talk to your doctor and dont take a gamble on your health. Remember finding the right treatment may take trial and error and some modification.

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Antidepressants That Cause Weight Loss: Wellbutrin

There is really only one of the popular antidepressants these days that is linked to weight loss. The medication that youll want if you want to actually lose weight is that of Wellbutrin. It will speed up your metabolism, and increase your energy. This is because it works as an NDRI . Really the only major unfortunate side effect is that you may feel increasingly anxious and you may not get much relief if your serotonin imbalance is the problem.

Wellbutrin Wellbutrin often suppresses appetite in certain individuals as well as gives them more energy for working out. This can be a good thing if the person is already overweight. This is a drug that is also used for some people who are clinically obese because it helps speed up their metabolism and gives them energy to do things. This drug also speeds up the metabolic system in your body which will lead to increases in calories burned.

Other antidepressants that cause weight loss typically do not inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. So if your goal is to avoid gaining weight, youll usually want to find a drug that primarily affects norepinephrine and serotonin to a lesser degree. Wellbutrin is considered one of the safer antidepressants in comparison to most SSRIs which are associated with difficult withdrawals.

The Best Drug For Weight Loss And Sleep

Many people with severe depression complain of trouble sleeping. However, Remer on a relatively new antidepressant may be particularly useful for these people because it quickly alleviates depression and helps them sleep better. Some antidepressant is good for sleeping, but all drug is not good for weight loss, and sleep remembers it.

Also Check: How To Help Someone With Mild Depression

Have Antidepressants Ever Been Prescribed For Weight Loss

Neither weight loss nor weight gain is a guarantee when taking antidepressants.

Like many medications, side effects can vary depending on the patient. Additionally, antidepressant medications have not been approved for weight loss by the Food and Drug Administration .

Finally, antidepressants can cause rare but serious side effects, including:

With these potential serious side effects in mind, antidepressants are not prescribed for weight loss.

How Long Does It Take For Duloxetine To Take Effect

Its normal for it to take some time before you feel improvement in your symptoms after beginning duloxetine. The first symptoms to change are often energy, sleep, and appetite, which often improve within 1-2 weeks. Most people notice improvements in their mood and other symptoms by four weeks, though it may take between six and eight weeks for full effects of the medication to be achieved.

Recommended Reading: Number One Cause Of Depression

Antidepressants That Help You Lose Weight

Antidepressants were the third most common drug prescribed in the United States between 2005 and 2008, according to the National Center for Health Statistics 1. In addition to their ability to treat depression, many of these drugs can affect body weight. Some antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants, tend to produce weight gain, whereas other antidepressants have no consistent effects on weight. Some may even help reduce weight, although the amount of weight lost is generally small and the loss is usually temporary. Bupropion is the only antidepressant that has been associated with sustained weight loss that persists after the first few months of treatment.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Will I Regain Some Weight After I Stop Taking Weight Management Medication

You probably will regain some weight after you stop taking weight management medication. Developing and maintaining healthy eating habits and increasing physical activity may help you regain less weight or keep it off.

Federal physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and at least 2 days a week of muscle-strengthening activities. You may need to do more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week to reach or maintain your weight-loss goal.

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Talk To Your Prescribing Physician

With safety and effectiveness so well-established, many physicians have become comfortable prescribing antidepressants to their patients. Unfortunately, not all are as comfortable with treating the unwanted side effects.

If you experience weight gain while on antidepressants, it is important to have a candid conversation with your prescriber. Equally important is that you feel your prescriber understands your concerns and is willing to work with you to develop a plan.

Healthcare providers are not all equal when it comes to dealing with antidepressant side effects. Many healthcare professionals will be more focused on treating depressive symptoms than on minimizing weight-related side effects.

Questions you might ask your doctor include:

• Are these side effects normal for this medication?
• Is there anything you can do to help minimize the side effects?
• Are there other medications that might be as effective?
• Would changing the dose help reduce side effects?

Talking to your doctor about your concerns can help you better understand your situation and come up with a plan to help address weight gain.

If you dont believe your doctor is taking your concerns about weight gain seriously, it may be time to get a second opinion.

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K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

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Is Duloxetine A Painkiller

While clinical trials of more than 29,000 people showed that duloxetine significantly reduces chronic pain, it is not exactly understood how duloxetine accomplishes this. One hypothesis is that it blocks sodium from entering cells, which prevents a message of pain from the brain. In addition to duloxetine, those looking to address chronic pain who do not need treatment for anxiety and depression can try:

• Gabapentin
• Pregabalin

If youd like to try to find a medication that works better for you than duloxetine, visit your doctor to discuss alternatives. You can find a comprehensive list of alternatives to duloxetine, as well as a comparison of their side effects and specific targets of treatment here.

What Supplements Help Depression

Vitamin B-3 and Vitamin B-9 can help people with depression because B vitamins help the brain manage moods. Vitamin D, melatonin and St. Johns Wort are recommended for seasonal depression. Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and vitamin C may also help with depression.

As alarming as a few of these symptoms may sound, you should not allow them dissuade you if you want to go off your antidepressant. The antidepressants probably depression in medical records to create bothersome signs are those that have a brief half-life that is, they damage down and leave the body promptly.

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How To Stop Antidepressant Treatment

Do not stop using an antidepressant or reduce your dose on your own. Your doctor or health care provider will work with you when the time is right to stop taking your antidepressant.

When you stop taking an antidepressant, you may have discontinuation symptoms, or your depression may come back. Discontinuation symptoms may include:

• dizziness or vertigo
• tingling or electric shock sensations
• unsteady gait
• nausea
• crying spells
• irritability

These symptoms do not mean you are addicted to the antidepressant. Antidepressants are not considered addictive and do not lead to drug abuse . But because your body has gotten used to them, suddenly stopping can cause unwanted side effects. In rare cases, it can be difficult to stop taking an antidepressant even with gradual tapering of use.

Instead of stopping antidepressants all at once, it is important to work with your health care provider to decrease your dose a little at a time, when the time is right.