3 July 2024 Punjab Khabarnama : More than 1 in 10 people in the U.S. take antidepressant medications, although many people discontinue the drugs due to an array of side effects, including weight gain. But recent insights show that some antidepressants are linked to an increased chance of weight gain, compared to others.
The findings of a large new analysis from Harvard researchers could help guide treatment decisions to make people more likely to stay on the medicines and, ultimately, benefit from them. The new information is also important for people who want to take antidepressants but need to manage their weight due to conditions such as diabetes.
Published this week in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the analysis included health records from more than 180,000 people ranging in age from 18 to 80 years old. The people were considered first-time users of antidepressants, and the researchers analyzed weight changes after 6, 12, and 24 months on the medicines. Eight drugs were evaluated, known by the brand names Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Zoloft. The results included people who took brand-name or generic versions of the drugs.
People taking Wellbutrin were the least likely to gain weight. Wellbutrin users were about 15% less likely to gain weight, compared to people taking Zoloft, which is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant. Weight gain was defined as an increase of 5% or more from a person’s weight when starting the medication.
The researchers noted that previous research had documented the low likelihood of weight gain among people taking Wellbutrin. They wrote that it may be related to Wellbutrin’s impact on neurotransmitters known as dopamine and norepinephrine, and the drug’s effects on a brain system called the hypothalamic melanocortin system, which is involved in appetite and energy balance.
People who took Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor, Lexapro, or Paxil gained more weight on average, compared to people who took Zoloft. Taking Cymbalta, Lexapro, or Paxil was linked to a 10% to 15% higher risk of weight gain.
In 2020, 18% of U.S. adults reported having ever been diagnosed with depression. Antidepressants are also commonly prescribed for people with other conditions, like anxiety or bipolar disorder.